Service Rates and Terms

The rates listed here are for clients paying for services out-of-pocket (not using insurance). For clients with insurance, benefits and rates are determined by the insurance company. Insurance plans may have deductibles or copays which must be paid out-of-pocket. Insurance benefits and rates will be discussed at intake (or are available from your insurance company). Insurance does not cover online services. For a list of insurance plans I currently can take in my office locations, click here.

Note: You may "opt-out" of using insurance if you have high deductibles and copays or privacy concerns. To do so, you will need to sign an insurance waiver at intake. Although you may save money or protect against insurance company audits by paying out-of-pocket, you will usually be unable to apply payments made under a waiver to insurance deductibles. When using insurance, payments on a deductible must equal the insurance company's contracted rate for type of service provided until the deductible is satisfied.

Using E-mail Services

Before deciding to use online services, first e-mail me at either dwines@dwcounseling.com for more information. Based on the information you provide, I can give you an idea of whether online counseling can be of use for you. If it is decided to use an online counseling service, I will provide further instructions on setting up an account and using the service.

Payments for services must be paid in advance at the minimum chargeable rate. Payments for services rendered must be paid in full before additional services may be received. You may also pay more than the minimum in advance and be credited for future services.

You may use credit or debit cards through PayPal. You do not need to be a member of PayPal to use the service. To go to the PayPal shopping cart, click here. You may also pay by personal check made out to me and sent to my office at Advanced Counseling Services (see Contact Me for mailing information). However, payments by check must clear the bank before services will be rendered. Thus, it may take several days before you can utilize a service paid by check. Any checks or credit charges that are refused or returned by the bank will be subject to termination of online services and additional fees to cover administrative costs ($25 per transaction plus any bank charges). Note: No personal identifying information will be shared with any third party unless required by law (see Terms of Service below).

Click here for detailed information and instructions for online counseling services.

Terms of Service and Privacy Policies

Warning: If you are feeling in danger of seriously harming yourself or another person, please call 911, go to the nearest emergency room or call a crisis hotline. If you indicate you are suicidal, homicidal or in danger of harming someone, by law I must make a reasonable attempt to notify appropriate authorities and give them whatever contact information I have for you. However, if you have not provided correct emergency contact information, I will not be able to locate or contact appropriate authorities in your area.

General: Terms of Service for online services are similar to those for office services, although there are a few differences which are noted herein. Use of services described on this site constitutes agreement with Terms of Service and Privacy Policies for dwcounseling (David Wines). For office services, terms are discussed at time of intake.

Minimum Information Required: The type and amount of information you share is governed by federal and local laws. In general, online services do not require the recipient to disclose detailed identification information. However, for emergencies, billing purposes and laws regarding confidentiality, a minimum of a verifiable contact name, telephone number and e-mail address is required. "Verifiable" means I can readily verify the authenticity of contact information if desired. Payments made by credit cards or checks may be made by anyone on behalf of the client but may be traceable by issuing bank. However, any payment information or other identifying information is kept strictly confidential to the extent of the law. Payments returned unprocessed/unpaid for any reason may result in termination of services and additional charges.

Payment for Services: Fees for online services must be paid in advance using payment methods described on this site. Occasionally discounts may be offered for multiple services. Payments for pre-paid services are not refundable except in certain circumstances which are described herein.

Confidentiality: As with office-based services, online services follow federal and state laws regarding confidentiality. These laws are designed to insure that what is shared between client and therapist is privileged information and cannot be disseminated to a third party without the written consent of the client. However, the law also provides for exceptions when the client may be in danger of harming self or others.

In general, if you are threatening to harm yourself or someone else, or if I have reasonable suspicion that you pose a physical threat to yourself or others, I may break confidentiality to protect yourself or others. However, unlike office-based services, I cannot guarantee I will be able to locate or contact emergency services in your area.

If you are feeling suicidal, please call 911, contact your local crisis hotline or proceed to the nearest emergency room.

As a general rule, behaviors that have occurred in the past but are not happening presently are protected by confidentiality laws. However, this may not apply to serious crimes committed in the past that have not already been adjudicated (usually determined by the state of jurisdiction). If you have doubts about whether certain acts are protected by confidentiality, consult an attorney familiar with applicable federal and state laws. Note: Health information transmitted electronically is also governed by federal HIPAA regulations (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act). Copies of HIPAA regulations are usually available at offices of most health providers (e.g., doctors, pharmacists, mental health clinics).

Privacy and Security: Communications transmitted over the internet may not be as private as communications within an office setting, However, they are relayed via secure servers, meaning they are not made accessible to outsiders by the company transmitting the information. Encryption is an option that codes/decodes text-based messages (which involves additional steps by provider and client), but is not used unless requested by a client. Computers have "addresses" (called Internet Protocols) which may make them traceable. It is also possible that a "hacker" may be able to intercept messages over the internet. Thus, if you are concerned about the privacy of information you want to share, it may be better to use office-based services. Identifying information you provide to obtain services from me is never sold to or shared with third parties for marketing purposes.

Note: "Cookies" are bits of data sent by one computer to another which enable communication of certain information. In general, they are temporarily stored on your computer to improve your browsing experience when you visit certain websites. They can be deleted through the Internet Options tab on the Tools menu in Internet Explorer. You may disable Cookies through your internet browser, but it may slow down your browsing experience. If Cookies are used by me they will not be used to save personal data nor to market services.

Non-discrimination Policy: I provide services to anyone seeking them without regard to race, ethnic origin, sex, sexual/gender identity, religion, disability or other characteristics that have been subject to historical discrimination. However, at this time my online practice is limited to adults 18 years and over (office services include adolescents over 12).

Service Interruption, Cancellation and Refunds: Unlike office-based services, online services rely mostly on electronic technology. E-mail (and audio-based, if available) services are offered through a broadband (high speed) connection. On occasion, an internet connection may be unavailable or terminated prematurely due to electrical or network failures. If an audio-based session is terminated prematurely due to a technical problem, you have the option of continuing the session if a connection can be reestablished, or obtaining a credit or refund for the time lost.

(For office or audio-based services only): Pre-scheduled appointments may be cancelled without charge if at least 24-hours notice is given. Appointments that are missed for valid reasons (e.g., emergencies or unforeseen events) may be rescheduled for a later date or refunded on a pro-rata basis (if prepaid). However, if you simply miss or cancel scheduled appointments without appropriate notice or reason, you may be charged a fee up to $60 which will be charged to your account and/or subtracted from any advance payment (amount of fee is based on the rate for the missed service).

There is no obligation on either your or my part to participate in or continue online counseling services. Such services may be cancelled at any time by you without notice. If you choose to terminate services prematurely other than for unexpected life-changing events ("acts of god"), no refund will be given for unused services. If you experience an unusual or emergency circumstance that prevents you from giving proper notice, you (or an authorized representative) may contact me within a reasonable time period if you wish to obtain a refund (a maximum of 90 days is allowed for notification to obtain a refund). If I am unable to provide a service that was already paid for, you will be given notice (if humanly possible) and a full refund. Refunds will be processed through the payment method you used when you made the transaction.

Recordkeeping: In general, office-based services require formal case records with consent forms, written assessments and progress notes that must meet certain standards set by accrediting agencies and/or insurance companies. At this time, online services do not require formal recordkeeping. This may be advantageous in that costs of recordkeeping and storage of files are reduced, which in turn can be passed on to the consumer in the form of lower rates. On the other hand, if you need written documentation or records of services rendered, online therapy may not be appropriate.

For tax purposes, it is necessary to record the date, type and amount of any transaction occurring between client (you) and provider (me). A receipt will be generated indicating my name, address and credentials, along with a brief description of services. This receipt will be e-mailed to you (or, at your option, mailed through the post office). You should maintain receipts for services in case of billing questions or for tax purposes (you may be able to deduct session costs as medical expenses - see a tax expert).

In general, for online services I do not keep a formal case file or notes, except as necessary to help me remember information. Any written notes or transcripts of sessions are stored in locked files (either on computer or in a file cabinet) inaccessible to third parties and will be destroyed within a reasonable time after termination of services (generally not more than one year after termination unless a federal or state law requires differently - check with your jurisdiction if in doubt). You may also keep copies of any/all e-mail or other correspondence. Note: In rare cases, a court may subpoena records to prosecute a criminal or civil case. If no written documents are available, a court may still require oral testimony from me.

Copyrights, Trademarks and Endorsements: All information presented on this website or through online services is protected by U.S. copyright and trademark laws. Information from outside sources is referenced and subject to copyrights held by those sources. You may not reproduce any information or images without written permission from me or the copyright holder. (Note: Permission is granted for personal use of forms or articles written by me which are posted on the website, as long as they are not reproduced for sale or distribution to others.) Opinions shared by myself or others on this website are those of the author(s) and do not imply endorsement of any particular advice, service or product.

General Disclaimer: The nature of therapy involves giving feedback and suggestions to help you manage or resolve problems. You are free to accept or reject such feedback. However, any suggestions or feedback given by me shall not be construed as legal advice, nor shall information about medical options, such as medications, be construed as medical advice. Please consult a qualified practitioner (e.g., attorney or physician) for such advice.

Online counseling may not be appropriate for your situation nor is it a substitute for in-person, office-based services. If I do not believe that online services are appropriate for you, I will refer you to a more appropriate type or level of care. I may also choose to terminate services if I feel that you are not making progress after a reasonable amount of time or you are engaged in abusive or illegal activities which could be harmful to yourself or others. As with office-based services, no guarantee can be given as to the results of treatment provided.

Governing Law: In general, laws applying to provision of office-based services apply to online services. However, at this time there are no known federal or Michigan laws regulating provision of mental health services over the internet. Office-based services I provide are governed by the State of Michigan Department of Community Health and the state licensing board for social workers. For services provided online to residents of other jurisdictions, there is no known law in Michigan prohibiting such services. Unless you reside in a jurisdiction which specifically prohibits such services or requires the application of that jurisdiction's laws, or a federal law supersedes state law, the laws of the State of Michigan will apply in any dispute arising out of services I provide.

Resolution of Disputes: In the event of a dispute regarding services or billing, first attempt to resolve it with me directly. If you are not satisfied with the result, you may write to appropriate governing or accrediting agencies, such as the Michigan Department of Community Health (Lansing, MI) or the National Association of Social Workers (Washington, DC).

Agreement/Consent to Treatment: By using this site, it is assumed that you have read and understood the Terms of Service for dwcounseling. If you choose to use any of my online services, you are agreeing to the Terms of Service and consenting to treatment through dwcounseling.com. You are free to ask for clarification of service terms at anytime. Contact information is given in the Contact Me section on the website (click here to go to it).
 

Terms of Service & Privacy Policies                                Contact Information