Practice Policies
What to know before we begin.
Below you’ll find an overview of common practice policies. Full policies and informed-consent information are reviewed during intake.
Appointments
Standard individual therapy appointments are generally 50–55 minutes. The frequency of sessions is based on your needs and treatment plan and may change over time.
Sessions are reserved specifically for you, so arriving on time helps make the most of the time available.
Cancellations & Missed Appointments
Appointments cancelled or rescheduled with at least 24 hours' notice can be changed without a late-cancellation fee.
Cancellations with less than 24 hours' notice and missed appointments are generally charged the full session fee.
Exceptions may be considered for genuine emergencies or unexpected illness. Mike will review the full policy during intake.
Late Arrivals
If you are running late, please let Mike know when you can. Because appointments are scheduled for a specific period of time, sessions will generally still end at the originally scheduled time.
Fees, Payment & Insurance
Current session fees and insurance information are available on the Individual Therapy page.
Insurance benefits vary by plan. Clients are encouraged to confirm their behavioral-health benefits directly with their insurance company, including deductibles, copays, coinsurance, and any requirements that may affect coverage.
Financial responsibilities and payment arrangements will be reviewed during intake.
Communication & Response Times
Email, text, and voicemail are best used for scheduling and other administrative matters. They are not intended for urgent clinical support or ongoing therapy conversations between sessions.
Messages are not monitored continuously. Mike will review communication expectations and typical response times during intake.
Emergencies & Crisis Support
Edge of Mind Counseling is an outpatient therapy practice and does not provide 24-hour crisis or emergency services. Email, text, and voicemail are not monitored continuously and should not be used when immediate help is needed.
If you are experiencing a mental health or substance-use crisis, you can call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
If you or someone else is in immediate danger or needs emergency medical assistance, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
Telehealth
Virtual therapy is available to clients who are physically located in North Carolina at the time of their appointment.
For telehealth sessions, clients are encouraged to choose a private space where they feel comfortable speaking openly and to use a reliable internet connection whenever possible.
Mike may confirm your physical location at the beginning of a virtual session so appropriate support can be coordinated if an emergency occurs.
Privacy & Confidentiality
Protecting your privacy is an important part of therapy. Information shared in therapy is generally confidential, with certain exceptions when disclosure is permitted or required by law or necessary for safety.
The limits of confidentiality and how protected health information may be used or disclosed are reviewed during intake and explained in the Notice of Privacy Practices linked below.
Teen Clients & Parent Communication
When Mike works with a teen, he discusses privacy and communication expectations with both the teen and their parent or guardian at the beginning of therapy.
The goal is to give teens meaningful space to speak openly while also involving parents or guardians when appropriate for safety, treatment, or when required by law.
Specific expectations around parent communication and the limits of confidentiality are reviewed during intake.
Additional privacy information
These documents provide more detail about website privacy and how protected health information is handled by the practice.