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Before setting an appointment, Dr. Joan Miller will talk with you about your situation and how she may be able to help you. She will answer your general questions about therapy and provide you with an overview of the beginning of therapy. The following general information will help you understand some of her office procedures.
Office Hours and Phone ConsultationsCounselling appointments are scheduled from 10 am until 7 pm Monday through Friday. The sessions are 55 minutes long. The best time to contact our office is between 9:30 am and 4 pm on weekdays. If Dr. Miller is not available, please leave a message and she'll call you back as soon as she can. If your consultation is prolonged, there may be a charge for it; and if your problem is complex, she may suggest that you set an additional appointment. If you call after office hours, leave a message and your call will be returned on the next regular business day. If, after office hours, you have an emergency that is causing you severe stress, call our answering service directly at (770) 433-6698. The operator will attempt to reach Dr. Miller or the therapist on call. If you need to talk with someone before you receive a call back, you may call the community 24-hour crisis line at (770) 422-0202. Getting StartedPrior to your first session, you will be asked to fill out a biographical information form. The more that is written on this form, the further you will get in the first session, since it summarizes your situation and outlines a direction of the therapy. For those of you coming in as a couple, each of you will be asked to fill out both the biographical information form as well as a couple's questionnaire. These forms are available by mail, fax, or can be downloaded in Adobe Reader or Microsoft Word format on this site (click on the links above). Payment and InsurancePayment is made at the time of each visit. If you intend to file for insurance reimbursement, your receipt includes all the required information. Most insurance policies cover the services of a licensed psychologist. Some insurance companies don't cover marriage counselling; some companies require that you be precertified for mental health outpatient services; some companies reimburse only for therapists on a particular list; and some companies reimburse a different amount if you choose a therapist that is not on their preferred list. We, therefore, suggest that you check with your insurance company claims' representative about your benefits. Non-reimbursed expenditures for therapy are considered medical expenses for tax purposes. Talk with Dr. Miller if you have any concerns regarding payment. ConfidentialityAll conversations between you and Dr. Miller are strictly confidential, and are protected under Georgia law. Therefore, she'll not reveal the content of her communication with you to anyone (including other family members) without your written consent, unless specifically required by law (for example, child abuse, or the imminent threat of danger to you or others). With your permission, the information provided to insurance companies for reimbursement for services includes only a diagnosis, type of treatment, the dates of services and charges. If additional information is requested (for instance, if you have managed care), Dr. Miller will discuss it with you first. Cancellations and Completing TherapyIf you want to change your appointment, we'll gladly do so if you give us a 24-hour notice. After office hours, you may leave a message on our answering machine. When we do not receive 24-hour notice, you'll be charged the full fee for the visit. Most insurance companies won't reimburse for cancelled visits. When you feel you are near the end of your therapy, discuss this with Dr. Miller. This allows time to review your progress and discuss your transition so that you'll have a satisfactory completion of your therapy. If you decide to discontinue therapy without discussion, your therapeutic relationship with Dr. Miller will be ended thirty days after your last visit. Discontinuation of therapy does not mean that you cannot later resume therapy. Dr. Miller's office is located in Suite 106 of the Doctors Building at 2520 Windy Hill Road. This building is located to the right of the WellStar Windy Hill Hospital, one mile north of I-285, 1/2 mile west of I-75, and one mile east of Highway 41 (Cobb Parkway). We hope that this will answer some of your questions about her procedures. To have a free 20-minute consultation with Dr. Miller, call 770-952-3308. |
