Tom Wolfe Olschner, Ph.D.

8771 Wolff Ct., Suite 110 

Westminster, CO 80031

Telephone:(303)427-2300  

Fax:(303)427-2378

 

PRACTICE POLICIES

When you decide to start therapy you are investing in yourself. Good information about your prospective therapist will help you decide which therapist is right for you. You are entitled to receive information from me about my methods of therapy, the techniques I use, the duration of your therapy (if I can determine it), and my fee structure. This statement contains some of that information. If you have any additional questions, concerns, or suggestions regarding any aspect of my practice or my credentials, please discuss them with me. I will gladly answer your questions, and I welcome your comments.

Psychotherapy is an active and creative process between therapist and client. I want to hear from you how therapy is proceeding, your questions about methods, and your feedback about what is helping and what is not. By so doing, we can tailor your therapy plan to meet your needs and goals.

Training, Experience, and Credentials

After completing my B.A. at Colorado College and serving on staff for four years with Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship I did my graduate work at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California. In 1987 I received my Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and my Masters of Divinity degrees. My training in graduate school included a one-year internship at Pasadena Guidance Clinics (now called Pacific Clinics) and a one-year internship at St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica, California.

After completing my graduate studies I began in private practice with Associated Psychological Services in Pasadena, California. Concurrently, I worked at The Sycamores, a residential treatment facility for boys, working one year as a staff clinician and two years as Clinical Supervisor.

I continued in private practice in Pasadena until 1994 dealing with a broad spectrum of presenting problems but specializing in the areas of sexual addiction, sexual dysfunction, and marital problems. I have been in private practice in the Denver Metro area since March, 1994. I became licensed as a psychologist in the State of California on March 3, 1989 and in the State of Colorado on October 23, 1992.

Fee Information

My fee is $140.00 per session. My standard session is 50 minutes. My fee for longer/shorter sessions is pro-rated from this basic charge. I typically raise my fees at the beginning of each year and I will notify you ahead of time before an increase. I request payment in cash or by check at the time service is rendered. Please fill out your check before the session so that we can make full therapeutic use of your session time. If you have insurance coverage for psychological services, you will need to check with your carrier on how to file a claim. Upon your request I will furnish you with an Attending Provider Statement at the time of your session that will assist you with filing for reimbursement. As I charge for all of my professional time, should you request that I fill out additional documentation for your insurance company we may either do that during a session or I can bill you on a pro-rated basis. Payments may be deductible as medical expenses on your income tax return. For some who are self-employed, psychotherapy is an allowable business expense. Please consult your tax advisor for guidance.

Cancellations

If you are unable to keep an appointment, please notify me immediately. If you miss or cancel an appointment without 24 hours prior notice to your scheduled apppointment you will be billed for the session with the following exception. This exception is that if you must cancel a session within 24 hours of your appointment time, I will allow you to reschedule that session to another opening of mine within 48 hours of the original time.

Office Hours

My office hours are:

Monday, 8:00 a.m. -7:00 p.m.

Tuesday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Wednesday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Thursday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Telephone Calls

When you call my office (303-427-2300) and I am either away from the office or with a client the call will be transferred to voice mail after 2 rings. If I am currently on the phone the call will be transferred to voice mail after 1 ring. Please leave times that I can reach you by telephone. I retrieve voice mail messages regularly during my office hours and in the evening on Sunday to receive any cancellation calls for Monday sessions. I will return phone calls during business hours as soon as I am able, almost always within 24 hours. In a clinical emergency you can call me on my cell phone at 720-394-0907.

I do not charge for brief conversations. However, any discussion that goes beyond five minutes will be billed to you on a pro-rated basis.

Limits of Practice

I have limited my practice to clients who are not in need of 24-hour care. While I occasionally provide hospital services, I have chosen not to develop a hospital practice for personal and family reasons.

You may end treatment at any time, and you may seek a second opinion if you wish to do so. While you may end treatment at any time, I request that you have at least one final face-to-face termination session with me rather than termination by telephone or mail. This final session allows adequate time to finish the therapeutic process.

Grievance Board

As a qualified psychologist, I practice specific methods of treatment and can explain what theoretical orientation and practical techniques I will use. Although the exact length of treatment is hard to predict, I can provide an estimate of treatment duration. You have a right to know if other treatments are available. I can guide you as to the effectiveness of alternatives.

No one may hold the title of "psychologist" unless he/she meets the specific standards established by the Colorado State Department of Regulatory Agencies. My psychology license is a guarantee to you that I have been trained and supervised in the diagnosis and treatment of psychological conditions. As a licensed psychologist, my practice is regulated by the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies. My license number is 1652. The agency within the Department that has responsibility specifically for licensed and unlicensed psychotherapists is the State Grievance Board, 1560 Broadway, Suite #1340, Denver, Colorado 80202, (303) 894-7766.

The Grievance Board should be contacted if you have any concern or complaints about me or any other licensed or unlicensed mental health practitioner. For example, in a professional relationship (such as ours), sexual intimacy between a therapist and a client is never appropriate.

Confidentiality

The trust needed in our therapeutic relationship requires that you be assured of confidentiality. Generally speaking, the information provided by and to a client during therapy sessions with a licensed psychologist is legally confidential. If the information is legally confidential, the therapist cannot be forced to disclose the information without the client's consent.

Information disclosed to me, as a licensed psychologist, is privileged communication and cannot be disclosed in any court of competent jurisdiction in the State of Colorado without the consent of the person to whom the testimony sought relates.

There are exceptions to the general rule of legal confidentiality. These exceptions are listed in the Colorado statutes (see section 12-43-218, C.R.S., in particular) and include "threat of serious harm to self or others," as in the case of child abuse, suicide, or grave disability. You should be aware that, except in the case of information given to a licensed psychologist, legal confidentiality does not apply in a criminal or delinquency proceeding. It is also my practice to consult with colleagues who are licensed mental health professionals on my cases to ensure that I am providing the highest standard of care to my clients. I do not disclose lastnames or any other identifying information to these colleagues.

Consent

I have been informed of Dr. Olschner's degrees, credentials, and license. I have also read the preceding information and understand my rights as a client. I understand and agree to the policies described herein. I consent to therapy, including evaluation, treatment and/or referral.

_________________________ __________________________ _______________

Client Signature(s) Date

I was referred to Dr. Olschner by __________________________. I hereby give Dr. Olschner permission to write this person a note of appreciation for referring me. _____ (initials)

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