Appointment Preparation

How to Prepare

Therapy Sessions: 

  • Please bring paperwork documenting you or your family's income (e.g., a pay stub, recent W-2 forms or tax return), which will be used to verify the fee for the service.
  • Ensure that you have read and completed all forms and client commitment information (See Below)

Assessment Sessions: 

  • Try to schedule the appointment during times when you are the most rested and alert. That will ensure your optimal performance during the assessment.
  • Before your testing appointment, get a good night of sleep and eat breakfast.
  • Please bring paperwork documenting you or your family's income (e.g., a pay stub, recent W-2 forms or tax return), which will be used to verify the total fee for the service. Unless you have been approved for a payment plan, you will be expected to submit the full fee.
  • Ensure that you have read and completed all forms and client commitment information (See Below)


Client Confidentiality

At the Meltzer Center, clinical services are strictly confidential. No information is released without the written consent of the client (or the client's parent or guardian, in the case of children), except in cases where the client is an immediate risk to him or herself or others, or is the victim of child abuse or elder abuse, or if requested by court order.


The Meltzer Center conducts session observations in the form of video recordings for training purposes.  Video recordings are saved in a secure location, and are archived every 3 months.  Video recordings are then completely destroyed after termination.  Every client is informed of the video recording practices at the center, and must sign a recording consent in the client contract before video recordings can be conducted.

 


    Client Commitments

     

    Payment

    All assessment fees must be paid up front before the first session, and all therapy fees paid before each session.  If you have received confirmation for a fee reduction or a payment plan by Meltzer staff, payment must be made as indicated by Meltzer communication.  

    *Failure to pay your balance within the appropriate timeline will result in immediate termination.

     

    Questionnaires

    Be prepared to complete any questionnaires or measures requested by your clinician.  It is important for us to track your progress and the quality of the therapeutic relationship and so we ask clients to complete brief measures weekly before their sessions through an online system. All therapy clients are asked to complete these brief measures on a weekly basis before their session.

     

    Availability

    Therapy Clients are expected to attend weekly sessions as agreed upon in the scheduling communication with the clinician.  Assessment Clients are expected to commit to a schedule that they and their clinician develop in initial outreach.

     

    Cancellations

    If you cannot attend a session, the center requires a cancellation notice (24 hours in advance for therapy sessions and 48 hours for assessment sessions). Please call 202-994-9072 or email [email protected] to cancel. Patients who miss a session without appropriate cancellation will be billed for the session. Clients are terminated after three consecutive missed sessions.

     

    Client Forms and Links

    Please fill out any applicable forms and bring them to your appointment.