Practice Information
Location
I offer both in-person appointments as well as telepsychology / telehealth appointments via secure online video. My practice is located in Downtown Berkeley, just a short walk from the UC Berkeley Campus, Berkeley Civic Center, and the Downtown Berkeley BART Station.
Appointments
I typically schedule one 50-minute therapy session per week at a time we agree on, although sessions may also be more frequent. If you feel that more frequent sessions would benefit you, please discuss this with me.
Once an appointment hour is scheduled it will be held for you. You will be expected to pay for it in full unless you provide at least 24 hours advance notice of cancellation. If it is possible, I will try to find another time to reschedule the appointment.
You may leave me a voicemail message 24 hours a day, seven days a week to cancel an appointment or notify me of lateness. My voicemail line is (510) 595-4609. You may also email me at rperl@att.net. However, because email is not a secure form of communication, you should limit your email to administrative (e.g., scheduling) matters only.
Fees
My professional fees are comparable to the average rate for similar services in the Bay Area. You will be expected to pay for each session at the time it is held, unless we agree otherwise or unless you have insurance coverage which requires another arrangement. I accept cash, personal checks, and credit card payments, but only accept credit card payments when meeting remotely by video or phone. In circumstances of financial hardship, I can often negotiate a fee adjustment or payment installment plan. I maintain some reduced fee spaces in my schedule, and encourage you to discuss this with me if you feel you cannot afford to pay for therapy.
I am not in-network on any insurance plans. If you wish to seek reimbursement from your insurance company, I can usually provide you with a monthly billing statement for reimbursement. These statements may also be submitted to obtain reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses from your health savings account. Please keep in mind that insurance payments and reimbursements require a formal diagnosis and other information that will be disclosed to your insurance company and to any other parties they choose. Be aware that submitting a mental health invoice for reimbursement carries a certain amount of risk.
Some or all your fees may be covered by your health insurance if you have outpatient mental health coverage. However, insurance companies do not reimburse all conditions that may be the focus of psychotherapy. It is your responsibility to verify the specifics of your coverage. You may want to verify whether an authorization is required for treatment, whether there are any session limits, whether a copay or coinsurance fee is required, and how much you may be reimbursed. It may also be worth exploring what treatment information is required, and how this information will be handled.