Innovative Counseling’s Clinic Policies

Benefits to Evaluation/Treatment:

Evaluation and treatment may be administered with psychological interviews, psychological assessment or testing, psychotherapy, medication management, as well as expectations regarding the length and frequency of treatment. It may be beneficial to the client, as well as the referring professional, to understand the nature and cause of any difficulties affecting the client’s daily functioning, so that appropriate recommendations and treatments may be offered. Uses of this evaluation include diagnosis, evaluation of recovery or treatment, estimating prognosis, and education and rehabilitation planning. Possible benefits to treatment include improved cognitive or academic/job performance, health status, quality of life, and awareness of strengths and limitations.

Charges:

Fees are based on the length or type of the evaluation or treatment, which are determined by the nature of the service. Client’s are responsible for any charges not covered by insurance, including co-payments and deductibles. Fees are available upon request.

Confidentiality, Harm, and Inquiry:

Information from the evaluation and/or treatment is contained in a confidential Electronic Medical Record, with disclosure for use by Innovative Counseling, Inc’s staff for the purpose of continuity of the client’s care. Per Wisconsin mental health law, information provided will be kept confidential with the following exceptions:

  • If the client is deemed to present a danger to the client or others;

  • If concerns about possible abuse or neglect arise; or

  • If a court order is issued to obtain records.

Discharge Policy:

There are circumstances under which the client may be involuntarily discharged; including but not limited to: inappropriate or threatening behavior towards staff or other clients, no longer appropriate for services, or poor attendance.

Cancellation/Missed Appointments: If for any reason an appointment cannot be kept, the office and/or therapist must be notified 24 hours in advance. Our staff will make every effort to place a courtesy reminder call/text one or two days prior to your appointment; however it is ultimately your responsibility to attend your scheduled appointments.

Two missed medication and/or therapy appointments or frequent cancellations with short notice may result in your file being closed

Right to Withdraw Consent:

I have the right to withdraw my consent for evaluation and/or treatment at any time by providing a written request to the treating clinician.

INNOVATIVE COUNSELING PSYCHIATRIC POLICY 

Innovative Counseling is a therapy-based clinic in which the therapist and prescribers work in collaboration to provide the best possible treatment. Our nurses, Glenda McConnell, PMHNP and Crystal Hooyman, PMHNP provide psychiatric consultation and medication management services to children and adults ages 4 and older. Our psychiatric providers are available to provide psychiatric consultation and treatment ONLY to patients who are involved in regular on-going therapy at our clinic.  

SCHEDULING AN APPOINTMENT

  1. Once the referral has been completed by the client's therapist, our team will request the client’s medical records. After all records are received and reviewed, our team will call to schedule the Initial Psychiatric Evaluation. Please note:  If the client is late to this appointment, cancels without 24 hours or fails to attend the Initial Psychiatric Evaluation they will not be able to reschedule this appointment for 1 year.   

  2. Clients must remain in active therapy in our clinic in order to keep the scheduled Initial Psychiatric Evaluation and to continue to receive medication management services at Innovative Counseling.  Frequency of sessions in order to maintain the therapeutic relationship is determined in collaboration between the therapist and the client.  Maintenance clients (clients who have met their therapeutic goals) need to be seen at least once every 3 months.

CANCELLATION/MISSED APPOINTMENT POLICY

If for any reason an appointment cannot be kept, the office must be notified 24 hours in advance.  If it is after business hours please leave a detailed message with the cancellation.  

Our automated system will place a courtesy reminder call or text one day prior to the appointment; however, it is the client’s responsibility to attend their scheduled appointments. If two or more medication checks are canceled without a 24 hours notice, the client’s psychiatric file may be closed. Please note: a discharge from the psychiatric clinic does not include a discharge from therapy, but a discharge from therapy does result in a discharge from the whole clinic. 

GENETIC TESTING

Innovative Counseling, Inc.’s psychiatric clinic utilizes genetic testing through an outside company, Genesight. Genetic testing can help clinicians understand how their client’s genetics may impact their outcomes with mental health medications. Genetic testing is encouraged but is not required.  Testing results are available to all clients by request.  

DISCHARGE

Any client who fails to attend a therapy session in 3 months will receive a letter reminding them of the policy and will be given the opportunity to commit to the therapeutic process by rescheduling and attending therapy sessions as agreed upon by the therapist and client.  If the client chooses not to adhere to policy by contacting the office or participating in therapy within 30 days, their psychiatric file will be closed.

When a client voluntarily or involuntarily discontinues therapy or medication management services at Innovative Counseling, Inc. the psychiatric team can provide a list of other prescribers in the area to assist in the transition of care. Patients who have been discharged from the psychiatric clinic may receive one month of refills to assist in the transition of care; at the prescriber’s discretion. 

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Psychiatric Clinic Coordinator at 920-497-6161.