Tampa Psychology
Brian Nussbaum, Psy.D
Licensed Clinical Psychologist, FL license# PY6830
Tampapsychology.com
(813) 545-7754
Contract For Services
Welcome to my practice. This document contains important information about my professional services and business policies. Please read it carefully and jot down any questions you might have so that we can discuss them. When you sign this document, it will represent an agreement between us.
PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES
Psychotherapy is not easily described in general statements. It varies depending on the personalities of the psychologist and client, and the particular problems you discuss. I view therapy as a partnership. You define the problem areas to be worked on while I use specialized knowledge to help you make the changes you want to make. It is not like visiting a medical doctor. It requires your very active involvement and your best efforts to change thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Change will sometimes be easy and quick, but more often it will be slow and require on-going effort. There are no instant cures or "magic pills." In order for the therapy to be most successful, you will have to practice new skills that you will learn in our meetings.
Psychotherapy can have benefits and risks. Since therapy often involves discussing unpleasant aspects of your life, you may experience uncomfortable feelings like sadness, guilt, langer, frustration, loneliness, and worry. On the other hand, psychotherapy has also been shown to have powerful benefits for people who go through it. Therapy often leads to better relationships, solutions to specific problems, significant reductions in feelings of distress, and an improved sense of wellbeing. But there are no guarantees of what you will experience.
Our first few sessions will involve an evaluation of your needs. By the end of the evaluation, I will be able to offer you some first impressions of what our work will include and a treatment plan to follow, if you decide to continue with therapy. You should evaluate this information along with your own opinions of whether you feel comfortable working with me. Therapy involves a significant commitment of time, money, and energy, so you should be very careful about the therapist you select. If you have questions about my procedures, we should discuss them whenever they arise.
EVALUATION & PSYCHOTHERAPY SESSIONS
I normally conduct an evaluation that will last from 1-2 sessions. During this time, we can both decide if I am the best person to provide the services you need in order to meet your therapy goals. If psychotherapy is begun, I will usually schedule one 45-minute session every 1-2 weeks at a time we agree on. You are responsible for coming to your sessions on time and at the time we have scheduled. If you are late, we may be unable to meet for the full time, as I may have another appointment after yours, however you will still be responsible for the full fee for the session. If I am unable to start on time, I assure you that you will receive the full time agreed to.
PROFESSIONAL FEES
Psychotherapy/Counseling
My regular fee for a 45-minute psychotherapy appointment is $200. In addition to weekly appointments, I charge this amount for most other services you may need. though I will break down the hourly cost if I work for periods of less than one hour. Other services include report writing, telephone conversations lasting longer than 10 minutes, attendance at meetings with other professionals you have authorized, preparation of records or treatment summaries, and the time spent performing any other service you may request of me (except as noted below).
Psychological Testing/Evaluations
Fees for psychological testing and formal psychological evaluations such as personality testing vary based upon complexity, the psychological tests used, and the purpose of the evaluation. You will be informed of the costs associated with such an evaluation prior to any such services being rendered.
Forensic/Legal Services
Because of the difficulty of legal involvement, I charge $450 per hour for preparation and attendance at any legal proceeding. Additionally, any services rendered as part of a legal proceeding, such as disability hearings, expert witness testimony, or divorce/custody proceedings are billed at the rate of $450 per hour. If you become involved in legal proceedings that require my participation, you will be expected to pay for my professional time even if I am called to testify by another party. I require a $1800 non-refundable retainer fee be paid in advance of any legal/forensic services or court appearances.