Clinic Policy

Our therapists use automated reminders as a courtesy. However, you are responsible for writing down your appointment time and making it to the appointment, regardless of receiving the reminder. If the you do not receive a reminder for a scheduled appointment, it is recommended to reach out to your individual therapist. If you do not wish to receive automated reminders, you can inform your individual therapist or change the settings on your online portal.

A missed appointment is a scheduled appointment in which you do not show and do not provide at least 24-hour notice prior to your scheduled appointment time. You will be responsible for the entirety of the session cost for a missed appointment unless otherwise determined by the therapist. You will not be charged for a missed appointment if it is a weather-related cancellation.

Because counseling is based on 45-60 minute time slots, it is important to arrive on time to your appointment. It is unlikely your therapist will be able to allow you to make up the time you missed if you are late to your appointment. It is also possible clients using insurance may be required to pay a fee for late arrivals. Please let your therapist know if you are running late to your appointment.

We do not have a receptionist at Morning Light Christian Counseling, which means you will make yourself comfortable in the waiting room until your therapist comes out to get you for your appointment. Your therapist will work to be on time to each appointment, but please text or call your individual therapist if he or she is not in the waiting room fifteen minutes after your scheduled appointment. Please be respectful of others working in session by remaining quiet in the waiting room while you enjoy complimentary refreshments.

We love children at Morning Light Christian Counseling; however, children are not to be left unattended in any part of our facilities. It is the parent or guardian’s responsibility to keep all children quiet while others are receiving services. The parent or guardian is also responsible for any damage done to Morning Light Christian Counseling’s property.

Therapists accept cash, check, credit card, or HSA/FSA cards. Therapists are responsible for their own billing and may choose to charge an additional fee to use a card. If choosing to pay with cash, exact change may be required. A $50.00 fee will be charged for all checks returned due to insufficient funds.

Each of our therapists are seeing clients in-person and virtually. Our office does not currently require vaccinations or masks to enter our office. However, if you or a member of your household is exposed to Covid-19 or has symptoms of Covid-19, please notify your therapist and he or she will help you determine whether you should switch your appointment to a virtual appointment.

Your Information. Your Rights. Our Responsibilities.

This notice describes how medical information about you may be used and disclosed and how you can get access to this information. Please review it carefully.

Your Rights

You have the right to:

Your Choices

You have some choices in the way that we use and share information as we:

Our Uses and Disclosures

We may use and share your information as we:

Your Rights

When it comes to your health information, you have certain rights. This section explains your rights and some of our responsibilities to help you.

Get an electronic or paper copy of your medical record

Ask us to correct your medical record

Request confidential communications

Ask us to limit what we use or share

Get a list of those with whom we’ve shared information

Get a copy of this privacy notice

You can ask for a paper copy of this notice at any time, even if you have agreed to receive the notice electronically. We will provide you with a paper copy promptly.

Choose someone to act for you

File a complaint if you feel your rights are violated

Your Choices

For certain health information, you can tell us your choices about what we share. If you have a clear preference for how we share your information in the situations described below, talk to us. Tell us what you want us to do, and we will follow your instructions.

In these cases, you have both the right and choice to tell us to:

If you are not able to tell us your preference, for example if you are unconscious, we may go ahead and share your information if we believe it is in your best interest. We may also share your information when needed to lessen a serious and imminent threat to health or safety.

In these cases we never share your information unless you give us written permission:

In the case of fundraising:

Our Uses and Disclosures

How do we typically use or share your health information?

We typically use or share your health information in the following ways.

Treat you

We can use your health information and share it with other professionals who are treating you.
Example: A doctor treating you for an injury asks another doctor about your overall health condition.

Run our organization

We can use and share your health information to run our practice, improve your care, and contact you when necessary.

Example: We use health information about you to manage your treatment and services.

Bill for your services

We can use and share your health information to bill and get payment from health plans or other entities.

Example: We give information about you to your health insurance plan so it will pay for your services.

How else can we use or share your health information?

We are allowed or required to share your information in other ways – usually in ways that contribute to the public good, such as public health and research. We have to meet many conditions in the law before we can share your information for these purposes. For more information see: www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understanding/consumers/index.html.

Help with public health and safety issues

We can share health information about you for certain situations such as:

Do research

We can use or share your information for health research.

Comply with the law

We will share information about you if state or federal laws require it, including with the Department of Health and Human Services if it wants to see that we’re complying with federal privacy law.

Respond to organ and tissue donation requests

We can share health information about you with organ procurement organizations.

Work with a medical examiner or funeral director

We can share health information with a coroner, medical examiner, or funeral director when an individual dies.

Address workers’ compensation, law enforcement, and other government requests

We can use or share health information about you:

Respond to lawsuits and legal actions

We can share health information about you in response to a court or administrative order, or in response to a subpoena.

Our Responsibilities

For more information see: www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understanding/consumers/noticepp.html.


Changes to the Terms of this Notice

We can change the terms of this notice, and the changes will apply to all information we have about you. The new notice will be available upon request, in our office, and on our web site.

Some therapists at Morning Light accept some forms of insurance. If using insurance benefits, your therapist will work with you to verify your benefits as quickly as possible. You will then be informed of your co-pay and deductible. Your therapist will collect your co-pay at the time of service and will then bill your health insurance carrier directly for services rendered. Once the claim is processed by your insurance, you will be billed (or refunded if necessary) for any remaining balance owed. If you change or add an insurance policy, you must inform your therapist and provide your new insurance card prior to your appointment. Any balances not paid by your insurance carrier are your responsibility and payment is due upon receipt of your billing statement.

Some of our therapists do not take insurance, and all of them only take certain types of insurance. If you choose to see a therapist that does not not directly bill your insurance, your therapist may give you a statement of reimbursement (superbill) to submit to your insurance. However, there is no guarantee your insurance will reimburse you. By scheduling with a therapist that does not take your insurance, you are choosing to use self-pay in the event that your health insurance does not reimburse you for treatment. The responsibility of your insurance reimbursing you is not the responsibility of the therapist.

Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the bill for medical items and services.

For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit
 cms.gov/nosurprises or call 1-877-751-2972.

Our therapists may choose to incorporate a dog into their psychotherapy work. If your therapist chooses to do that, he or she believes the dog's presence benefits his or her clients. There are scientific studies to back this up. The use of animals by health professionals in their work is called animal-assisted therapy. Numerous studies show that interacting with animals helps people lower their blood pressure, increases engagement, and reduces anxiety/depression. This content outlines the risks and rules needed to ensure your health and safety (as well as the dog's) as we work together. Alexander is currently the only dog at Morning Light Christian Counseling and he is primarily working with Benjamin Rex Allison. Alexander and Rex are currently in training for him to be an Animal Assist Therapy Dog. Alexander still needs to learn some skills to pass his therapy dog certification test. First up will be the American Kennel Club’s Canine Good Citizen test.

Although working with canines in a therapeutic setting has many benefits, there are risks associated with the intervention. Because we use a live animal, it is important to note in advance the policies and procedures needed to maximize the intervention and ensure safety.