Due to the high volume of appointment requests, we require our Counseling Policies to be completed PRIOR to scheduling an appointment.
For your convenience and to reduce the amount of time for you to wait for an appointment, our Appointment Request form is now an Appointment Registration form and includes our Counseling Policies!
In order to request an appointment,
complete the New Appointment Registration form below:
We will review your information and follow up with you within 1-2 business days.
We may follow up with you to ask you a few questions to better understand your needs and situation, to help determine which therapist is the best fit for you.
We may also need to review additional information, including insurance coverage, before an appointment is offered.
We may follow up with you to ask you a few questions to better understand your needs and situation, to help determine which therapist is the best fit for you.
We may also need to review additional information, including insurance coverage, before an appointment is offered.
To schedule an appointment, please call us at 763-482-9598 or complete the online form above for an appointment.
Guests in therapy
If you are participating in couples/relational therapy, your partner will need to complete the Informed Consent for Therapeutic Guests.
While reaching out for therapy may be motivated by negative feelings or situations, it is a very positive action and we commend you for taking this first step. We look forward to meeting with you, hearing your story, and addressing your needs.
- We can usually schedule new appointments within 1-2 weeks.
- We strive to provide a non-judgmental, private & comfortable atmosphere, with flexible & convenient day, evening or weekend scheduling.
- We are in-network providers for most major insurance companies.
- We also accept private pay, with discounts available. And, for your convenience, we accept cash/checks, flex spending/HSA cards, major credit cards and PayPal.
Scheduling Minors
Our office must receive the signed Counseling Policies from BOTH parents before scheduling the intake appointment.
If parents are not together (there is a separation, divorce or custody agreement), we require consent from BOTH of the minor's parents or legal guardians PRIOR to scheduling an intake appointment.
Each parent or legal guardian MUST complete and sign the electronic Counseling Policies & Consents.
Upon receipt of the completed Appointment Registration form, we will send electronic Counseling Policies & Consents to each parent using a secure link or Client Portal using the email addresses provided.
Each parent or legal guardian MUST complete and sign the electronic Counseling Policies & Consents.
Upon receipt of the completed Appointment Registration form, we will send electronic Counseling Policies & Consents to each parent using a secure link or Client Portal using the email addresses provided.
How long does therapy last?
According to the American Psychological Association, “on average 15 to 20 sessions are required for 50 percent of patients to recover as indicated by self-reported symptom measures”. Additionally, they state that through the working relationship between the client and counselor sometimes the preference is for “longer periods (e.g., 20 to 30 sessions over six months), to achieve more complete symptom remission and to feel confident in the skills needed to maintain treatment gains”.
So, it depends on several factors because everyone has unique counseling goals. Like any other relationship, it takes time to develop a therapeutic relationship with your counselor and identify your treatment goals, establish a plan of action, and work towards accomplishing them. Whatever your number of sessions will be, we will work together to meet your needs.
So, it depends on several factors because everyone has unique counseling goals. Like any other relationship, it takes time to develop a therapeutic relationship with your counselor and identify your treatment goals, establish a plan of action, and work towards accomplishing them. Whatever your number of sessions will be, we will work together to meet your needs.
Insurance Coverage
We work directly with your insurance and will make every effort possible to bill your insurance company. If your insurance does not pay, then you will be responsible for your balance.
Once your appointment has been scheduled, we will verify your insurance benefit coverage and obtain any necessary authorizations for you.
Verification of benefit coverage is not a guarantee of claim payment. All benefits are subject to the terms and conditions (e.g. authorizations, network requirements) outlined in your member contract with your insurance company. We have no authority to make representations to you regarding coverage of items or services covered.
It will be important for you to understand your benefit coverage. For benefit and coverage questions, please call the customer/member service number on the back of your insurance card. The insurance verification worksheet provided below can assist you during the call.
Once your appointment has been scheduled, we will verify your insurance benefit coverage and obtain any necessary authorizations for you.
Verification of benefit coverage is not a guarantee of claim payment. All benefits are subject to the terms and conditions (e.g. authorizations, network requirements) outlined in your member contract with your insurance company. We have no authority to make representations to you regarding coverage of items or services covered.
It will be important for you to understand your benefit coverage. For benefit and coverage questions, please call the customer/member service number on the back of your insurance card. The insurance verification worksheet provided below can assist you during the call.
| Insurance Verification Worksheet |
As part of our commitment to being your provider of choice, we accept all major health insurance plans, including commercial and public insurance, and Employer Assistance Plans (EAPs). We work directly with your insurance company to process claims and clarify coverage issues.
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Coordination of Benefits (COB)
Coordination of Benefits is also called COB. It is your responsibility to update the COB with each insurance company.
If you have coverage with more than one insurance company, then the COB rules determine which policy will be the primary, then secondary insurance etc., to ensure that your claims are paid by the correct payer respectively.
Please note, COB needs to be updated even if you or your dependents do NOT have other coverage.
To update COB, simply call the Member Services phone number on the back of your insurance card(s). You are responsible for claims denied due to COB.
If you have coverage with more than one insurance company, then the COB rules determine which policy will be the primary, then secondary insurance etc., to ensure that your claims are paid by the correct payer respectively.
Please note, COB needs to be updated even if you or your dependents do NOT have other coverage.
To update COB, simply call the Member Services phone number on the back of your insurance card(s). You are responsible for claims denied due to COB.
Self-pay & Opt-out of Insurance
You will be considered Self-pay if you do not have insurance, if you present without valid/updated insurance information, or if the services provided are not covered by your insurance. All Self-pay services must be paid in full on the date of service.
If you have insurance and elect to opt-out of using your insurance, you must sign an Election to Self-pay form. By signing the Election to Self-pay form, you understand that we will not be filing a claim with your insurance company and any payments you make will not be credited toward satisfying any deductible under your health insurance plan. If you wish to revoke this election and resume billing your insurance carrier, you must sign & submit the Revocation of Patient Election to Self-Pay for Services form. Rum River Counseling will not submit billing to your insurance carrier for previously completed self-pay visits.
If you have insurance and elect to opt-out of using your insurance, you must sign an Election to Self-pay form. By signing the Election to Self-pay form, you understand that we will not be filing a claim with your insurance company and any payments you make will not be credited toward satisfying any deductible under your health insurance plan. If you wish to revoke this election and resume billing your insurance carrier, you must sign & submit the Revocation of Patient Election to Self-Pay for Services form. Rum River Counseling will not submit billing to your insurance carrier for previously completed self-pay visits.
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Rum River Counseling's Good Faith Estimate Info:
The Good Faith Estimate is a mandate implemented January 1, 2022 by the Federal Government to prevent "surprise" medical billing and has been applied to all medical providers and facilities. It "forces" medical providers to list fees clearly to clients. Rum River Counseling has always provided transparency in our billing practices by displaying our fee schedule within our Counseling Policies. Please know that the Good Faith Estimate does not change any agreements you have already made with us with regard to self pay. Your review of this form and signature is required so that we can demonstrate our compliance with the mandate. Thank you!
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Our Cancellation Policy
We require a MINIMUM of 24-hour advance notice for appointment cancellations to avoid a charge. Our late cancellation fee is $100 and the no-show fee is $150. It’s important to remember that insurance will not pay for missed appointments, so you will be responsible for the full fee, not just a copay. It is up to your therapist’s discretion to require more than 24-hour notice or to charge a higher rate for missed appointments. You are responsible for appointments you schedule whether you receive automated reminders or not.
This cancellation policy is important for a counseling practice because, while a medical doctor can see 30+ patients in a day, your therapist generally sees a maximum of 6 or 7. Your therapist reserves this time specifically for you (a full hour of time for the session and clinical notes). If you cancel with less than a full 24-hour notice, they won’t be able to fill that time slot, and will lose an entire hour from their work schedule.
Our cancellation policy is not a penalty or a punishment. The reality is, if you are in counseling long enough, at some point you might forget about an appointment, or something will come up in your schedule that will result in you missing an appointment. Maybe you’ll need to work late. Maybe you’ll get a sudden onset of the flu. Maybe your kids will have doctor appointments, or your car will break down, or something unavoidable will come up. In return, understand that scheduling an appointment is much like buying tickets to an event. If you miss the event, it doesn’t matter why you missed it, or even if it was your first time, you can’t turn in your tickets for a refund.
If you are unable to make it to an in-person appointment, it might be an option to see your therapist via teletherapy. This is up to the discretion of your therapist, as some therapy modalities are best processed in person.
Same day scheduling is an alternative if you are unable to commit to a reserved appointment time. Because we have many people who are waiting for appointments, clients who fail or cancel even one appointment without 24-hour notice risk being able to schedule ongoing reserved appointments and will be subject to the therapist’s “same day” availability. With same day scheduling, no appointment is reserved for you, and you will need to contact your therapist the morning of the day you would like to meet to see if they have any available times that day to see you.
Successful on-going therapy requires a commitment on the part of the client. It is important that you keep your appointment if at all possible.
This cancellation policy is important for a counseling practice because, while a medical doctor can see 30+ patients in a day, your therapist generally sees a maximum of 6 or 7. Your therapist reserves this time specifically for you (a full hour of time for the session and clinical notes). If you cancel with less than a full 24-hour notice, they won’t be able to fill that time slot, and will lose an entire hour from their work schedule.
Our cancellation policy is not a penalty or a punishment. The reality is, if you are in counseling long enough, at some point you might forget about an appointment, or something will come up in your schedule that will result in you missing an appointment. Maybe you’ll need to work late. Maybe you’ll get a sudden onset of the flu. Maybe your kids will have doctor appointments, or your car will break down, or something unavoidable will come up. In return, understand that scheduling an appointment is much like buying tickets to an event. If you miss the event, it doesn’t matter why you missed it, or even if it was your first time, you can’t turn in your tickets for a refund.
If you are unable to make it to an in-person appointment, it might be an option to see your therapist via teletherapy. This is up to the discretion of your therapist, as some therapy modalities are best processed in person.
Same day scheduling is an alternative if you are unable to commit to a reserved appointment time. Because we have many people who are waiting for appointments, clients who fail or cancel even one appointment without 24-hour notice risk being able to schedule ongoing reserved appointments and will be subject to the therapist’s “same day” availability. With same day scheduling, no appointment is reserved for you, and you will need to contact your therapist the morning of the day you would like to meet to see if they have any available times that day to see you.
Successful on-going therapy requires a commitment on the part of the client. It is important that you keep your appointment if at all possible.
Our Counseling Policies
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"When action
meets compassion,
lives change."
Andover Blaine Plymouth St. Paul Elk River Oakdale/Woodbury Teletherapy
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Disclosures
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Model representations of real patients are shown. Actual patients cannot be divulged due to HIPAA regulations.
This site is presented for information only and is not intended to substitute for professional medical advice. Presentation and Design ©2004-2024 Rum River Counseling, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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