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 ($290.00).

• 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 ($29).

• 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.

Initial appointment does not guarantee continual services. This practice is best suited for individuals experiencing mild to moderate symptoms which will be clinically assessed during the initial appointment and referrals will be provided as needed if clinic is not a good fit. Initial Session 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 14-minute courtesy window is available for late arrivals.  Session meeting will end by 15-minute mark. 

If you arrive within the 14-minute 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 you have not logged into the meeting within 15 minutes of the scheduled start time, the session will be considered missed and the full session fee of $290 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 $290.00 and are non-refundable.

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

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 an Administrative Discharge and 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 $290.00 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

You are entitled to receive this “Good Faith Estimate” of what the charges could be for Adult Individual Counseling & Psychotherapy services provided to you. While it is not possible for a psychotherapist to know, in advance, how many individual therapy sessions may be necessary or appropriate for a given person, this form provides an estimate of the cost of services provided. Your total cost of services will depend upon the number of individual therapy sessions you attend, your individual circumstances, and the type and amount of services that are provided to you.

There may be additional items or services I may recommend as part of your care that must be scheduled or requested separately and are not reflected in this good faith estimate. This estimate is not a contract and does not obligate you to obtain any services from the provider listed, nor does it include any services rendered to you that are not identified here. 

You have the right to initiate a dispute resolution process if the actual amount charged to you substantially exceeds the estimated charges stated in your Good Faith Estimate (which means $400 or more beyond the estimated charges).

For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate or the dispute process, visit https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises/consumers or call 1- 800-985-3059. The initiation of the patient-provider dispute resolution process will not adversely affect the quality of the services furnished to you.

The fee for a 50-minute psychotherapy visit via telehealth is $290.00.

Most clients attend one psychotherapy session per week, although the recommended frequency of treatment may be more or less often depending on your individual needs, treatment goals, and clinical recommendations.

Based on a fee of $290.00 per visit, the following are the expected charges for psychotherapy services provided by this practice.

Estimated Cost Examples

Additional Information

• Fee Policy: All fees are non-refundable and non-negotiable. Payment secures the reserved appointment time and compensates for professional services provided or time reserved on your behalf. Fees are not adjusted, prorated, or refunded for partially attended sessions, missed appointments, late cancellations, or unused time, except as otherwise required by law. Fees may also be updated periodically with 30 days advance written notice.
• Initial Appointment: The initial appointment is a comprehensive clinical assessment intended to evaluate your presenting concerns, treatment needs, and whether this practice is an appropriate fit for your care. Participation in an initial appointment does not guarantee that ongoing psychotherapy services will be recommended or offered. If this practice is not the appropriate level or type of care, referrals to other providers or resources may be provided when clinically appropriate.
• Extended sessions may be available when clinically appropriate and scheduling permits. Additional time is billed in 15-minute increments.
• Late cancellation or missed appointment fees apply to appointments canceled with less than 48 hours’ notice or missed appointments, as outlined in the Practice Policies.
• Professional services requested outside of scheduled appointments may include record review, treatment summaries, consultation or coordination requested by the client, and other non-clinical administrative work. These non-session services are billed at $290.00 per hour in 15-minute increments.

 This Good Faith Estimate is not intended to serve as a recommendation for treatment or a prediction that you may need to attend a specified number of psychotherapy visits. The number of visits that are appropriate in your case, and the estimated cost for those services, depends on your needs and what you agree to in consultation with your therapist.  You are entitled to disagree with any recommendations made to you concerning your treatment and you may discontinue treatment at any time.

You are encouraged to speak with your provider at any time about any questions you may have regarding your treatment plan, or the information provided to you in this Good Faith Estimate.

The date of this Estimate begins at the time you schedule your initial appointment with Garnica Counseling & Psychotherapy Studio-Fatima Garnica Garcia, LMFT-95659.         

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.