Current Clients

Welcome! These practice policies are designed to provide clarity about the logistics of therapy in my practice. Please read through them carefully and ask questions if anything is unclear. Having a shared understanding helps create a supportive and collaborative therapeutic relationship, which ultimately improves outcomes and can help you reach your goals.

Additional details about therapy, confidentiality, fees, insurance, and client rights are provided in separate Informed Consent, Financial Responsibilities, and Notice of Privacy Practices documents.

Session Scheduling & Attendance

• Weekly sessions are recommended for steady progress; bi-weekly sessions may be available once we’ve established a rhythm. 

• Please give at least 24 hours’ notice for cancellations or rescheduling (the client portal is easiest, but text, email, or phone are fine too).

• Late cancellations (<24 hours):
   • $100 for 50-minute sessions
   • $150 for 80-minute sessions

• One courtesy late cancellation per calendar year is allowed, and no fee is charged if you reschedule within the same calendar week.

• Sessions begin and end on time, even if you arrive late. 

• Three missed sessions in a row without communication may lead to termination of services.

•  For emergencies, call 911, go to your nearest ER, or contact 988 (or text MT to 741-741).

Session Length & Fees

• Standard individual sessions: 53 minutes

  • $185 - initial intake 

  • $165 - subsequent sessions

• Extended couples sessions: 80 minutes

  • $300 - initial intake 

  • $225 - subsequent sessions

Specific fees and payment policies are detailed in the Financial Responsibilities document.

Insurance & Billing

• Your insurance may cover part of your individual care. It is your responsibility to let me know about any updates or changes to your coverage.

• Payment is due at the time of service unless we’ve made other arrangements. You’re ultimately responsible for all fees, including any denied claims.

• I encourage you to confirm your mental health benefits directly with your insurer before our first session.

More details on insurance and billing can be found in the Financial Responsibilities document.

Communication Between Sessions

• Preferred contact: client portal (most secure), text, email, or voicemail.

• I typically respond within 24 hours on weekdays and do not check messages on weekends.

• These methods are for scheduling or administrative needs only — not for emergencies or therapeutic conversations.

• In an emergency: Call 911, go to your nearest emergency department, dial 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), or text “MT” to 741-741.

Telehealth Services

• Telehealth sessions are available to clients physically located in Montana at the time of the session.

• Confidentiality is the same as with in-person therapy, and you can withdraw your consent for telehealth at any time.

• Please note that some visual or sensory cues may be missed in virtual sessions.

• A separate Telehealth Consent form will be provided if you choose this option.

Social Media & Electronic Communication

• I do not accept friend/follow requests from clients on social media.

• Text/email are for scheduling/logistics only. Do not share sensitive information via these channels.

• The client portal is the most secure way to communicate and exchange information.

• SMS Messaging Terms & Privacy: By providing your phone number, you agree to receive informational text messages (e.g., reminders, updates). Message frequency varies. Message & data rates may apply. Reply STOP to opt out at any time or HELP for assistance. We may collect your name, phone number, and email to provide requested services. We do not share or sell mobile numbers or SMS consent data to third parties or affiliates for marketing/promotional purposes. Messaging practices follow CTIA guidelines. Contact us at kate@kberrywellness.com. for questions or to request data removal.

Services with Couples

• In couples therapy, what’s shared in joint sessions is part of the therapeutic process and isn’t typically kept secret from your partner. (This doesn’t apply to Discernment Counseling.)

• If one partner shares something privately that directly affects the relationship work, I’ll encourage open discussion in session.

• Confidentiality exceptions — such as harm to self or others, abuse, or a legal subpoena — apply to both individual and couples sessions.

• The focus of couples therapy is the relationship itself, not identifying one “problem partner.”

• If therapy ends or is not effective, referrals to other qualified providers will be provided when appropriate.

Services with Minors

• Parents and legal guardians generally have legal access to their child’s mental health records.

• Under Montana law, minors may consent to certain types of care, which can limit parental access.

• To protect confidentiality, I typically share only general updates about progress and attendance with parents.

• If safety concerns arise, I’ll discuss them with the minor first whenever possible before contacting parents.

Therapeutic Relationship + Progress

• Our relationship is central to the success of therapy. I see our work as a collaboration built on honesty and trust.

• To keep things on track, I use brief session rating scales and regular check-ins about how therapy feels for you. Your honest feedback helps ensure sessions stay meaningful and aligned with your goals.

• If something isn’t working, I welcome that conversation — it’s a great time to practice open communication and we’ll adjust together so therapy continues to support your growth.

Termination of Therapy

• Therapy ideally concludes when your goals have been met.

• It may also end if progress has stalled, payment issues remain unresolved, or three sessions in a row are missed without contact.

• When appropriate, I’ll provide referrals to other providers for continued support.

The purpose of this document is to give you a clear understanding of my therapy approach so that you can make an informed decision about engaging in this work.

My practice is rooted in a deep respect for the full range of human experience. I work with individuals and couples seeking meaningful, lasting change in a grounded, compassionate, and collaborative space where your full self is welcome. My goal is to help you reconnect with your own wisdom, navigate relationships with integrity, and live with greater intention and ease.

Financial and practice policies are outlined in separate documents.

Therapeutic Orientation and Approach

My approach is person-centered, attachment-informed, and humanistic - which means I see you as the expert on your own life. We’ll pay attention to how your past and present relationships shape your experiences, and our work will focus on your growth, values, and capacity for self-understanding and change.

I also draw on evidence-based modalities, including: Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy, Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT/EFIT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Gottman Method Couples Therapy.

Experience & Areas of Focus

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Montana. I hold a Bachelor in Social Work from the University of Montana, and a Master of Social Work from Florida State University. My career in social work began in 2013, and I began practicing as a prelicensed therapist in 2021, and earned my Clinical Social Work License in 2025. 

My work with clients primarily focuses on addressing:

• Trauma and its impact on current functioning

• Relationship challenges and communication patterns

• Grief, life transitions and major decisions

• Emotional regulation, coping, and self-understanding

Potential Benefits, Risks & Life Impact

Potential Benefits of Therapy:

• Healthier relationships and communication

• Greater self-awareness and insight

• Reduced emotional distress

• Improved coping and stress management

• Support in reaching personal and relationship goals

Potential Risks & Life Changes:

• Feeling uncomfortable emotions when exploring difficult experiences

• Temporary worsening of symptoms

• Shifts in relationships, work, or major life transitions

Therapy can influence how you relate to yourself and others. Some relationships may strengthen, while others may feel challenged as patterns and dynamics shift. You may choose to make changes or to maintain the status quo. We’ll discuss these changes together as they arise.

It’s important to know that therapy isn’t a quick fix or a magic wand — real change often takes time, effort, and a willingness to lean into discomfort. The process works best when you’re engaged both in and outside of our sessions, applying insights and practicing new ways of responding in your daily life.

Confidentiality

Your privacy and trust are central to therapy. I will not share your information without your written consent, except when required by law or ethical guidelines, including:

• Risk of harm to yourself or others

• Suspected abuse or neglect of a child, elder, or dependent adult

• Court orders or subpoenas

• Court-mandated treatment

• Consultation with other professionals (without identifying information)

If mandated reporting is required, or there is a need to reach out to your emergency contact, I will be as open and collaborative with you as possible about the process. While there may be situations where that is not possible, I remain committed to handling situations like this with care.

Small Community & Boundaries

Because we live in a small community, it’s possible we might run into each other outside of sessions. I maintain professional boundaries in all situations to keep your therapy safe and focused.

I also avoid dual relationships — social, business, or financial — to protect the integrity of our work. If we discover a potential overlap that could risk a dual relationship, we will navigate it together, balancing ethical guidelines, the therapeutic relationship, and your care.

Client Rights & Responsibilities

Your Rights in Therapy:

• To be treated with respect, dignity, and compassion

• To take an active role in your treatment and goal-setting

• To ask questions about my qualifications, methods, or your care

• To withdraw from therapy at any time

• To request referrals to other therapists if needed

• To access your clinical records within legal limits and ethical responsibility

Your Responsibilities:

• To attend sessions consistently and on time

• To participate actively and communicate openly

• To pay fees as agreed (see Financial Responsibilities)

• To keep yourself safe and sober during sessions

Emergencies

I am not available 24/7 for crises, and will work with you to develop a safety plan in the event that you need support outside of our sessions. If you experience a mental health emergency, please:

• Call 911

• Go to the nearest emergency room

• Call 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline)

• “MT” to 741-741

Consent to Treatment

By signing below, you acknowledge that you have:

• Read and understood this document

• Had the chance to ask any questions

• Been informed of potential risks and benefits

• Received information about the limits of confidentiality

• Voluntarily chosen to engage in psychotherapy with Kate Berry, LCSW

Thank you for choosing to work with me. I understand that therapy represents a meaningful investment of time, energy, and financial resources. My financial policies are designed to make the terms of that investment clear, support transparency, and reflect the value of my training, expertise, and ongoing professional development.

Clinical processes, confidentiality, and therapy content are outlined in a separate Informed Consent document.

Payment Terms & Fee Schedule

• Initial Individual Assessment: 53 min, $185

• Individual Therapy Session: 53 min, $165

• Couples Initial Intake: 80 min, $300

• Couples Therapy Session, 80 min, $225

• Additional Services (phone/email >10 min, record reviews, letters, court appearances) will be billed at $125/hr

• Court appearances/testimony: Minimum 2 hrs, $200/hr (50% deposit due 1 week in advance)

• Payment is due at the time of service unless otherwise arranged. 

• Accepted payment methods: credit/debit card on file (preferred), Venmo (confidentiality not guaranteed), check, or cash. 

• Returned checks incur a $35 service fee. 

Insurance & Billing

• Clients are responsible for confirming mental health benefits with their insurer. 

• I will bill in-network insurance directly; clients pay copays, deductibles, or other out-of-pocket amounts. 

• Out-of-network clients are responsible for full session fees; monthly superbills are available for reimbursement. 

• All estimates are subject to final determination by your insurance provider. 

Statements, Account Balances & Collections

• Monthly statements are sent for any outstanding balance. 

• Accounts unpaid after 90 days may be sent to collections. You are responsible for any associated fees. 

• Clients may not carry balances beyond three unpaid sessions without alternate arrangements. 

Minors & Guardians

• Parents/legal guardians attending with a minor are financially responsible for all services unless otherwise arranged. 

• If multiple parties share financial responsibility, all responsible parties must have payment methods on file.

Cancellation & No-Show Policy

• Please give at least 24 hours in advance to cancel or reschedule. 

• Late cancellations or no-shows incur fees: 

  • $100 for 50-minute sessions 

  • $150 for 80-minute sessions 

• One courtesy late cancellation per calendar year is allowed, and no fee is charged if you reschedule within the same calendar week.

• Sessions canceled due to late arrival (>15 minutes) are charged the same fee. 

• Insurance does not cover missed or late-canceled sessions.

Refunds

• Refunds for over payments are issued promptly. 

• Contact me at (406) 290-9027 or kate@kberrywellness.com for billing questions or suspected errors. 

Expert Testimony & Disability Evaluations

• I do not provide expert testimony as part of therapy. 

• If compelled to appear in court, the rate is $200/hr with a two-hour minimum deposit. 

• Disability evaluations or paperwork must be completed by trained providers, not through therapy sessions. 

Client Responsibilities

Clients are responsible for:

• Notifying the therapist promptly if planning to pause or stop payment 

• Maintaining accurate contact and insurance information 

• Understanding that services may be paused or canceled if payments are not made 

THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION.

PLEASE REVIEW THIS NOTICE CAREFULLY.

Your health record contains personal information about you and your health. This information about you that may identify you and that relates to your past, present or future physical or mental health or condition and related health care services is referred to as Protected Health Information (“PHI”). 

This Notice of Privacy Practices describes how I may use and disclose your PHI in accordance with applicable law, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (“HIPAA”), regulations promulgated under HIPAA including the HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules. It also describes your rights regarding how you may gain access to and control your PHI. 

I am required by law to maintain the privacy of PHI and to provide you with notice of my legal duties and privacy practices with respect to PHI. I am required to abide by the terms of this Notice of Privacy Practices. 

I reserve the right to change the terms of my Notice of Privacy Practices at any time. Any new Notice of Privacy Practices will be effective for all PHI that I maintain at that time. I will provide you with a copy of the revised Notice of Privacy Practices by posting a copy on my website (if applicable), sending a copy to you in the mail upon request or providing one to you at your next appointment.

HOW I MAY USE AND DISCLOSE HEALTH INFORMATION ABOUT YOU

For Treatment. Your PHI may be used and disclosed by those who are involved in your care for the purpose of providing, coordinating, or managing your health care treatment and related services. This may include consultation with clinical supervisors (if applicable to my licensure status) or other health care professionals. I may disclose PHI to any other consultant only with your authorization.

For Payment. I may use and disclose PHI to obtain payment for the treatment services provided to you. Examples of payment-related activities are: making a determination of eligibility or coverage for insurance benefits, processing claims with your insurance company, reviewing services provided to you to determine medical necessity, or undertaking utilization review activities. If it becomes necessary to use collection processes due to lack of payment for services, I will only disclose the minimum amount of PHI necessary for purposes of collection.

For Health Care Operations. I may use or disclose, as needed, your PHI in order to support my business activities including, but not limited to, quality assessment activities, professional development activities, licensing, and conducting or arranging for other business activities. For example, I may share your PHI with third parties that perform various business activities (e.g., billing or scheduling services) provided I have a written contract (Business Associate Agreement) with the business that requires it to safeguard the privacy of your PHI. For training or teaching purposes involving direct use of your identifiable PHI, this information will be disclosed only with your authorization.

Required by Law. Under the law, I must disclose your PHI to you upon your request (with limited exceptions). In addition, I must make disclosures to the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services for the purpose of investigating or determining my compliance with the requirements of the Privacy Rule.

Without Authorization. Following is a list of categories of uses and disclosures permitted by HIPAA without your specific authorization. Applicable law and ethical standards permit me to disclose information about you without your authorization only in a limited number of situations.

• Child Abuse or Neglect. I may disclose your PHI to a state or local agency that is authorized by law to receive reports of child abuse or neglect.

• Judicial and Administrative Proceedings. I may disclose your PHI pursuant to a subpoena (often with your written consent or after you have been notified, depending on state law and the nature of the subpoena), court order, administrative order or similar process.

• Deceased Patients. I may disclose PHI regarding deceased patients as mandated by state law, or to a family member or friend that was involved in your care or payment for care prior to death, based on your prior consent or their involvement if you did not object. A release of information regarding deceased patients may be limited to an executor or administrator of a deceased person’s estate or the person identified as next-of-kin. PHI of persons that have been deceased for more than fifty (50) years is generally not protected under HIPAA.

• Medical Emergencies. I may use or disclose your PHI in a medical emergency situation to medical personnel when necessary to prevent serious harm. I will try to provide you a copy of this notice as soon as reasonably practicable after the resolution of the emergency.

• Family Involvement in Care. I may disclose information to close family members or friends directly involved in your treatment or payment for your care if you agree, or if you are given an opportunity to object and do not, or if, in my professional judgment, it is in your best interest.

• Health Oversight. If required, I may disclose PHI to a health oversight agency for activities authorized by law, such as audits, investigations, and inspections.

• Law Enforcement. I may disclose PHI to a law enforcement official as required by law, in compliance with a subpoena (often with your written consent or after you have been notified), court order, administrative order or similar document, for the purpose of identifying a suspect, material witness or missing person, in connection with the victim of a crime (under certain circumstances), in connection with a deceased person, in connection with the reporting of a crime in an emergency, or in connection with a crime on my premises.

• Specialized Government Functions. I may disclose PHI for specialized government functions as required or permitted by law, such as to U.S. military command authorities if you have served as a member of the armed forces, or to authorized federal officials for national security and intelligence reasons, or to the Department of State for medical suitability determinations. Disclosures will be made in accordance with applicable law.

• Public Health. If required, I may use or disclose your PHI for mandatory public health activities to a public health authority authorized by law to collect or receive such information for the purpose of preventing or controlling disease, injury, or disability, or if directed by a public health authority, to a government agency that is collaborating with that public health authority.

• Public Safety. I may disclose your PHI if I believe in good faith that the disclosure is necessary to prevent or lessen a serious and imminent threat to the health or safety of a person or the public. If information is disclosed to prevent or lessen a serious threat it will be disclosed to a person or persons reasonably able to prevent or lessen the threat, including the target of the threat.

• Research. PHI may be disclosed for research purposes only after a special approval process by an Institutional Review Board or Privacy Board, or with your specific written authorization, or in other limited circumstances permitted by HIPAA.

• Verbal Permission. I may also use or disclose your information to family members or other persons directly involved in your treatment or payment for care with your verbal permission.

With Authorization. Uses and disclosures not specifically permitted or required by applicable law will be made only with your written authorization, which you may revoke at any time, in writing, except to the extent that I have already made a use or disclosure based upon your authorization. The following uses and disclosures will be made only with your written authorization: (i) most uses and disclosures of psychotherapy notes (which I maintain separately from the rest of your medical record); (ii) most uses and disclosures of PHI for marketing purposes, including subsidized treatment communications; (iii) disclosures that constitute a sale of PHI; and (iv) other uses and disclosures not described in this Notice of Privacy Practices.

YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING YOUR PHI
You have the following rights regarding PHI I maintain about you. To exercise any of these rights, please submit your request in writing to me, Kate Berry, as the Privacy Officer, at the address listed in the "Complaints" section below.

• Right of Access to Inspect and Copy. You have the right, which may be restricted only in exceptional circumstances, to inspect and copy PHI that is maintained in a “designated record set”. A designated record set contains mental health/medical and billing records and any other records that are used to make decisions about your care. Your right to inspect and copy PHI will be restricted only in those situations where there is compelling evidence that access would cause serious harm to you or if the information is contained in separately maintained psychotherapy notes (which have different access rules). I may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee for copies. If your records are maintained electronically, you may also request an electronic copy of your PHI. You may also request that a copy of your PHI be provided to another person.

• Right to Amend. If you feel that the PHI I have about you is incorrect or incomplete, you may ask me to amend the information although I am not required to agree to the amendment. If I deny your request for amendment, you have the right to file a statement of disagreement with me. I may prepare a rebuttal to your statement and will provide you with a copy. Please contact me if you have any questions.

• Right to an Accounting of Disclosures. You have the right to request an accounting of certain of the disclosures that I make of your PHI. I may charge you a reasonable fee if you request more than one accounting in any 12-month period.

• Right to Request Restrictions. You have the right to request a restriction or limitation on the use or disclosure of your PHI for treatment, payment, or health care operations. I am not required to agree to your request unless the request is to restrict disclosure of PHI to a health plan for purposes of carrying out payment or health care operations, and the PHI pertains to a health care item or service that you paid for out of pocket. In that case, I am required to honor your request for a restriction.

• Right to Request Confidential Communication. You have the right to request that I communicate with you about health matters in a certain way or at a certain location. I will accommodate reasonable requests. I may require information regarding how payment will be handled or specification of an alternative address or other method of contact as a condition for accommodating your request. I will not ask you for an explanation of why you are making the request.

• Breach Notification. If there is a breach of unsecured PHI concerning you, I am required to notify you of this breach, including what happened and what you can do to protect yourself.

• Right to a Copy of this Notice. You have the right to a copy of this notice.

COMPLAINTS
If you have any questions about this Notice or my privacy practices, or if you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint.

To file a complaint with me: Please contact me in writing at the address below:

Kate Berry, LCSW

Kate Berry Wellness

307 Spokane Avenue, Suite 203C

Whitefish, MT 59937

406-290-9027

kate@kberrywellness.com

To file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: You can file a complaint with the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. Information on how to file a complaint can be found on the HHS website at www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/complaints/ or by calling their office.

You will not be retaliated against for filing a complaint.

EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS NOTICE
This notice went into effect on 05/26/2025

Messaging Terms & Conditions:

You agree to receive informational messages (appointment reminders, account notifications, etc.) from BERRYWELL PLLC/Kate Berry Wellness. Message frequency varies. Message and data rates may apply. For help, reply HELP or email us at kate@kberrywellness.com. You can optout at any time by replying STOP."

Mobile SMS Messaging Privacy Policy:

Information collected:
We may collect information, such as name, phone number, and email address.

Use of information collected:
We may use the information we collect to perform the services requested including billing, customer service, appointment reminders and other administrative requests.

Sharing of information collected:
Mobile information will not be shared with third parties/affiliates for marketing/promotional purposes. This includes text messaging opt-in data and consent.

As a current or prospective customer, you understand that you can text us STOP at any time to opt out of receiving SMS text messages from us. You can text us HELP at any time to receive help.
You understand that the messaging frequency may vary. Messaging & data rates may apply.
All policies are followed as per CTIA guidelines 5.2.1. At any time if you want your information to be removed, you can contact us via our email address or regular mail."