Fees, Forms, and Policies:
Office Manager
The office is managed by Judy Glick. She will work with you about all business-related questions and billing. She also interacts with health insurances or third-party payors, and she will help you through the insurance maze. Judy manages the schedule and responds to inquiries about eligibility, availability, groups, or any other issue. She is very experienced, and can be reached in person at 510-969-6090, or via email at jurgen.braungardt@gmail.com.
Fees
The standard fee for a Psychotherapy session (50 minutes) is $180. Sessions for couples will take about 90 minutes and cost $250. The fee for group sessions (120 minutes) is $60.
Insurance Benefits
Psychotherapy is covered in full or in part by health insurances or Employee Assistance Programs (EAP). As a mental health care provider, Dr. Braungardt has contracts with many health insurance companies. If your insurance includes mental health benefits, you are only charged for the co-pay and the deductible if it applies.
Judy Glick will contact your insurance and determine eligibility and co-pay, and we will bill your insurance for you. If we are not on the provider list for your health insurance, we will attempt to get reimbursement as an out-of-network provider, or assist you in getting reimbursed directly by your insurance.
Even if psychotherapy is covered by your insurance benefits, you are still responsible for any unpaid charges. Any insurance arrangement is tentative until we actually receive payment from them. (Getting insurance reimbursement can sometimes be difficult.)
Payment: We bill monthly for copayments or fees. We accept cash; checks, or Paypal.
Cancellations and vacations
Therapy works best when we adhere to a regular schedule; most clients have weekly sessions at a fixed time.
Once we make an appointment (including regular standing appointments), you will be charged for that appointment whether you attend it or not, unless you notify us 48 hours prior to the meeting. If you cannot make a regular appointment, Judy will try to reschedule the session and offer you some other time slots. Please let her know of any scheduling problems or vacation plans as early as possible.
Messages
You can call the office during regular business hours and Judy will respond quickly (510-969-6090).
You can also call Dr. Braungardt directly at 510-327-2110. This is a confidential line, which is only monitored by him. You are welcome to text or call any time and leave a message. Sometimes he will answer in person, and he will call you back as soon as possible (usually on the same day.) You can also send private emails to him at braungardt@gmail.com.
Confidentiality
What you say in psychotherapy, as well as the fact that there is a therapeutic relationship, is confidential. No personal information about you will be revealed about you unless you sign a release form, or we have your written permission to do so. Legally, psychotherapists are mandated by law to report to the appropriate authorities if you are dangerous to yourself or to others; or if there exists a reasonable suspicion of child abuse.
Forms
Feel free to download and complete these forms before our first session in order to expedite the process.
To make best use of our time during our first session, please download the Intake form and send them to Judy. You can expedite this process by clicking on the "Intake Form" link in the menu, this will allow you to fill out the form online and email it automatically to us.
Please download, print, and read the following disclosures before our first scheduled appointment. These are legal disclosures that are required to be read and signed by you before we start our therapy.
In case you have been working with another mental health professional or a psychiatrist and would like me to consult with them, I will need a signed release from you.