By Appointment Only
Call 832.858.1411
thought-emotion-behavior matters
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New Client Services Information:
Please read the information on this page in black text (at right) & Privacy Practices (red text link below). You will be 'electronically signing' that you have read & understand this information.
If you do not understand or need assistance, please leave a message at 832.858.1411 or come to the office by appointment (address on directions page) for assistance.
You do not need to print out this information. A printed copy is available at the office, if you prefer, you may come early to your scheduled session and read it in the waiting room before electronically signing.
Again, please ask if you have any questions. Thank you for choosing and trusting me with your well-being.
Welcome to LA’s WellBeing Center for Counseling Services
"Electronic Informed Consent":
Thank you for your interest and choosing me for your health and well-being needs. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), licensed as a health care provider in the state of Texas.
Masters-level Licensed Professional Counselors, who practice in a community or neighborhood, private-practice settings, usually offer psychological counseling and sometimes psychological testing to their clientele. These services are offered to people of all ages and in individual, family, or group settings.
My psychological practice is a general, clinical practice. My clients range in age from 5yo to 92yo. I see people individually, in couples, as families and in groups. Most of my work involves psychotherapy. This is the use of verbal communication to help individuals resolve personal behavioral, emotional, mental, or relational problems.
I also provide psychophysiological, or "biofeedback" training, which involves the use of sensors monitoring physiological nervous system reactions, assisting you in learning how to improve your control or self-regulation of over-reactive nervous system responses enabling increased calm and comfort during times of high distress.
Psychotherapy comes in many different varieties. I will make the best match between your goals, the resources you make available for these services, and the commitment you are willing to make to achieve your personal goals. Where your goals are unclear, I will strive to help you define them. If your goals or resources change in the course of treatment, I ask you please let me know so that I can make adjustments.
Honesty, candor, and trust are obviously essential for this process to work. The work of personal change can be quite anxiety provoking and at times you may feel that you are not making progress when, in fact, you are. I will make every effort to provide a safe, nurturing, and informative environment. Anything less than total candor will undermine the goals for your treatment. You will need to let me know about any feelings of discomfort so I can make appropriate adjustments or help you understand why we should not make adjustments. I will not knowingly ask or suggest that you do anything harmful or purposefully cause discomfort.
Your treatment is confidential and privileged. I will not disclose your presence here or the content of our sessions without your explicit written consent. Imminent danger to yourself or another is a legally and ethically limiting condition to this confidentiality. Also, I am a mandated reporter of child and elder abuse and neglect. Should you decide to use insurance to pay for part or all of your treatment, I may have to disclose some information to help you access your benefits.
My practice, whether doing psychotherapy or assessment, is clinical. My work with people is for the resolution of personal issues and difficulties, not for legal documentation or assessment. If you would like your records for this purpose, I will provide you with a copy and not more than this. Legal and assessment psychology services are best handled by specialists for this purpose. I will be glad to make the appropriate referral.
My full fee schedule is available at my office and ranges between $195 for the initial consultation to $125 for general subsequent sessions. Fees vary depending on the code of service provided, which is determined by your treatment plan needs. The sessions are usually 45 minutes face to face with 15 min allotted for review and documentation. Again, a longer session of 75 mins face to face with 15 min for documentation is also available, again based on your treatment plan needs.
Full fees or insurance plan co-pays are due at the start of each session. Time spent scoring tests or preparing reports are billed a similar rate like individual, face-to-face sessions. Many people use their insurance to pay for part or all of their treatment. Your insurance plan will have its own requirements and limitations, which may or may not coincide with the goals and purposes of your treatment. I will make the clinical differences known to you, as I am aware of them.
However, it is your responsibility to know the parameters of your insurance coverage and you are ultimately responsible for the payment of services received. Insurance is accepted only as an accommodation to you. Professional time spent obtaining insurance benefits authorizations, completing insurance-related reports or coordinating with insurance care managers is billed directly to you at the session rate in quarter-hour increments.
Return appointments are scheduled in advance, at the end of each session. This is the best time to change the schedule if necessary. An appointment must be cancelled with voice confirmation with me, your therapist, 24 hours in advance to avoid a cancellation fee equal to the missed session fee.
Your participation in psychotherapy is voluntary. You may stop at any time. I agree with industry best-practice, which feel it is best this decision be discussed face to face for healthy closure, referral or termination of our working therapeutic relationship. Likewise, if I feel our work together should be suspended or terminated, I will share this with you. If we decide that your treatment should involve an additional health care provider, at your discretion, I will endeavor to establish coordination of care with another provider.
Again, thank you for choosing my services. I hope to earn your trust in providing you or your family member the care you desire to improve your comfort and well-being. I look forward to growing with you on your personal journal.
With Kindest Regards—"L.A."
Leslie Ann Shields, MS, LPC
By Appointment Only
Call 832.858.1411
CEveryone's reason for
seeking therapy is
unique. Some common
themes among my
clients include:
Not feeling good about
yourself
Often feeling anxious,
panicky or worried
Difficulties finding or
maintaining satisfying
relationships
Feeling alone,
helpless or hopeless
Finding everyone
else's needs or wants
being met before their
own
Difficulty making
decisions
Wanting support in
making lifestyle or
behavior changes
Excess shyness or
social anxiety
Chronic problems in
school, work or family
settings
Reacting with
excessive anger
Poor ability coping with
life's daily stresses
Feeling overwhelmed
by too many changes
or losses happening
at the same time
If any of these apply,
please call:
832.858.1411
First time every to seek counseling? Wondering what is an "L.P.C" or Licensed
Professional
Counselor?
According to the
American Counseling
Association, "A
professional counselor
is a person who has
earned a minimum of a
master's degree,
possesses professional
knowledge and
demonstrates skill in the
application of mental
health, psychological
and human development
and adjustment
throughout the life span.
Professional counselors
prevent, diagnose and
treat mental, emotional
or behavioral disorders
and associated
distresses that interfere
with mental health and
quality of life. They help
people of all functioning
levels grow mentally,
emotionally, socially,
educationally, spiritually
and vocationally.
What makes professional
counselors unique from
their peers in other
mental health disciplines
is their "wellness"
orientation. While
trained to understand
pathology and mental
illness, professional
counselors take a
preventative approach
to helping people and
are trained to use
treatment interventions
which include principles
of development,
wellness and pathology
reflecting a pluralistic
society."
Professional counselors
in Texas are state board
credentialed and
licensed to legally
practice. They complete
continuing education
annually for license
renewal and are
regulated by a
professional code of
ethics to protect client
rights and confidentiality.
I hope you find this information helpful for your decision in choosing a professional. Please call me if you have any additional questions. Kindly~ "L.A."
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