Dr. Sabine Sell
Psychologist
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist | MFT #40672
Offices in San Francisco & Pacifica 
415.317.6943 | therapybysabine@gmail.com
Dr. Sabine Sell
Psychologist
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
MFT #40672
Offices in San Francisco & Daly City
415.317.6943
therapybysabine@gmail.com
Fees and Policies

Fees:
I typically see patients once a week for a 50-minute session. The duration of your treatment and the frequency of your sessions will depend on the nature of your concerns and your individual needs.

My regular fees are listed below. I do increase my fees periodically and you will be apprised of such increases before the new fee takes effect. I ask that you pay in full at the time of the session. Cash, checks, credit cards (for a nominal fee), Venmo and Zelle are accepted. Scheduling:
Your appointment time is very important. Regularly scheduled appointments are essential to the successful outcome of your treatment.

I strive to accommodate the complexities of my clients schedules while maintaining some consistency in my own schedule. I will do my best to notify you well in advance about my vacation weeks or any need to change or cancel a scheduled appointment. I ask that you also look upon our scheduled times with respect and call well in advance to change or cancel any appointment. In this way we respect each others time and our mutual commitment.

Cancellations, Time Changes and Missed Sessions:
My cancellation policy is 48 hours advance notice to avoid incurring a fee. Insurance Reimbursement and Low-Fee Options:
I am not currently paneled with any insurance companies. As such, I am considered an out-of-network provider.

You will be responsible for full payment at each session and will need to submit all paperwork to your insurance yourself. I will provide you with a statement at the end of each month that documents my fees, payments you have made, and a diagnosis code, which you can then submit to your insurance provider for reimbursement. The insurance company will send the reimbursement check directly to you. Each insurance company has their own policies and it is up to the individual client to determine your coverage and whether services provided by a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist are reimbursable. I will be happy to assist you with any insurance questions you may have.

I am affiliated with both the San Mateo County Victim's of Crime organization and the San Francisco Behavioral Health Plan. This provides a low fee option for clients who may need financial assistance.

Client Files:
The laws and standards of my profession require that I keep treatment records regarding our work together. You are entitled to view these records at any time. You must make the request in writing. I will respond to you within 5 working days of your request and will provide copies of your records within 15 days. In certain situations, I may deny your request. If I do, I will tell you, in writing, my reasons for the denial and explain your right to have my denial reviewed. If you request copies of your file, I will charge you not more than $.25 for each page. Typically, a copy of your records will be provided or, if it is deemed more appropriate, a summary of your records can be prepared for you. Your file consists of professional notes and terminology and can therefore be misinterpreted or prove upsetting to untrained readers. If you wish to see your records, I recommend you review them in my presence so we can discuss the contents together. By law, your records will be kept for 7 years following termination of therapy. After 7 years, they will be destroyed in a manner that preserves your confidentiality.

Emergencies:
I wish to be helpful in times of intensified distress or difficulty. However, I may not always be available outside of our scheduled appointment time. It is important that you understand my possible limitations in this regard. In the case of an emergency, if you are unable to reach me, leave a message for me and immediately contact 911, your family physician or the nearest emergency room and ask for the psychologist or psychiatrist on call. If I am unavailable for an extended time, I will provide the name of a colleague to contact in my absence.

Thank you for the opportunity to be of service to you. Should you have any other questions or concerns regarding my office policies, please feel free to contact me by calling 415-263-6898 or e-mailing me at sabinesellmft@juno.com.

Confidentiality:
You have a right to privacy and confidentiality. This is essential to the success of our work together because it provides trust and safety within the therapeutic relationship. In fact, the law requires that I preserve your confidentiality. Your consent is required to release any information about you or your treatment. There are three important exceptions:
  1. If I have clear evidence that you are a danger to yourself or to others, confidentiality may be broken in order to protect the person from physical or psychological harm;
  2. If I learn of or suspect you or someone you tell me about, of abusing a child, an elder or a dependent adult, I am mandated by law to report my suspicions to the appropriate agencies;
  3. If I receive a court order to appear in court or to produce client notes, I may be required to provide the requested information.
These situations have rarely occurred in my practice. Should such a situation occur, I will make every effort to fully discuss it with you before taking any action.

At your request, I will give specific information to your insurance company so that you may receive reimbursement. This information may include dates of appointments, diagnosis, and a treatment plan or summary. The data submitted will become part of the insurance company files and will probably be stored on a computer. Though all insurance companies claim to keep such records confidential, I have no control over what they do once the information is in their hands.

At times it may prove helpful to me to consult with other professionals about a case. During a consultation, I make every effort to avoid revealing the identity of my clients. The consultant is also legally bound to keep the information confidential. In general, I will not tell you about these consultations unless I feel that it is important to our work together.

call or text: 415.317.6943
   

Sabine Sell: Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT#40672). Copyright © 2015 Therapy By Sabine. All rights reserved.
Select photographs contributed by 7th Prime: www.7thprime.biz