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I have seen the powerful effect of therapy in my personal life, and I’ve also been a witness to the positive impact it has on others. Therapy can help decrease feelings of anxiety, worry, and frustration. It can enhance problem-solving strategies. It can help improve communication, social, and coping skills. It can help improve the quality of your relationships. It can help you develop new tools for dealing with stress and increase your ability to relax. It can help you better manage your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. It can help increase self-confidence and be better prepared for future stress.

You can gain:

• increased self-confidence
• resiliency for future stressful situations
• increased self-efficacy
• improvement your life esteem

Forward Focus Therapy provides online therapy. I see people online throughout Pennsylvania as well as: PSYPACT approved for online therapy as a psychologist in the following states: Alabama – (Effective June 1, 2021), Arizona, Arkansas - (Effective end of July 2021), Colorado, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas (Effective 1/1/22 Kentucky - (Effective June 29, 2021), Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio - (Effective July 26, 2021), Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia - (Effective July 6, 2021)

Forward Focus Therapy’s online sessions are HIPAA compliant and easy to use. You can start a video session without a special download. Online therapy is easy to use (phone or computer) convenient, no worries about transportation, easily accessible, from the comfort of your location of choice, it is private.

If you lead a busy life, online therapy may be right for you. Online therapy is service remotely using video conferencing, telephone or text. Online therapy gives you the flexibility and expediency to meet life’s demands without compromising on a qualified, skilled therapist. The benefit to online therapy is similar to face-to-face therapy except you get to work with an experienced psychologist in a local and time convenient to you who may not be in your area. As long as you have internet access or a phone, you can we can have a session. 

Although there are benefits of online, there are some differences between in-person psychotherapy and online. It is important to be in a private place where you will not be disturbed, overheard or interrupted. I will only participate in therapy with you while in a room where others are not present and can’t overhear the session. Most research shows online therapy is about as effective as in-person psychotherapy but some therapists believe that something is lost by not being in the same room as a client. For example, there is debate about understanding non-verbal cues. In order to do online therapy, you need a computer or phone and internet access for online sessions.

No, the client portal was designed to make you connecting with me easy. The client portal can be found at https://ginamariedattilo.icouch.me/ The client portal is a place where you can do the following tasks:
Schedule appointments
Pay for sessions
Send secure messages and texts
Send us documents and views notes and documents sent to you
You can also sign documents
View you appointments
Start a video session
The client portal is encrypted and redundant and data there is backed up hourly! To access the portal: https://ginamariedattilo.icouch.me/

Initial 10-minute consultation is Free

50-minute session is $80.00
40-minute session is $65.00
On occasion, I also offer consultation and supervision to mental health professionals for $80.00 for 50 minutes. If you are seeking supervision for licensure, specific requirements vary depending on the license a therapist seeks and the state in which they practice. You are responsible for knowing what the requirements for your licensure are. 
There is a 15% discount when two sessions are booked and paid for in advance.

At this time, I have evening and weekend sessions available. You can visit my confidential portal to schedule https://ginamariedattilo.icouch.me/

Most people attend once a week, but you may attend more or less frequently based upon your needs. 

Insurance companies are different – some offer mental health coverage, while others do not. The easiest way to find out if mental health care is covered by your provider is to contact them to make sure you understand their options. If you’re looking for a good place to start, you could consider asking what their coverage amounts are for therapy sessions, what an out-of-network provider might cost, or if prior approval will be needed from your primary care physician. Don’t be afraid to ask enough questions so you feel confident in knowing how your insurance responds to mental health care.

I am an out-of-network therapy provider which means that you pay the full amount up front and may be reimbursed by your insurance plan. You will need to contact your insurance company to determine the percentage of coverage. I can provide you an invoice for you to submit to your insurance company for possible reimbursement. Please check with your provider for details about your eligibility and coverage. 

**Please be aware that I have no control over the confidentiality of your information once it is received by your insurance company.

Therapists are bound by law to maintain confidentiality. This means is that anything we discuss in person or in any communication, cannot be discussed with anyone else without your written consent. There are limits to confidentiality:
Threats of serious bodily harm to another person or persons, which must be reported to the police and the intended victim(s).
Suspected child abuse, dependent adult abuse, or elder abuse, which must be immediately reported to the appropriate authorities.
Intent to inflict self-harm will prompt efforts to engage the clients’ cooperation in securing their safety. In the absence of such cooperation, safety measures will be taken without client permission, as provided by law.
In some instances, the courts may subpoena my records or testimony. In most instances, I am forced to honor these subpoenas.
In addition, if you choose to cover any portion of your therapy costs with insurance, then your insurance company will have access to the dates of your appointments, as well as to your diagnosis.

You will need a computer, tablet or phone that has video capability for a tele-therapy session or a phone for a telephone session. I will be in a secure location free from others, and I ask that you do the same.  During the consultation we will talk about your therapy needs and what you would like to work on. I will listen closely to you to develop an understanding of both the hopes and concerns that bring you to therapy and to answer any questions that you have. You will get a sense of how we work together and whether or not we are a good fit. After that, you can take time to think about it or you can schedule a session. Once you have scheduled a session, you will be asked to complete a HIPAA form, consent for Tele-therapy, and an intake form. You can schedule a session through the Portal at https://ginamariedattilo.icouch.me/

Therapy varies depending on the individual and the goals of therapy. Some clients may achieve their goals in a few sessions while others it may take years. We will identify your goals for therapy together and work at a pace that feels comfortable. Insurance may authorize a certain amount of sessions and we would have to work within those parameters. Otherwise, we would consistently assess the progress toward your identified goals and determine when they are achieved and when therapy feels complete.
 
If you are ready to begin the journey, contact me. You can schedule a consultation, session or send a secure message through the portal: https://ginamariedattilo.icouch.me/

This notice describes how protected health information about you may be used and disclosed and how you can get access to this information. Please review it carefully.
Privacy is a very important concern for all those who come to this office and who work here. It is also complicated, because of the many federal and state laws and our professional ethics. We are required to abide by the terms of our Notice of Privacy Practices currently in effect. Each time you visit us a health care provider, information is collected about you and your physical and mental health. It may be information about your past, present, or future health or conditions, or the tests or treatment you got from us or from others, or about payment for health care. All this information is called “PHI,” which stands for “protected health information” which means its privacy must be protected. This information goes into your medical or health care records. Protected health information may be information about health care we provide to you. If you have any questions, your therapist will be happy to help you understand our procedures and your rights. When you understand what is in your record and what it is used for, you can make better decisions about what other persons or agencies should have this information, when, and why.
 
How we use and disclose your protected health information (PHI) with your consent
We will use the information we collect about you mainly to provide you with treatment; to arrange payment for our services; and for some other business activities called, in the law, “health care operations.” We will ask you to sign a separate consent form to show that you understand these ways we handle your information. If you do not agree and won’t sign this consent form, we will not treat you. If we want to use or send, share, or release your PHI for other purposes, we will discuss this with you so you fully understand it, and ask you to sign a release-of-information form to allow this.
 
Your Rights
When it comes to your health information, you have certain rights. (let us know if you need help with any of them)
 
Get an electronic or paper copy of your medical record
You can ask to see or get an electronic or paper copy of your medical record and other health information we have about you. 
We will provide a copy or a summary of your health information, usually within 30 days of your request. We may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee.
You also have a right to have a copy of this notice
 
Ask to correct your medical record
You can ask us to correct health information about you that you think is incorrect or incomplete. We may say “no” to your request, but we’ll tell you why in writing within 60 days.
 
Request confidential communications
You can ask us to contact you in a specific way (for example, home or office phone) or to send mail to a different address. We will say “yes” to all reasonable requests.
 
Ask us to limit what we use or share
You can ask us not to use or share certain health information for treatment, payment, or our operations.
We are not required to agree to your request, and we may say “no” if it would affect your care.
If you pay for a service or health care item out-of-pocket in full, you can ask us not to share that information for the purpose of payment or our operations with your health insurer.
We will say “yes” unless a law requires us to share that information.
 
Get a list of those with whom we’ve shared information
You can ask for a list (accounting) of the times we’ve shared your health information for six years prior to the date you ask, who we shared it with, and why.
We will include all the disclosures except for those about treatment, payment, and health care operations, and certain other disclosures (such as any you asked us to make). We’ll provide one accounting a year for free but will charge a reasonable, cost-based fee if you ask for another one within 12 months.
 
Get a copy of this privacy notice
You can ask for a paper copy of this notice at any time, even if you have agreed to receive the notice electronically. We will provide you with a paper copy promptly. You can ask for a paper copy of this notice at any time, even if you have agreed to receive the notice electronically. We will provide you with a paper copy promptly.
 
Choose someone to act for you
If you have given someone medical power of attorney or if someone is your legal guardian, that person can exercise your rights and make choices about your health information.
We will make sure the person has this authority and can act for you before we take any action.
 
File a complaint if you feel your rights are violated
You can complain if you feel we have violated your rights by contacting us 64 East Uwchlan Ave Suite 110, Exton PA 19341 // You can file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights by sending a letter to 200 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20201, calling 1-877-696-6775, or visiting  www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/complaints/.
 We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.
 
Your Choices
For certain health information, you can tell us your choices about what we share. If you have a clear preference for how we share your information in the situations described below, tell us what you want us to do, & we will follow your instructions.
 
In these cases, you have both the right and choice to tell us to:
Share information with your family, close friends, or others involved in your care
Share information in a disaster relief situation
Include your information in a hospital directory
Contact you for fundraising efforts
If you are not able to tell us your preference, for example if you are unconscious, we may go ahead and share your information if we believe it is in your best interest. We may also share your information when needed to lessen a serious and imminent threat to health or safety.
 
In these situations, we never share your information unless you give us written permission
Marketing purposes, sale of your information & most sharing of psychotherapy notes
  
In the case of fundraising
We may contact you for fundraising efforts, but you can tell us not to contact you again.
 
Uses & Disclosure
We typically share information in the following ways:
 
Treat you
We can use your health information and share it with other professionals who are treating you.
 
Run our organization
We can use and share your health information to run our practice, improve your care, and contact you when necessary
 
Billing
We can use and share your health information to bill and get payment from health plans or other entities.
 
We are allowed or required to share your information in other ways – usually in ways that contribute to the public good, such as public health and research. We have to meet many conditions in the law before we can share your information for these purposes. For more information see: www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understanding/consumers/index.html
 
Help with public health and safety
We can share health information about you for certain situations such as: • Preventing disease• Helping with product recalls• Reporting adverse reactions to medications• Reporting suspected abuse, neglect, or domestic violence• Preventing or reducing a serious threat to anyone’s health or safety
 
Research We can use or share your information for health research.
 
Comply with laws We will share information about you if state or federal laws require it, including with the Department of Health and Human Services if it wants to see that we’re complying with federal privacy law.
 
Respond to organ and tissue donation and requests
We can share health information about you with organ procurement organizations.
 
Work with medical examiner/funeral director
We can share health information with a coroner, medical examiner, or funeral director when an individual dies.
 
Address workers’ compensation, law enforcement, and other government requests
We can use or share health information about you:
For workers’ compensation claims
For law enforcement purposes or with a law enforcement official
With health oversight agencies for activities authorized by law
For special government functions such as military, national security, and presidential protective services
 
Respond to lawsuits and legal actions
We can share health information about you in response to a court or administrative order, or in response to a subpoena.
 
Our Responsibilities
 
We are required by law to maintain the privacy and security of your protected health information.
We will let you know promptly if a breach occurs that may have compromised the privacy or security of your information.
We must follow the duties and privacy practices described in this notice and give you a copy of it.
We will not use or share your information other than as described here unless you tell us we can in writing. If you tell us we can, you may change your mind at any time. Let us know in writing if you change your mind. For more information see: www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understanding/consumers/noticepp.html.Changes to the Terms of This Notice.
We can change the terms of this notice, and the changes will apply to all information we have about you. The new notice will be available upon request, in our office, and on our web site.
 
This Notice of Privacy Practices applies to the following organizations.
All providers, contractors and employees