How to begin the screening and intake process:

1. Request an intake appointment via the website, or give us a call or text (518-545-4691).
2. An intake representative will reach out within a couple business days to complete an initial screening and (if applicable) assist in matching you with a therapist. They will also
be available to answer any questions as you navigate the process.
3. Documents required before your initial session with your therapist are sent to you through a secure portal. We also ask for a copy of your ID for your file.
4. Once all documents are completed, your therapist will confirm an initial session with you.

Informed Consent and the No Surprises Act:

CommonSense and our providers pride ourselves in ensuring transparency with our clients. Please see our full informed consent here: CSWN informed consent

Moreover, we seek to ensure clients know, understand, and agree to their fee for services. Most clients at CommonSense utilize insurance with their provider, however provider ability to take insurance varies based on the provider, their credentials, and a number of other factors. As a result, some clients pay out of pocket for services, and most will pay on a sliding scale based on their income.

The No Surprises Act requires us to outline what a client may pay if they were to be charged the full fee at CommonSense WellnessNetwork for services, and what this cost could add up to in the most extreme case based on various factors.

Please note: clients paying out of pocket for services complete a financial agreement, and often this agreement is for much lower than the full fee would entail at CommonSense. The numbers below reflect the most extreme possibility of such an agreement:

Case scenario: working with a nurse practitioner

intake fee (may be applied up to once a year): $400

follow up fee: up to $300 (usually 15-30 minutes)

If a client were to work with a nurse practitioner at these rates, and meet with them a couple times a month for a year (note this is not standard frequency for psychiatric care in private practice, however this is probably the most frequent, and expensive, such care could become in extreme cases. Generally sessions are more frequent at first and then taper to a lesser frequency over time), the total for year would be $7,300.

Case scenario: working with a mental health counselor or social worker

intake fee (may be applied up to once a year): $225

follow up fee: $200 (usually 45-50 minutes)

If a client were to work with a therapist at these rates, and meet with them once a week (this frequency, as well as meeting every other week, are standard frequencies for psychotherapy. However, various factors may determine appropriate frequency and the most a therapist in private practice may see a client would be two to three times a week - and generally for a specific and limited period of time), the yearly cost for services would be $10,625 (weekly) and $5,425 (every other week).

PLEASE NOTE: frequency of sessions within a private practice setting, especially over the course of a year, can NEVER be guarenteed, as many factors may impact the frequency of services. Additionally, yearly cost projections are difficult to establish because services are generally charged for at the time of session (known as "fee-for-service"). Ultimately, you (the client) must agree to any change in service frequency prior to such change, and you would do so knowing the service fee per session. This allows you to establish your own informed cost projections, and those most accurate and consistent to your individual care.

When determining eligibility for sliding scale, clients are not required to provide documentation or proof of income. Additionally, CSWN may suggest applying the "1/1000" rule - where a client's (or family) gross yearly income is divided by 1/1000, and this equates to the sliding scale fee. CSWN also refers to federal poverty guidelines.

Example: client making 100k a year would pay $100 per session with a therapist.

Sliding scale for licensed therapists (mental health counselors and social workers) may go as low as $85 per session. For limited-permit and pre-licensed therapists, including interns, the sliding scale may go as low as $60 per session.

Also see the sliding scale and pro-bono policy for more information.

Sliding scale for nurse practitioners is generally full fee only (if insurance cannot be utilized).

CommonSense Wellness Network (CSWN) offers sliding scale (for clients making under $175,000 yearly household gross income) as well as pro-bono services (for clients making under $60,000) to clients. Services and slots vary based on individual, licensed providers and CSWN makes every effort to assign clients to providers with appropriate sliding scale and pro-bono slots. Moreover, CSWN utilizes federal poverty guidelines (see table on second page) in making such determinations.

For reference: CSWN full fee is $175 for psychotherapy services, with sliding scale for pre-licensed providers ranging from $60 to $100 and $85 to $175 for licensed mental health counselors and social workers. Please refer to the financial agreement for more details.

Individual licensed providers and CSWN contractors determine and report to CommonSense sliding scale and pro-bono slot availability, and if/when such slots are full.

Additionally, CommonSense works with pre-licensed providers (being supervised within individual, licensed practices) to offer pro-bono and sliding scale options when slots are full elsewhere. This helps ensure general availability of such slots within CSWN.

Proof of income is not required, and clients are asked to consider sliding scale and pro-bono eligibility based on their yearly household gross income, specifically where their fee is 1/1000 of such income (so $85,000 household yr income equates to $85 fee per session). In general, this ensures the agreed-upon fee meets and exceeds federal poverty guidelines, however such guidelines are consulted to ensure they are met.

For households that see less than $60,000 yr income, clients are consulted on what they believe they can afford below the sliding scales offered for licensed and pre-licensed providers (refer to the financial agreement for details), and CSWN follows federal poverty guidelines. Moreover, such clients are eligible for a $0 fee for services.

Lastly, based on our Non-Discrimination Policy, CommonSense Wellness Network does not discriminate in the provision of health care services to an individual:

1. Because the individual is unable to pay for the health care services;

2. Because payment for those services would be made under Medicare, Medicaid, or the

Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP); or

3. Based upon the individual’s race, color, sex, age, national origin, disability, religion, gender identity or sexual orientation.

Ultimately, no one will be denied access to services due to inability to pay, and there is a discounted/sliding fee schedule available based on family size and income.

Please find our full informed consent language here: Informed Consent

All services at all of our sites include core comprehensive behavioral health services on-site, which include:

o Screening and assessment

o Treatment plan

o Care coordination

Moreover, at all sites we offer non-core comprehensive behavioral health services either on-site, in-network, or off-site, through referral, affiliation, or contract, which include:

o Diagnosis

o Therapeutic services

o Crisis/emergency services

o Consultative services

o Case management

In general, we offer services online and in person. Some of our provides offer both, while others offer online sessions only - consequently, in person slots are limited.

In person services are available in the Albany/Capital Region of NYS, whereas tele-services are available anywhere within the state.