Below are several Frequently Asked Questions related
to Naticook Counseling Resources
What are your Office Hours?
Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays
7:30 AM to 4:45 PM
By appointment only
When calling for an appointment you may need to leave a message. Dr
Hastings will return your call as soon as possible.
Are there shortcuts to your Voicemail system?
If you would like to avoid listening to the entire
voicemail introduction, as soon as you hear the message
press the '#' key to leave a message for Dr. Hastings.
What is your policy on missed appointments?
It is our policy to charge for missed appointments
and those cancelled less than 24 hours in advance. This time has been
scheduled for you and we do not double book. If we have advance notice, we
have the opportunity to schedule another person. Please note that
insurance companies will not pay for missed or cancelled appointments.
You will be billed directly.
How do I reach my therapist in an emergency?
Dr. Hastings may not be immediately available by
telephone. While she may be in the office when you call, she will not
answer the phone when with a client. She does check her messages
regularly and will make every effort to
return your call on the same day with the exception of
weekends and holidays. If you cannot reach Dr. Hastings, and you feel you
cannot wait for her to return your call, you should call your
family physician or the emergency room at the nearest hospital and ask for
the psychiatrist on call. If Dr. Hastings is unavailable for an
extended period of time, you will be connected to a trusted colleague
who is covering.
If you are difficult
to reach, please leave appropriate times and phone numbers when you will be
available.
Do you have anyone on staff who prescribes medication?
No. However, if a client requires
psychotropic medication, we refer him/her to a psychiatrist or to their
primary physician. About 80% of all psychotropic medication in the United
States is prescribed by a general practice physician.
Will my therapy sessions be confidential?
In general, the confidentiality of all communications between a client and a
licensed mental health professional is protected by law, and information
about the work you do with your clinician can be released to others only
with your written permission. However, there are a number of exceptions. If
more than one person is seen in therapy, such as a husband and wife, both
signatures are required to release information. In most judicial
proceedings, you have the right to prevent your clinician from providing any
information about your treatment.
However, in some circumstances such as child custody proceedings and
proceedings in which your emotional condition is an important element, a
judge may require your treatment provider's testimony if he/she determines
that resolution of the issues before him/her demands it. There are some
situations that legally require action to be taken to protect others from
harm, even though that requires revealing some information about a client's
treatment. For example, if it is believed that a child, an elderly person,
or a disabled person is being abused, a report must be filed with the
appropriate state agency.
If it is believed that a client is threatening serious bodily harm to
another or to a person's property, protective actions must be taken, which
may include notifying the potential victim, notifying the police, or seeking
appropriate hospitalization. If a client threatens to harm her/himself, the
clinician may be required to seek hospitalization for the client, or to
contact family members or others who can help provide protection.
These situations rarely arise. Should such a situation occur, every effort
will be made to fully discuss it with you before taking any action.
Occasionally, it is helpful to consult about a case with other
professionals. In these consultations, every effort is made to avoid
revealing the identity of the client. The consultant is, of course, also
legally bound to keep the information confidential. Unless you object, you
will not be told about the consultations unless your clinician feels it will
be important to your work.
While this written summary of exceptions to confidentiality should prove
helpful in informing you about potential problems, it is important that you
and your clinician discuss any questions or concerns which you may have,
whenever they arise. As you might suspect, the laws governing these issues
are quite complex, and your clinician is not an attorney.
While your clinician will be happy to discuss these issues with you, should
you need specific advice, formal legal consultation may be desirable. If you
request, relevant portions or summaries of the applicable state laws
governing these issues will be provided to you.
What is your Inclement Weather Policy?
Driving in bad weather conditions is an individual
decision based on one's own circumstances.
Since Dr. Hastings's office in in her home, she will be
there during inclement weather. If you feel unsafe driving, you may choose
to not keep your appointment. In this event just leave a message and you
will not be charged for the appointment. Please check with Dr. Hastings
if you have any questions about this policy.
Do you take insurance?
Dr. Hastings is a participating provider for most
major insurance companies including Medicare, Medicaid, Tricare/Champus,
Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and UBH. The best way to discover if she or
Naticook Counseling is covered by your insurance plan is to call the
number for mental health and substance abuse on the back of your insurance
card as individual insurance companies have a variety of different products.
Do you take Credit Cards?
We take Master Card and Visa with a minimum charge of $20.00
