Terms and Services Policy
Effective Date: [April 25, 2025]
Welcome to Spence Counseling Center. These Terms and Services (“Terms”) govern your access to and use of our mental health counseling services, whether in-person or through virtual platforms. By engaging with our services, you agree to these Terms. If you do not agree, please do not use our services.
- Services Provided
Spence Counseling Center provides mental health counseling services, including but not limited to:
- Individual therapy
- Family and couples therapy
- Group therapy
- Assessments and consultations
- Psychiatric services and medication management
- Virtual/Telehealth services (if applicable)
All services are provided by licensed mental health professionals or supervised interns in training.
- Eligibility
Clients must be 18 years or older to consent to services. Clients under 18 must have consent (authorization) from a parent or legal guardian.
- Are physically present in the state(s) where our providers are licensed (for telehealth)
- Have completed the intake and consent process
We reserve the right to deny services if we determine that a client’s needs fall outside our scope of practice.
- Confidentiality
All client information is kept confidential and secure, in compliance with:
- HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act)
- Applicable state laws
Exceptions to confidentiality include:
- Risk of harm to self or others
- Suspected abuse or neglect of a minor, elderly person, or vulnerable adult
- Court order or legal subpoena
- To other healthcare professional for coordinated care
Your written consent is required to release information to third parties unless otherwise required by law.
- Appointments and Cancellations
Appointments must be scheduled in advance. We request at least 24 hours’ notice for cancellations. Late cancellations or no-shows may be subject to a cancellation fee.
- Payment and Insurance
Fees are due at the time of service unless other arrangements have been made. We accept cash, check, and most major credit cards and work with many insurance carriers. It is the client’s responsibility to verify coverage and understand their plan’s mental health benefits. Clients are responsible for any charges not covered by insurance.
- Clients must give a REQUIRED 24 Hour notice or there will be a $75 charge, and insurance does not pay this.
- A therapist may charge a $40 late fee if a client is more than 15 minutes late to an appointment.
- 6. Services not Covered by Insurance
- Other services not covered may include report writing, consultation with other professionals, preparing records or treatment reports, psychological testing, telephone calls lasting longer than 10 minutes, and extended session times that may be discussed with your therapist as needed and due at the time of service.
- If you become involved in legal matters that require our services, you will be required to pay for professional time, including preparation and travel time, even if the therapist is required to testify by the other party.
- Non-Payment of Services
- If you do not pay for your services, we can use legal means to acquire payment from you such as collection agencies, small claims court, and/or an attorney to pursue payment. In all cases, the minimum necessary information will be supplied for the collection of fees.
- Records Request Fees
- We are allowed to charge you a $20.00 handling fee + $0.50 per page photocopied, a letter summary fee, or reasonable charges to reproduce the records if they cannot be routinely copied by a photocopy machine.
- Telehealth Services (if applicable)
Telehealth sessions are provided via secure, HIPAA-compliant platforms. Clients are responsible for ensuring privacy on their end and must be physically located in a state where the clinician is licensed at the time of the session.
- Emergency Services
We do not provide crisis or emergency services. In an emergency, please call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. You may also contact a crisis line such as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988.
- Termination of Services
We reserve the right to terminate services at any time if:
- Treatment goals have been met
- Client is non-compliant with treatment recommendations
- There is a conflict of interest or inappropriate behavior
- We determine that a referral to another provider is in the client’s best interest
- Technology Risks
While we take reasonable steps to protect your information, no system is 100% secure. By using our services, including telehealth, you accept the risks of data breaches or service interruptions.
- Changes to Terms
We may update these Terms from time to time. The most current version will be posted on our website with the effective date.
- Contact Information
If you have questions about these Terms, please contact us at:
Spence Counseling Center, PC
12035 Q Street Omaha, NE 68137
(402) 991-0611