Terms of Service

Blue Sky Counseling LLC is a private practice providing individual online therapy services. Services are provided by:

Bruce Steinberg, LPC, LAC
Licensed Professional Counselor (Louisiana License No. on file)
Licensed Addiction Counselor (Louisiana LADRA License No. on file)
Phone: (985) 336-5012
Email: bruce@blueskycounselingllc.net

Blue Sky Counseling LLC provides individual psychotherapy and counseling services via telehealth. Services are intended to support mental health, personal growth, and recovery.

This practice does not provide:

• Emergency or crisis intervention services
• Medical or psychiatric diagnosis or medication management
• 24/7 availability between sessions
• Court-ordered evaluations or forensic assessments
• Disability or workers' compensation evaluations

The information on this website is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute professional mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. No therapist-client relationship is formed by visiting this website.

By engaging in telehealth services, you acknowledge and agree to the following:

• Telehealth sessions are conducted via HIPAA-compliant video platforms. You are responsible for having a private, quiet space with a reliable internet connection.
• Telehealth has inherent risks including potential technical failures, loss of connection, and limits to confidentiality in your environment. These risks have been explained and you accept them.
• Sessions are not recorded by the therapist without your explicit written consent. You may not record sessions without prior written consent from the therapist.
• Telehealth services are provided only to residents of states in which Bruce Steinberg is licensed (currently Louisiana and Florida). It is your responsibility to notify the therapist if you relocate.
• In the event of a technical disruption, the therapist will attempt to reconnect via video. If unsuccessful, contact will be made by phone using the number on file.

Scheduling: Sessions are scheduled in advance by mutual agreement. You are responsible for attending scheduled appointments on time.

Cancellation policy: If you need to cancel or reschedule, please provide at least 24 hours' notice. Cancellations made with less than 24 hours' notice or no-shows may be charged the full session fee, except in cases of genuine emergency.

Late arrivals: If you arrive more than 15 minutes late, the session may not be held and may be considered a late cancellation. The therapist will wait up to 15 minutes before closing the session.

Repeated no-shows: Consistent cancellations or no-shows may result in termination of the therapeutic relationship with appropriate notice.

Session fee: $125 per 50-minute session. Fees are subject to change with reasonable advance notice.

Payment: Payment is due at the time of service unless a separate billing arrangement has been agreed upon in writing.

Insurance: Blue Sky Counseling LLC is an out-of-network provider. We do not bill insurance directly. Superbills are available upon request for you to submit to your insurance company for potential reimbursement. We make no guarantees regarding reimbursement.

Sliding scale: A sliding scale fee may be available based on financial need. This is determined during the initial consultation.

Good Faith Estimate: You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate (GFE) under the No Surprises Act before beginning services. If you receive a bill that is $400 or more above your GFE, you may dispute it through the federal dispute resolution process.

Unpaid balances: Unpaid balances may result in suspension of services. Accounts significantly past due may be referred to a collections agency, at which point limited identifying information (name, balance owed) may be disclosed as permitted by HIPAA.

All information shared in therapy is confidential and protected under HIPAA and applicable state law. We will not disclose your information to any third party without your written consent, except in the following legally required or permitted circumstances:

• Imminent danger: If you present a serious and imminent risk of harm to yourself or another person, we may take appropriate action including contacting emergency services or a designated emergency contact.
• Mandatory reporting: We are required by law to report known or suspected child abuse or neglect, elder abuse, and dependent adult abuse to appropriate authorities in Louisiana and Florida.
• Court order: We may be required to disclose records in response to a valid court order or subpoena. We will make reasonable efforts to notify you before complying.
• Supervision and consultation: Case information may be discussed in professional supervision or peer consultation for quality assurance purposes. Identifying information is minimized in these discussions.
• Business associates: Limited information may be shared with HIPAA-compliant service providers (e.g., EHR system) under signed Business Associate Agreements.

Blue Sky Counseling LLC does not provide after-hours crisis support. If you are experiencing a mental health emergency outside of session hours, please use one of the following resources:

• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 (available 24/7)
• Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
• Emergency services: Call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room
• Louisiana Office of Behavioral Health Crisis Line: (800) 256-7222

You will be asked to provide emergency contact information and a local emergency room address before beginning services so that the therapist can take appropriate action if needed.

The therapeutic relationship is a professional relationship and must remain within ethical boundaries as defined by the Louisiana Licensed Professional Counselors Board of Examiners, the Louisiana Addictive Disorder Regulatory Authority, the Florida Department of Health, and the American Counseling Association (ACA) Code of Ethics.

The therapist will not engage in dual relationships with clients, including but not limited to social, business, or romantic relationships. Contact outside of scheduled sessions should be limited to scheduling, billing, and clinical concerns. Communication outside of sessions is not a substitute for therapy.

To protect client confidentiality and maintain professional boundaries, the therapist does not accept friend or connection requests from current or former clients on personal social media platforms.

Clients should not contact the therapist through social media for clinical matters. Reviews or public comments identifying the therapeutic relationship may inadvertently disclose confidential information; clients are encouraged to exercise caution.

Either the client or the therapist may end the therapeutic relationship at any time. Whenever possible, termination will be planned collaboratively to allow for a meaningful conclusion and appropriate referrals.

The therapist may initiate termination if:

• The client's needs exceed the scope of the therapist's training or licensure
• There is a conflict of interest or ethical concern
• The client is non-compliant with treatment agreements or payment
• The therapist is no longer able to provide services due to personal or professional reasons

In all cases of therapist-initiated termination, appropriate referrals will be provided unless the circumstances make this impossible.

Bruce Steinberg, LPC, LAC

Blue Sky Counseling LLC

Phone: (985) 336-5012

Email: bruce@blueskycounselingllc.net