If you have additional questions, please call our office. LOCC office staff is available on a part-time basis, so feel free to leave a confidential message at extension #111. We will do our best to get back to you regarding your questions in a timely manner. Thank you!
Where are we located?
WE HAVE MOVED!
Lake Oswego Counseling Center 9 Monroe Parkway, Suite 270 Lake Oswego, Oregon 97035. Phone: 503-675-2830 Fax: 503-675-2852
Our office is on the upper level of Oswego Towne Square. The upper level parking lot is accessible from Monroe PKWY, off of Boones Ferry Road. Alternatively, you can access the building from the lower level by using the stairs next to Columbia Factory Store. Our office is on the top floor, in the north east corner of the building. We look forward to seeing you.
What are LOCC's hours of operation?
LOCC's regular business hours are Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. However, some of our clinicians work late into the evenings.
Our front desk staff is in the office on a part-time basis, and they are generally out after 3:00 p.m. If you need assistance from our front desk staff, you may need to leave a message at extension #1. Our office staff returns calls once they return to the office during regular business hours.
How do I make an appointment?
Call our front desk at 503-675-2830 extension #1. If our office staff is not available (and to speed up the process) please leave your name, the spelling of your last name, date of birth, and primary insurance with your member identification number. Any information you leave at this extension is completely confidential. With this information, our office staff can quickly start your insurance verification.
Do you take my insurance?
We are in network with a variety of insurance providers. When you call to set up your initial appointment, we will take your insurance information and run an insurance verification. It often takes up to 24-hours for your insurance provider to get back to us regarding your benefits. The insurance verification will provide us with information on the type of mental health coverage you have, and what your deductible and co-pays may be. All payments are due at time of service. Most of our clinicians are in network with the following insurers, but if you do not see your insurance on this list, please give us a call. This list is not exhaustive, we are always working with insurers to be added to their panels. We currently have openings for both Oregon Health Plan and private insurances, Please check the list below for the insurances we take.
Aetna
Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield
Oregon Health Plan
CareOregon/Health Share
Yamhill Community Care
Trillium
Open Card
Moda
Medicare
First Choice
Pacific Source
Providence
Unfortunately, we can no longer accept new or returning clients with Cigna, Healthnet, MHN, United Health Care, Tri-West, Tri-Care or any Employee Assistance Programs.
Can I pay with cash or credit? LOCC accepts cash, checks and credit/debit cards. Any payment (e.g. co-pay, deductible, past balance) is due at the time of service.
How am I assigned to a clinician?
When you call for an appointment, you will be asked to provide a short description on why you would like to be seen. This information is used to match you with a clinician. If you already have a clinician in mind, please let the front office know. Our clinician's schedules can be very full, but we will do our best to accommodate you. Our clinicians do their own scheduling, and because of this, the front office may not know the availability of each clinician. If the clinician you are requesting is not available, we will ask you if you would like to see another clinician in our office.
If at anytime you do not believe your clinician is the best fit for you, please let your clinician or the supervisor at LOCC know and we will do our best to accommodate you. In addition, if your clinician does not believe they are the best clinician to meet your needs, they are asked to discuss this with the LOCC supervisor. Often when a clinician decides they are not the best fit, it is due to gaps in the clinician's training or experience, or you as the client needing a higher level of care than what our agency can provide. A large part of you feeling better has to do with the relationship your forge with your clinician. We believe in a best-fit model!
When should I arrive for my first appointment?
**Due to COVID19 precautions, intake paperwork will be securely emailed to you once we have assigned you to a clinician.
This paperwork must be completed prior to your session being scheduled. We will ask for your demographic information (e.g., insurance, emergency contact, address), provide you with HIPAA material and an Outpatient Services Contract that will describe our services and include signature pages. We will also provide you with information regarding your rights and responsibilities, and ask you to sign for consent to treatment.
What can I expect on my first visit?
At your first visit, your clinician will review the intake documents with you and answer any questions you may have regarding the documents and the counseling process. Your clinician will also be completing an "initial assessment." This assessment gives you and your clinician an opportunity to get to know one another. You will talk with your clinician about why you are seeking counseling services, you will be asked about your history, and asked to describe any symptoms you are experiencing. In addition, you will be asked to fill out an ACORN assessment. This assessment will help you and your clinician get a better understanding of your symptoms. The ACORN will provide your clinician with a baseline in regards to your symptoms and will help with the creation of your treatment plan.
How long are my appointments?
Appointments are generally 45 or 55-minutes in length, depending on your insurance. Please be on time for appointments, so it will not cut into the time you have with your clinician.
What if I need to change or cancel an appointment?
LOCC has a 24-hour cancellation policy. Your insurance provider does not allow us to bill for services that were not received. Because of this, you will be responsible for remitting one-half of your clinician's full fee when providing less than 24-hour notice. This fee policy does not apply to clients using Oregon Health Plan insurance; however, 24-hour notice is still required. If you receive a balance for a missed appointment, that balance must be paid prior to you meeting again with your clinician. We provide a reminder call or text the day before your scheduled appointment.
Does LOCC have an on-site medication prescriber?
We do not have an on-site prescriber, however, we make every effort to work with your primary care physician, psychiatrist or nurse practitioner. If a referral is needed for a medication evaluation, we will work with you to ensure your medication needs are met to the best of our ability.
What about privacy?
LOCC is a fully HIPAA compliant clinic. We take your health and privacy seriously and abide by all HIPAA rules regarding procedures and written documentation. You will be given a copy of the latest HIPAA policies at your first appointment. You will also have the opportunity to ask questions regarding HIPAA when we explain our privacy policies to you in more detail during your the initial assessment process and thereafter.
What if I have an emergency?
LOCC provides after-hour support in emergencies via an answering service and an on-call clinician. At your initial assessment appointment, you will be provided with crisis numbers to access if you are experiencing a mental health emergency. If more intensive on-going support is needed, we will work with your insurance provider to advocate for a higher level of mental health care. We accept after-hour emergency calls from current clients only.
What constitutes a mental health emergency or crisis?
If at anytime you are feeling like harming yourself and/or another person, please seek emergency assistance right away. If you are in crisis and need assistance immediately, please call 911 or go to your local emergency department. Here is a list of other resources available if needed: National Suicide Hotline: 1-800-273-8255 Multnomah County Crisis Line: 503-988-4888 Clackamas County Crisis Line: 503-655-8585 Washington County Crisis Line: 503-291-9111 Portland Women's Crisis Line: 503-235-5333 Rape Crisis Line: 503-640-5311 Poison Control: 800-222-1222 La Linea De Crisis Para La Mujer: 503-232-4448 Senior Helpline: 503-248-3646 (24 hour line) Warmline: 1-800-698-2392
If you are a current client experiencing a crisis, please contact the Medical Answering Service: 503-232-5020
When should I seek counseling?
Nearly anyone can benefit from counseling. While counseling can be helpful in a multitude of situations, there are some conditions for which we would strongly encourage you to seek counseling. Listed below are just a few examples of some common concerns that clients might be experiencing:
You feel overwhelmed by what is going on in your life.
You are unhappy on most days or feel a sense of hopelessness.
You are having thoughts about hurting yourself or others.
You worry excessively or are constantly on edge.
You have experienced a change in your appetite or your weight.
You have experienced a disruptive change in your sleeping patterns.
You are unable to concentrate on your schoolwork or other activities.
You have experienced a loss (e.g., a relationship breakup, divorce, death of a loved one).
You have increased your use of alcohol or other drugs (including cigarettes).
You have experienced a sexual assault, relationship violence, stalking, abuse, or other trauma.
You have questions about identity, self-image, sexuality, gender, or religious concerns.
You are experiencing interpersonal difficulties, including family problems, parenting challenges, occupational stress, problems with assertiveness, or other issues.
You are having difficulty adjusting to changes in life circumstances.