Patient Information
Information and forms to assist you with your first appointment.
The First Step
The following helpful information will assist those clients receiving services with a Cornerstone Psychologist or Counselor. Call our office @ 208-373-0790 to set up your initial appointment. If you are unsure of who you would like to see, our staff can assist you in finding the best therapist for your specific concerns. Prior to calling our office, we do advise that you contact your insurance company to check on your mental health benefits. In many cases mental health benefits are not the same as medical benefits. Once you have set up your appointment, you may download the appropriate paperwork to complete and bring with you to your initial session.
Your First Visit
The initial visit with a therapist will be spent getting to know you and the reasons you have chosen to see a counselor. Basically the first session is a history gathering session so the therapist understands what has brought you into our office, and what they will need to do in order to get you feeling your best. Every therapy session is unique and caters to each individual and their specific goals. It is standard for therapists to discuss the primary issues and concerns in your life during therapy sessions. It is common to schedule a series of weekly sessions, where each session lasts around fifty minutes. Therapy can be short-term, focusing on a specific issue, or longer-term, addressing more complex issues or ongoing personal growth.
At any time if you find yourself in crisis, you may call our office during business hours and designate that it is a crisis. Your therapist will return your call as soon as possible, or within 24 hours, and usually during business hours. Crisis is different than emergency. If you find that you are in an emergency (imminent suicide, psychotic, life threatening, etc), you should contact the nearest emergency room or call 911.
Responsibility Following a Divorce
In the case of divorce or separation, the party responsible for the account prior to the divorce (signer on paperwork) remains responsible for the account. After a divorce or separation, the parent authorizing treatment for the child will be the parent responsible for the charges. If the divorce decree requires the other parent to pay all or part of the treatment costs, it is the authorizing parents responsibility to collect from the other parent.
Insurance Clients
Insurance is a contract between you and your insurance company. We are not a party to this contract. We will bill your primary insurance company as a courtesy to you. Although we may estimate what your insurance company may pay, it is the insurance company that makes the final determination of your eligibility. You agree to pay any portion of the charges not covered by insurance.
We suggest you contact your insurance provider and check on your mental health benefits prior to your initial visit. Most plans require a co-pay which we will collect on the day of your appointment. Other plans may have a deductible which must be met before any benefits are paid. Knowing how much you will need to pay on the day of your visit prevents any surprises that you may be unprepared for. In addition, some insurance companies require a pre-authorization before your first appointment. If your insurance requires a pre-authorization, you are responsible for obtaining it. Calling in advance will ensure that all sessions will be paid for if such an authorization is required. Please bring your insurance card or information with you to your initial visit. Download, print and complete the Patient Information form and bring it to your initial visit. Download and read the Counselor-Patient Services Agreement.
Employee Assistance Program, EAP
If you are using an EAP, or Employee Assistance Program benefits, the EAP program must be contacted prior to your appointment. All EAP's require pre-authorization, and you are responsible for securing the authorization. When you call to schedule your appointment, we will ask you who your EAP company is. This is usually not the same company as your insurance. In most cases they will give you an authorization number which you will need to provide to us on the initial paperwork. Download, print and complete the Patient Information form and bring to your initial visit. Download and read the Counselor-Patient Services Agreement.
Self-Pay, Cash clients
We gladly accept cash clients. Charges must be paid on the day of the visit in full, unless other arrangements are made prior to the visit. Download, print and complete the Patient Information form and bring to your initial visit. Download and read the Counselor-Patient Services Agreement .
Printable Forms
The following are PDF versions of our paperwork. Not everything may apply to your situation. If you have questions, call our office at (208) 373-0790.
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Patient Information and Consent: A form needed for every new patient to fill out that provides your information, such as name, address, and telephone numbers, your consent to treatment and acknowledgement that you read the Counselor- Patient Services Agreement.
Counselor - Patient Services Agreement: A form needed for every new patient to read that explains issues such as patient rights, consent, clinic policies, and financial responsibilities.
Consent and Authorization to Release Information: This form is only required if our clinic needs to communicate information about you to a third party, such as another counselor or attorney.
Consent to Telemedicine Services: A form needed for every patient to read that explains teletherapy, and to sign consenting to Teletherapy services.
Patient Satisfaction Survey: This is an optional form for patients to rate their experience with Cornerstone Psychological Associates.
Privacy Notice: This form is for your information only. It explains the rights patients have regarding privacy and confidentiality.
If you are unsure about which forms to complete, please scroll up or follow the (Top of Page) link at the lower left to go to the beginning of this page for more detailed information.