Payment & Billing Policies

Payment is required 48 hours prior to your scheduled appointment in order to confirm and hold your reserved session time.

Additional Payment Information

• Payments are processed 48 hours prior to the scheduled session using the preferred payment method on file.

• An active payment method must remain on file in order to schedule or continue services. Failure to maintain an active payment method may result in a pause or termination of care.

• Clients are expected to maintain an account balance of zero in order to schedule or continue services.

• Sessions that remain unpaid within the 48-hour window may be subject to cancellation, unless other arrangements have been coordinated in advance.

• Cancellations made within 48 hours of the scheduled session and missed appointments (No-Shows) are charged the full session fee ($300.00).

• Extended sessions must be paid on the same day services are rendered. Any extension of time is discussed and agreed upon beforehand and billed at the therapist’s discretion.

• Outstanding balances exceeding 30 days may incur a 10% late payment fee ($30).

• Accepted forms of payment include major credit and debit cards processed securely through the SimplePractice client portal.

• Fees may be updated periodically with 30 days advance written notice.

• Fees are non-refundable and non-negotiable.

I understand that unexpected delays can occur, and I strive to hold our work with care and consistency. A 15-minute courtesy window is available for late arrivals.  Session meeting will end by 15-minute mark. 

If you arrive within that window, we will use the remaining time of the session. Sessions will still conclude at the originally scheduled end time in order to honor the care and scheduling of all clients.

If I have not heard from you within 15 minutes of the scheduled start time, the session will be considered missed and the full session fee of $300 will apply.

In the rare event that I am delayed, your full session time will always be offered.

Cancellation Policy

Each session time is thoughtfully reserved for your care. Appointments canceled with less than 48 hours’ notice, or missed appointments, are subject to the full session fee of $300 and are non-refundable.

I understand that unexpected situations can arise. When possible, rescheduling within the same week is welcomed and may allow the late cancellation fee to be waived at the therapist’s discretion. Rescheduling within the same week is always the preferred approach when feasible.

Consistent attendance supports the depth and effectiveness of our work together. Repeated late cancellations or missed appointments within a 30-day period may result in removal from the schedule in order to maintain therapeutic momentum and ensure equitable access to care.

Standard psychotherapy sessions are 50 minutes. When clinically appropriate, sessions may be extended to allow additional time for deeper therapeutic work, complex processing, or periods of increased emotional need.

Extended sessions are typically scheduled in advance and are billed proportionally based on the standard session fee.

When feasible, and when doing so does not interfere with other scheduled appointments, a session may occasionally extend beyond the standard 50 minutes. Any extension of time is discussed collaboratively before proceeding to ensure both parties agree to the additional time.

Extended session availability is not guaranteed and depends on clinical need, therapist discretion, and scheduling availability. If extended sessions become consistently necessary, a referral to a higher level of care may be recommended to ensure appropriate support.

Extended Session Fee Structure

Additional session time beyond the standard 50 minutes is billed in 15-minute increments at the full session rate of $300 per hour.

Payment for Extended Sessions

Extended session time is billed on the same day services are rendered using the payment method on file.

Session extensions occur at the therapist’s discretion and are considered carefully in relation to clinical need and scheduling boundaries.

Fees may be updated periodically with 30 days written notice.

Good Faith Estimate of Expected Charges

(No Surprises Act – Section 2799B-6 of the Public Health Service Act)

This Good Faith Estimate is provided in accordance with the No Surprises Act for individuals who are not enrolled in a health plan, are not seeking reimbursement through insurance, or who choose to self-pay for services.

Your Right to a Good Faith Estimate

Under federal law, you have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate explaining the expected cost of your mental health care services.

Health care providers are required to provide this estimate to individuals who:

• Are not enrolled in a health plan

• Are not submitting claims through insurance

• Choose to pay privately for services

You may request a Good Faith Estimate:

• When scheduling services
• At any time prior to scheduling services

This estimate will be provided in writing at least one (1) business day before your scheduled service.

Provider Information

Practice Name:
Garnica Transformative Counseling & Psychotherapy Studio

Provider:
Fatima Garnica Garcia, LMFT #95659

Location:
California (Telehealth services only)

Services Provided:
Mild to moderate outpatient psychotherapy for adults via secure telehealth.

Estimated Cost of Services

The following reflects the expected charges for services commonly provided by this practice. Actual services may vary depending on clinical needs, attendance, and client requests.  ***All fees are non-refundable and are non-negotiable. Fees may be updated periodically with 30 days advance written notice.

Psychotherapy Session Fees

Initial Clinical Appointment (50 minutes)
$300

Ongoing Psychotherapy Session (50 minutes)
$300

Extended Session Time

When clinically appropriate and scheduling permits, sessions exceeding 50 minutes may be billed at:

$300 per additional 50-minute session

or

$75 per additional 15-minute increment 

Late Cancellation / Missed Appointment Fee

Appointments canceled with less than 48 hours notice or missed appointments will be charged:

$300 per scheduled session

Administrative Services (When Requested)

Administrative services requested outside of session may be billed at:

$300 per hour
Billed in 15-minute increments

This may include time spent on documentation requests, record review, professional correspondence, or coordination of care requested by the client.

Legal or Court-Related Services

Legal services related to therapy (such as testimony, records preparation, or consultation) are not part of routine clinical care and require a separate written agreement prior to any involvement.

Example Cost Estimates

These examples illustrate common therapy schedules. Actual costs may vary depending on attendance and services requested.

Example 1: Weekly Therapy (1 Month)
4 sessions × $300 = $1,200

Example 2: Bi-Weekly Therapy (3 Months)
6 sessions × $300 = $1,800

Example 3: Weekly Therapy with One Late Cancellation
4 sessions + 1 late cancellation = $1,500

These examples are estimates only and are not guarantees of total charges.

Important Notice

This Good Faith Estimate is not a contract and does not require you to receive services from this practice.

The estimate reflects expected charges based on typical services and may change depending on clinical needs, attendance, or services requested.

Your Right to Dispute a Bill

If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you have the right to dispute the bill.

You may initiate the dispute process through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services within 120 days of receiving the bill.

For more information about your rights under the No Surprises Act, visit:

https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises

Appointments are scheduled through the secure client portal provided by SimplePractice 👉 https://fatima-garnica-garcia.clientsecure.me/. Once you are registered in the portal, you may view available times and schedule sessions directly. This self-scheduling system allows you to select appointment times that best fit your schedule while maintaining privacy and flexibility.

To secure an appointment, payment must be completed through the client portal at least 48 hours prior to the scheduled session time. Any past-due balances must also be paid in full before a session can be confirmed.

If payment is not received within this timeframe (48 hours), the appointment may be released and the time made available for other clients.