Melissa Harman Counseling

I have been practicing therapy since 2013. I have worked with teens and their families as the lead clinician in outpatient settings. I also have experience addressing a wide range of concerns including depression, anxiety, relationship problems, parenting problems, anger management, stress, substance abuse, and oppositional behavior. A bit about payment: After much thought, I have recently decided to stop accepting insurance for three primary reasons. The first being, in order to receive mental heath coverage from your insurance company, I am required to diagnose you with a mental health disorder that will permanently stay in your medical records. I don't believe it is necessary, ethical, or appropriate to label a person with a disorder in order to provide a person with support. Furthermore, while it is illegal to discriminate against a person based on his or her mental health background, it is an unfortunate truth that this is still a common practice in many institutions. It is my intention to ensure my clients do not have to fear discrimination, stigmatization, or any other unintended negative consequence in order to receive the care we are all entitled and deserve to receive. Second, in order to receive payment for services, I am required as a provider to submit information to your insurance provider about what we discuss in session. While I have always made the concerted effort to limit what information I include in my claims, your personal and private information is still subject to review. I believe this to be a loophole in your right to confidentiality. It is my belief that upon entering a therapeutic relationship, your information should be kept strictly between you and your therapist, except for in the case of threat to life, or appropriate care of vulnerable populations i.e. children and the elderly. Third, I have found that without being encumbered by thoughts of what I "should" be noting, I am more able to stay attuned to not only what is being said but also what isn't being said and the possible implications and connections between the two. Succinctly said, I feel I am better able to provide you the best quality of care I can. I am more than happy to answer any questions you may have about this policy. My greatest intention is to provide you with the most supportive care I can while also upholding your right to the strictest of confidentiality.