Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, and this is encouraged. Kara realizes that there is limited preferred time so existing clients are encouraged to reserve as many appointments as they feel they need. Please note that appointments are approved during weekdays and are typically approved 3 weeks from appointment day. Clients are liable for appointments once their reserved appointment has been approved if they do not cancel before 24 hours. Once a client reserves an appointment no other client can reserve that time frame.
Appointments fill up quickly, however, Kara does keep a waitlist for clients who have a preferred time for an appointment that is currently filled or for clients who are needing a sooner appointment and will take any appointment made available due to cancelations. Kara will go down the list and text clients notifying them that a last-minute appointment has been made available
Therapy sessions and Kara’s documentation are all covered under your insurance, however, sometimes individuals will request services that are not covered under insurance. If a client is needing additional services or time outside of the session, it will be billed in 15-minute increments. Please see Rates under insurance, rates, and policy tab. Examples of services include IEP meetings, education consulting, FML Paperwork, Letter writing, and court recommendations.
The fastest and most preferred mode of contact is via text message. You can text Kara at (262) 346-3976. Kara typically responds to text messages during business hours. You can also reach Kara at 262-789-1191 ext 141. You can leave a message and Kara will call you back as soon as possible. Any therapy will always be completed during the therapy sessions. If a client is needing additional services or time outside of the session, it will be billed in 15-minute increments and is often not covered by insurance. Please see Policy for the Billing of Collateral Psychological Services, included in the new client paperwork, for further details.
Kara offers appointments Monday through Friday 8:45-4:00. The earliest possible appointment starts at 8:45 and the latest possible appointment is 3:15-4:00. Kara will complete callbacks outside of those hours. Due to the high volume of calls please allow for 5 business days for returned calls.
If Kara should get sick, she will call clients as soon as possible to reschedule appointments. For unexpected absences, Kara will generally call between 7:00 am-8:00 am. In some situations, in-person clients will be offered a telehealth session for the same time and day.
A parent or guardian is required to be present during the first appointment, if it is in person, to complete the paperwork. After that, it is preferred but not required that minor clients be brought to appointments by their parents in case there would be a safety plan required. Communication between therapist and parents requires verbal consent unless it is a mandated reporting situation or safety situation, from the minor client and can be done in a family session with or without the client. Please talk to Kara about family session details and options.
Some insurance companies have issues with covering sessions that are longer than 45 minutes. Clients can still get 60-minute sessions upon request. Text Kara at (262) 346-3976 to request their 45-minute session be made into a 60-minute session. Clients will need to make this request each time and requests are not automatic due to all sessions being set up as 45 minutes.
Please note your therapist is not available for emergency calls. Cornerstone does offer a 24-hour answering service in case of an emergency. In the case of a safety emergency please utilize the numbers below.
Emergency –911
Self-harm support hotline- 1-800-DON’T-CUT
hotline for people contemplating suicide- 1-800-SUICIDE
National Suicide Hotline – 1-800-273-8255
Self- Injury Foundation’s 24-hour national crisis line-1-800-334-HELP
Domestic violence hotline-1-800-799-SAFE
Real Help For Teens’ help line- 1-877-332-7333
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) 800-950-NAMI
Waukesha County Crisis- 1-866-211-3380
Crisis Text Line- Text CONNECT to 741741
Other County Crisis –Please dial 911 explain situation and request a crisis worker to respond. If you are not comfortable dialing 911 you can google your city’s non-emergency police line for continued assistance.