What can I expect for the initial consultation?
We will discuss:
what is bringing you to see me
a brief summary of your history
whether my services are appropriate for what you are looking for
insurance and fee arrangement
availability
any other factors that may be important for you
Please see the Therapy and Neuropsychological Evaluation pages for more specifics.
Do you prescribe medication?
No, I am not able to prescribe medications.
When appropriate, I may make recommendations to your treatment team about medication considerations, but final decisions regarding prescriptions are determined by your treatment team (e.g., primary care doctor, psychiatrist, neurologist, etc.).
In case you're curious why:
As a clinical psychologist, I have my doctorate but not my medical degree, which means that I did not go through medical school. Psychiatrists are medical doctors who specialize in mental health, some of whom provide talk therapy, but most tend to prescribe psychiatric medications as their primary role on a treatment team.
What is your Cancellation Policy?
Please provide at least 24 hours' notice if you are not able to make it to a scheduled therapy appointment or feedback appointment. If you are more than 15 minutes late, your appointment may be forfeited, and I will assume you are not coming if I have not yet heard from you. If you fail to show for your appointment without 24 hours' notice, you will be charged a rescheduling fee of $150. For testing appointments, I set aside most of the day to work together and require 72 hours' notice to avoid a late cancellation/no show fee of $250.
Do you provide other testing services?
Psychological testing (e.g., diagnostic clarification of primarily psychiatric symptoms), or
Presurgical bariatric evaluations
The above services are also offered by Ruf Psychology Services. Patients and providers are encouraged to reach out if either service is required.