Susan Klemmer, LLC

Individual therapy involves a therapeutic alliance between one client* and one counselor – me – Susan Klemmer, LMHC, NCC. If you are considering therapy with me, it’s important for you to know that I can only provide services by telehealth at this time, and I am working on securing full time office space in Sanibel, Florida for clients who prefer in-person appointments.  I am currently providing telehealth from a home office in Florida. I am licensed to see clients who are physically located at the time of the session in either Florida or Virginia.

All counseling sessions will be confidential; what you say in session stays in session. Prior to your first appointment, I will collect some information which allows me to start a HIPAA-compliant electronic health record for you, and sets up your Client Portal. You will use the Client Portal to complete the required Practice Policy Forms prior to Intake; failure to complete required information at least 2 hours before your scheduled Intake appointment may result in rescheduling by the counselor. During the Intake, I will use the information provided in your Questionnaire responses to help you identify goals for counseling, and you will learn more about working with me.

After an initial Intake session, you and I will collaborate on a Treatment Plan and agree on a frequency of sessions. If you request a Good Faith Estimate, I will supply one. Your appointment time may be scheduled at your convenience (by online request through the Client Portal, text message to therapist, or email), or you may elect to secure a repeating (“standing”) appointment at the same time each week (or other frequency).

Through active listening and empathy, I strive to understand your unique experiences and challenges. Together, we work collaboratively to identify and address areas of concern, aiming to promote personal growth and healing. Using evidence-based approaches tailored to your specific needs, I assist clients in gaining valuable insights into their patterns of thinking and behavior. We may explore past experiences that could be impacting your current struggles, fostering self-awareness and facilitating the process of positive change.

Please understand that for each appointment following your consultation call, I have set aside time for you and expect you to honor your commitment or give me adequate notice if you are unable to attend. Appointment cancellations and no-shows incur a fee if proper notice is not provided. If you no-show for your appointment, I will attempt to contact you five minutes after your scheduled time, and fifteen minutes after; if you still fail to attend, I have a duty to you to ensure your safety and I appreciate the courtesy of a response.

Together, we will set ground rules for our time together. Most importantly, you can expect that you will have my full attention for our entire 50-minute session. In general, it is likely I will use swear words when communicating, and you should not expect that I will be a “blank slate” therapist – I will react, though it will be difficult to “shock” me. I am committed to communicating well in advance (when possible) when I need to reschedule or cancel our session.

If you need additional support or a higher level of care, I can help you find a provider or coordinate with them (i.e. psychiatry, medication management, IOP), pending a signed Release of Information.

*I accept clients 10 years old and older. If you are considering therapy for your pre-teen/tween or adolescent, please be advised that one parent will be required to attend the first ten minutes of the Intake appointment to review presenting concerns and reiterate confidentiality conditions. Please let me be clear now: I will respect client confidentiality at all times, regardless of my client’s age. For parents of minors, I will share the collaborative Treatment Plan developed in session, and updates on progress by email. Parents will have access to their child’s Client Portal to access and edit scheduling, billing, contact and insurance details. Parents will be responsible for coordinating a child’s appointments (and timely cancellations) unless otherwise agreed by parent and client.