Forms
NEW CLIENT FORMS
If you're a new client, please complete the following forms and bring them to your first therapy session.
CURRENT CLIENT FORM
If you would like me to coordinate care with another provider (for example, your psychiatrist, primary care physician, etc.), complete this form to authorize release of psychotherapy information:
Authorization to Disclose
What to Expect
We are confident this is a question many of you ponder before scheduling an appointment with us. Our warm and friendly therapists and staff at River's Edge Recovery Center of Michigan believes in the importance of making you feel comfortable in our office. That is why we believe in taking the time to go over some of your concerns and worries. During your initial visit with us, we will need paperwork to be filled out. We are more than happy to go over this paperwork with you and address any concerns/questions you may have.
Upon your first session, we will try best to understand what brought you in and followup with questions you share with us in order to make sure we completely understand your history, background, concerns, worries, etc. These questions allow us to come up with treatment goals to work on together for our following sessions. It is also important we get your feedback on treatment goals you would like to work on in your treatment. This gives us a good foundation of followup therapy session goals. Open and honest communication is always an important goal in this process.
Although one of our experienced and expert therapists must provide a diagnosis, here are symptoms of mania:
Heightened mood, exaggerated optimism and self-confidence
Excessive irritability, aggressive behavior
Decreased need for sleep without experiencing fatigue
Grandiose thoughts, inflated sense of self-importance
Racing speech, racing thoughts, flight of ideas
Impulsiveness, poor judgment, easily distracted
Reckless behavior
In the most severe cases, delusions and hallucinations
Although one of our experienced and expert therapists must provide a diagnosis, here are symptoms of depression:
Prolonged sadness or unexplained crying spells
Significant changes in appetite and sleep patterns
Irritability, anger, worry, agitation, anxiety
Pessimism, indifference
Loss of energy, persistent lethargy
Feelings of guilt, worthlessness
Inability to concentrate, indecisiveness
Inability to take pleasure in former interests, social withdrawal
Unexplained aches and pains
Recurring thoughts of death or suicide
Frequently Asked Questions
A number of benefits are available from participating in therapy. Therapists can provide support, problem-solving skills, and enhanced coping strategies for issues such as depression, anxiety, relationship troubles, unresolved childhood issues, grief, stress management, body image issues and self esteem. Many people also find that counselors can be a tremendous help when managing personal growth, interpersonal relationships, family concerns, child/adolescent development, and eating disturbances.
Therapists can provide a fresh perspective on a difficult problem or point you in the direction of a solution. The benefits you obtain from therapy depend on how well you use the process and put into practice what you learn. Some of the benefits available from therapy include:
Working together to provide balance in your family system
Attaining a better understanding of yourself, your goals and values
Developing skills for improving your relationships
Finding resolution to the issues or concerns that led you to seek therapy
Learning new ways to cope with stress and anxiety
Managing anger, grief, depression, and other emotional pressures
Improving communications and listening skills
Changing old behavior patterns and developing new ones
Discovering new ways to solve problems in your family
Improving your self-esteem and boosting self-confidence
Finding solutions to the underlying problematic eating behaviors
Do I Really Need Therapy?
"I can usually handle my own problems." Everyone goes through challenging situations in life, and while you may have successfully navigated through other difficulties you've faced, there's nothing wrong with seeking out extra support when you need it. In fact, therapy is for people who have enough self-awareness to realize they need a helping hand, and that is something to be admired. You are taking responsibility by accepting where you're at in life and making a commitment to change the situation by seeking therapy for yourself or your family. Therapy provides long-lasting benefits and support, giving you the tools you need to avoid triggers, re-direct damaging patterns, and overcome whatever challenges you face.
Why Do People Go to Therapy?
"How do I know it's right for me?" People have many different motivations for coming to psychotherapy. You may feel as if you'd like to make positive changes in your family or within yourself. You may also have concerns for your loved one such as your child and/or adolescent and would like to further discuss these issues with a professional. It may be time your child and/or adolescent talk to a therapist who can help with a wide range of issues such as low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, relationship problems, and eating disorders. Therapy can help provide some much needed encouragement and help with skills to get you through these periods. Others may be at a point where they are ready to learn more about themselves or want to be more effective with their goals in life. In short, people seeking psychotherapy are ready to meet the challenges in their lives and ready to make changes in their lives.
What is Therapy Like?
Because each person has different issues and goals for therapy, therapy will be different depending on the individual. In general, you can expect to discuss the current events happening in your life, your personal history relevant to your issue, and report progress (or any new insights gained) from the previous therapy session. Depending on your specific needs, therapy can be short-term, for a specific issue, or longer-term, to deal with more difficult patterns or your desire for more personal development. Either way, it is most common to schedule regular sessions with your therapist (usually weekly).
It is important to understand that you will get more results from therapy if you actively participate in the process. The ultimate purpose of therapy is to help you bring what you learn in session back into your life. Therefore, beyond the work you do in therapy sessions, your therapist may suggest some things you can do outside of therapy to support your process - such as reading a pertinent book, journaling on specific topics, noting particular behaviors or taking action on your goals. People seeking psychotherapy are ready to make positive changes in their lives, are open to new perspectives and take responsibility for their lives.
What About Medication vs. Psychotherapy?
It is well established that the long-term solution to mental and emotional problems and the pain they cause cannot be solved solely by medication. Instead of just treating the symptom, therapy addresses the cause of our distress and the behavior patterns that curb our progress. You can best achieve sustainable growth and a greater sense of well-being with an integrative approach to wellness. Working with your medical doctor you can determine what's best for you, and in some cases a combination of medication and therapy is the right course of action.
Do You Take Insurance? How Does That Work?
To determine if you have mental health coverage through your insurance carrier, the first thing you should do is call them. Check your coverage carefully and make sure you understand their answers. Some helpful questions you can ask them:
What are my mental health benefits?
What is the coverage amount per therapy session?
How many therapy sessions does my plan cover?
How much does my insurance pay for an out-of-network provider?
Is approval required from my primary care physician?
What About Medication vs. Psychotherapy?
It is well established that the long-term solution to mental and emotional problems and the pain they cause cannot be solved solely by medication. Instead of just treating the symptom, therapy addresses the cause of our distress and the behavior patterns that curb our progress. You can best achieve sustainable growth and a greater sense of well-being with an integrative approach to wellness. Working with your medical doctor you can determine what's best for you, and in some cases a combination of medication and therapy is the right course of action.
Does What We Talk About in Therapy Remain Confidential?
Confidentiality is one of the most important components between a client and psychotherapist. Successful therapy requires a high degree of trust with highly sensitive subject matter that is usually not discussed anywhere but the therapist's office. Every therapist should provide a written copy of their confidential disclosure agreement, and you can expect that what you discuss in session will not be shared with anyone. This is called "Informed Consent". Sometimes, however, you may want your therapist to share information or give an update to someone on your healthcare team (your Physician, Naturopath, Attorney), but by law your therapist cannot release this information without obtaining your written permission.
However, state law and professional ethics require therapists to maintain confidentiality except for the following situations:
Suspected past or present abuse, abandonment, exploitation, or neglect of children, vulnerable adults, and elders to the authorities based on information provided by the client or collateral sources.
If the therapist has reason to suspect the client is seriously in danger of harming him/herself or has threatened to harm another person.
Rates
RATES
Non-Insurance Sessions
45 Minutes: $50.00
30 Minutes: $35.00
Consultations
1 Hour: $65.00
Non-Insurance Biopsychosocial Evaluations
$100.00
DOT-SAP Evaluation and Follow-Up
$450.00
Fees must be paid the day of your appointment.
CANCELLATION: Please notify us at least 24 hours in advance if you are unable to keep your scheduled therapy appointment.
Insurance
INSURANCE
Coverage varies greatly, but our services may be covered in part or in full by your insurance provider. Please contact your health insurance plan to learn more about what your plan covers. Below are some helpful questions to ask:
Does my insurance benefits include mental health services?
What is the coverage amount per therapy session?
Will I be required to pay a copay?
Is there a limit to the number of sessions per year my plan covers?
What is my deductible?
Do I need to get approval from my primary care physician?
Please have your insurance information available when you are calling to make an appointment if you desire to use it. Usually you can find their number on the back of your insurance card. We accept cash, MasterCard, Visa, American Express, Discover and debit cards.
Our In-Network Insurance Providers
Privacy Policy & Disclaimer
PRIVACY POLICY
The law protects the relationship between a client and a psychotherapist, and information cannot be disclosed without written permission.
Exceptions Include:
Suspected child abuse or dependent adult or elder abuse, for which I am required by law to report this to the appropriate authorities immediately.
If a client is threatening serious bodily harm to another person/s, I must notify the police and inform the intended victim.
If a client intends to harm himself or herself, I will make every effort to enlist their cooperation in ensuring their safety. If they do not cooperate, I will take further measures without their permission that are provided to me by law in order to ensure their safety.
DISCLAIMER / TERMS OF USE
Our content is provided for informational purposes only. Such information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any medical issues or to provide direct medical advice. Content is not intended to replace a personal relationship with a healthcare provider. Information on this website represents the opinions of the respective authors and is protected under the laws of copyright and trademark. Information about our services on the website are for informational purposes only and nonbinding.
No statement on our website is intended to imply that any person should seek services or treatment or use in place of treatment recommended by an accredited health care provider. Any questions you may have concerning topics addressed on this website should be directed to your healthcare professional.