First Appointment

First Appointment Checklist

Are you, or the person you are calling about, 18 years of age or older?
Am I a provider for your insurance company? Check the Insurance tab for the list of companies, which is kept up to date.
As of August 2020, I have daytime appointments only, ending no later than 5 p.m.
Do you have a deductible, co-pay or co-insurance for mental health/counseling services? Does your policy cover telehealth services (not all policies do). I can do a preliminary check on this for you, so please have your insurance card available when you call. The only way to find out if telehealth is covered is for you to call your insurance company and ask - it is not typically listed in the resource I have access to, when looking up benefits. Until the first session is billed and we receive an explanation of benefits (EOB), there is no guarantee that the information I was provided about your benefits is accurate.
When you call and schedule your first appointment I will provide you the password for the new client documents available under the Forms tab. Please read and if you choose, print and complete them for your first appointment. I will have copies for you to sign, if you don't want to print them yourself.
Required for the first session are the four screening tools, also under the Forms tab. Please print and complete before your first session and bring them with you. You do not need to print/complete the Safety Form.
Bring your insurance card, photo ID and co-payment.
Want to get a jump start on therapy? See the Resources page.
As of August 2020, for in-office appointments, please see the COVID-19 protocol on the Forms page.
As of August 2020, the reception/waiting area is closed. I will meet you at the door and immediately escort you into my office. For when the reception area reopens: As with any commercial building, it is hard to regulate the temperature throughout the office space. The waiting room gets quite cool during summer months. Also, because it is a smaller space, it is not set up for children to wait for you while you attend your counseling session.
I don't have you fill out detailed forms before your visit as I prefer to get to know you through conversation. However, I do need a list of your health conditions, medications and dosages, and the name/address/phone of the doctor(s) prescribing that medication.
View the map, directions and pictures of the office under the Location tab.
I do not have specialized training in addiction or domestic violence issues, and no longer specialize in the treatment of childhood abuse. If you need help in one of these areas it is best to work with a provider who has specific training and years of experience. For help with addiction issues, contact the St. Louis office of the National Council on Alcoholism & Drug Abuse at 314-962-3456 or ncada-stl.org. If you are dealing with domestic violence contact ALIVE (Alternatives to Living in Violent Environments) at 314-993-2777. The Power and Control Wheel, under the Resources tab, is a review of the signs of Domestic Violence. Both of these organizations can help connect you to resources. For childhood abuse trauma, please seek a therapist who has specialization in trauma therapy and/or EMDR, or both. The International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies has a therapist finder at https://istss.org/public-resources/find-a-clinician, or the EMDR International Association at https://www.emdria.org/.

Contact
Calling is the best way to reach me and if I am not available to answer, you can leave a confidential voice mail message. I am diligent in returning calls the same day whenever possible. Because email and texting are not confidential means of communication, you are encouraged to call to discuss your needs with me. If you become a client, you will need to sign an agreement about the use of email/text messaging and the limits to confidentiality.

Website Photographs - Kathryn L. Riesmeyer. All rights reserved. © 2020