Dr. Sterling Does Not Provide Emergency Services.

• Please call 911 if you think you need emergency medical attention.
  Do not hesitate.
  
• Another source for mental health crisis assistance in Seattle, Washington, is the Crisis Hotline at 206-461-3222. The Seattle Crisis Clinic also has a Crisis Clinic Web page.
  
• If you are having serious suicidal or homicidal thoughts, you need help immediately. Get off the computer and get on the phone.
  
• You can call 1-800-784-2433 (1-800-SUICIDE) from anywhere in the United States for help.

Dr. Sterling is accepting new clients. Please give him a call at 206-784-7842. He will often answer your call directly between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. He will be happy to answer your questions and speak with you about your concerns.

This page contains comprehensive information about Dr. Sterling and his practice of psychiatry and counseling. The upside is that you can read this information at your leisure and after you have read the information you will be well-informed. The downside is that it takes a few minutes to read. For your convenience, you can click one of the following links to move quickly to one of the sections of this page.
• Expertise, Focus and Practice Orientation
  
• Referrals -- Accepting New Clients
  
• Medication Evaluation and Management, Collaborative Treatment
  
• Types of Office Services Offered
  
• Types of Online and Telephone Services Offered
  
• Home Visits
  
• Location and Hours
  
• Services Not Offered
  
• Medical Records
  
• Fees, Cancellations, Billing and Insurance Claims
  
• Online Payment by Credit Card
  
• No Medicare or Medicaid Services
  
• Office Forms

Expertise, Focus, Practice Orientation.  [Back to Index]

• Expertise.  Dr. Sterling is a psychiatrist with extensive experience in providing insight-oriented and interpersonal psychotherapy, cognitive therapy based on learning theory, and couples and family therapy based on systems theory, especially transactional analysis.

  He has 31 years of experience dealing with mental health wellness and illness issues and can provide his clients with highly-skilled diagnostic, consultation, and treatment expertise for a wide-range of mental, emotional, identity, social, and relationship difficulties.

  In addition to completing a three-year General Psychiatry residency program, Dr. Sterling also completed a one-year special training fellowship in Geriatric Psychiatry in 1999. For more information about Dr. Sterling's education and training, please go to his Biography Page.

• Focus:  Uncompromised Client Care, Accessibility, Confidentiality.  Dr. Sterling desires to keep his office practice as uncomplicated as possible. It is designed to allow him to spend the vast majority of his time devoted to client treatment needs. Please keep in mind that Dr. Sterling does not provide inpatient services of any kind.
  • Client Care.  So that Dr. Sterling can more completely focus on client care and not on insurance provider or managed care corporate financial needs, Dr. Sterling does not participate in managed care organizations nor as a preferred provider on panels of health insurers. Dr. Sterling has a deep respect and reverence for life and aspires to offer the very best in compassionate, considerate, informed, thoughtful, and challenging work on mutually-agreed-upon treatment goals.

  • Accessibility.  There is a minimal waiting period at this time to obtain appointments with Dr. Sterling. In addition, Dr. Sterling has set up his practice so that he is easily accessible, not only by phone, but also by other forms of communication, such as e-mail.

  • Confidentiality.  Confidentiality is the cornerstone of high-quality counseling services. Within the limits of federal and state law, Dr. Sterling will protect your right to confidential communication and secure record keeping.

• Practice Orientation.  You will notice that "client" is the word Dr. Sterling uses to describe the people with whom he works. This is one of the indications of Dr. Sterling's practice orientation. He is humanistic and has a deep respect for each individual, their history, their environment, and their processes. He believes that the quality of therapeutic work is enhanced by not operating "on" someone, but by working together as a team on concerns and issues.

• Medication.  Although Dr. Sterling is well-trained and highly-qualified to prescribe medications and although he does prescribe psycho-active medications for depression, anxiety and other difficulties that may be biologically-based, he is first and foremost a scientist. He desires to keep a sense of perspective about the use of medication for psychological difficulties.

• Learning Theory.  Dr. Sterling has extensive training in individual, couples, family, and system dynamics. He feels that learning theory explains a lot about how we obtain our beliefs and theories about ourselves, others, and relationships. Dr. Sterling believes in an integrative approach to couples therapy that focuses more on learning how to appreciate differences and gain deeper understanding and respect than in amplifying differences or changing one another.

• Transactional Analysis, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.  Dr. Sterling often uses transactional analysis for understanding and working with people experiencing social disorders and relationship disturbances. He often uses cognitive behavioral techniques when working with clients who are dealing with obsessions and compulsions, and with anxiety and depression.

• Perspective, Broad Range.  Although he is psychodynamically trained, Dr. Sterling does not let the psychodynamic or psychoanalytic technique govern all the therapeutic options available to his clients. He is well versed in a range of treatment modalities from psycho-educational to more traditional insight-oriented psychotherapy.

Referrals - Dr. Sterling is Accepting New Clients.  [Back to Index]

Please call Dr. Sterling at 206-784-7842 to discuss your referral needs with him. He is accepting new clients and there is a minimal waiting period for appointments.

Please keep in mind that Dr. Sterling offers a wide-range of outpatient services and is easily accessible, but that he does not offer certain services listed further below.

Medication Evaluation and Management Services.  [Back to Index]

• Dr. Sterling provides evaluation, consultation, and medication follow-up for clients who are in treatment with non-physician health care providers. Many non-psychiatrists provide counseling and psychotherapy services. Sometimes, in the midst of providing such services, they may detect signs or symptoms that might indicate a need for, or a possible benefit from, a psychotropic medication for depression, anxiety, or some other set of symptoms or problems.

• As a client, you may be receiving mental health related prescriptions from your primary care physician and wish to consult a specialist for follow-up on such medications, or you or your therapist may want to consult Dr. Sterling to find out if the medication you are already using is the best for you.

• Please feel free to call Dr. Sterling about your referral needs for medication consults, evaluations, or management.

E-Mail Dr. Sterling About a Possible Referral?  [Back to Index]

You may with your referral needs and questions. However, please do not include any confidential information about clients, such as names, addresses or phone numbers when for referral purposes. Dr. Sterling replies to most referral e-mails within 24 hours. If Dr. Sterling is on vacation or out-of-town, you will receive an automatic e-mail reply informing you of available options while he is gone.

Services Offered by Dr. Sterling at His Office.  [Back to Index]

Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Medication.  Dr. Sterling is a physician with three years of specialized training in a post-graduate, residency program in Adult General Psychiatry and one of year of specialized training in Geriatric Psychiatry.

In addition to providing the more traditional outpatient diagnostic, consultation, treatment, and medication services, Dr. Sterling offers psychotherapy and counseling for the broad range of psychological, emotional, relationship, social, and employment difficulties to the following types of clients:

• Individual Adolescent
• Individual Adult
• Individual Older Adult
• Caregivers and Families of Older Adults
• Couples
• Families

E-Mail, Internet Chat and Telephone Services.  [Back to Index]

Surveys have clearly shown that consumers prefer health care providers who offer Internet and telephone consultation either as standalone products or as supplemental services. It is Dr. Sterling's mission to be as accessible as possible and to use all available methods for communication, answering questions, scheduling appointments and providing consultation.

Please go to the All About Online Counseling page and click on the Online Help button to view and link to the topics discussed there, which include a description of E-mail, Internet Chat and Telephone counseling services offered by Dr. Sterling.

Home, Assisted Living, and Nursing Home Visits.  [Back to Index]

Please go to Dr. Sterling's Home Visits page to view details about home, assisted living, and nursing home services offered by Dr. Sterling.

Office Location.  [Back to Index]

Map to Bellevue Office -- Suite 100, 12356 Northup Way, Bellevue, WA 98005 (Phone: 206-784-7842). The office is two miles northeast of Overlake Hospital Medical Center. Appointments are available on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dr. Sterling understands that weekend appointments can be very convenient for clients working weekdays.

• No Emergency Services.
  
• No Inpatient Services of any kind.
  
• No Inpatient Consultation Services of any kind.
  
• No Individual Child Services.
  
• No Medicaid or Medicare Reimbursed Services or Prescriptions. Although Dr. Sterling is trained in Geriatric Psychiatry and consults with seniors, their families, and caregivers, he has "opted out" of Medicare and Medicaid. Clients or responsible persons for clients who have Medicare benefits will need to sign a Medicare Private Contract and submit payments for services to Dr. Sterling by check, credit card, or cash, without reimbursement from Medicare or Medicaid.

Medical Records and Confidentiality.  [Back to Index]

Medical Records.  Dr. Sterling recommends that clients begin creating their medical record before their first visit with him. There are two options for doing this:
1. Print out the Client Registration Form, fill in the information requested, and bring it with you to your appointment; or

2. Send an E-mail to Dr. Sterling which contains a filled-in Client Registration Form (instructions for copying, pasting, completing, and e-mailing the Form can be found at our Registration Instructions page).

The following applies with respect to a medical record created by Dr. Sterling:

Dr. Sterling creates a record of each client's health care services. Clients have a right to ask to see and copy the record. Clients also may ask Dr. Sterling to correct the record if they feel it requires amendment. He will not disclose any part of a client's record to any other person unless the client gives written authorization to do so or unless the law or a court of competent jurisdiction compels Dr. Sterling to do so.

Confidentiality.  All information you disclose to Dr. Sterling is considered confidential and will not be released as noted above. However, in situations where a client resides in a nursing home and the medical record is not under the control of Dr. Sterling, such a facility is solely responsible for the policies and procedures related to their medical records.

Federal and Washington State laws require disclosure of confidential information, and reporting to appropriate authorities, in at least six types of situations: (1) an indication that child abuse or neglect is occurring or has occurred, (2) an indication that abuse or neglect of an incapacitated adult is occurring or has occurred, (3) threatened harm to self, (4) threatened harm to others, (5) in situations where a person may be gravely disabled and unable to care for themselves, and (6) when a court of competent jurisdiction orders the release of confidential information or medical records.

In addition, the following circumstances may impose a duty to disclose information: (1) disclosure of a previously unreported felony crime that was committed; (2) to assist relevant authorized personnel (doctors, nurses, etc.) in the event of a medical emergency, and (3) to report the misconduct of other professionals.

Insurance companies and other third-party payers may ask for information about diagnosis and treatment. Sometimes, they may even request the entire medical record. Such information will not be disclosed without a specific written authorization signed by the relevant client or guardian thereof.

The "holder" of the privilege of access to the medical records of minors resides in the custodial parent(s). When treating adolescent minors, Dr. Sterling discusses this limit on confidentiality early in the therapeutic process in order to reach a family system agreement about confidentiality that is acceptable to the parent(s) and the child that will allow for effective counseling to occur.

Being able to disclose possibly embarrassing and worrisome thoughts or behavior in a confidential environment is the necessary foundation for all therapy and must be respected in the treatment of minors.

Fees, Cancellations, Billing, Insurance Claims.  [Back to Index]

Normally, Dr. Sterling requires that all fees for services will be paid at the time of service. Fees can be paid in person by personal check or cash.

If you are planning on making payment by credit card, such payments must be made prior to your office visit. Dr. Sterling does not process credit card charges at the office. Please use Dr. Sterling's Online Payment Page to process credit card payments. Fees for e-mail, Internet chat, and telephone counseling can only be paid by credit card.

Please note that Dr. Sterling has increased his fees effective January 1, 2008. This increase in fees does not affect office visit rates charged for services to clients who were registered with Dr. Sterling prior to January 1, 2008. However, all non-office visit services are increased for all clients effective January 1, 2008.

• Office Visit Fees (Individual, Couple or Family) --
  • Psychotherapy (50 minutes): $160.00
    
  • Psychotherapy (25 minutes): $80.00
    
  • Medication Evaluation and Consultation (50 minutes): $160.00
    
  • Medication Management, Follow-up (25 minutes): $80.00
    
  • Consultations lasting longer than 50 minutes will be prorated accordingly.

• Internet and Telephone Consultation Fees.  All fees for E-Mail, Internet Chat and Telephone Consultation Services must be paid by Visa or MasterCard credit card prior to the service being rendered. Please click go to Dr. Sterling's All About Online Counseling page to view comprehensive information about Internet and telephone counseling services.
  • Short E-Mail Consultation (15-20 minutes): $30.00
    
  • Long E-Mail Consultation (25-30 minutes): $60.00
    
  • Short Ongoing E-Mail Counseling (15-20 minutes): $30.00
    
  • Long Ongoing E-Mail Counseling (25-30 minutes): $60.00

  • Short Initial Chat Consultation (25 minutes - $50.00).
    
  • Long Initial Chat Consultation (50 minutes - $100.00).
    
  • Short Ongoing Chat Counseling Session (25 minutes - $50.00).
    
  • Long Ongoing Chat Counseling Session (50 minutes - $100.00).

  • Short Initial Telephone Consultation (25 minutes): $70.00
    
  • Long Initial Telephone Consultation (50 minutes): $140.00
    
  • Short Ongoing Telephone Counseling Session (25 minutes): $70.00
    
  • Long Ongoing Telephone Counseling Session (50 minutes): $140.00

• Office Appointment Cancellations.  Please give Dr. Sterling at least 24-hour notice for the cancellation of an appointment. Dr. Sterling recognizes that there may be unavoidable reasons for canceling an appointment, such as accident, illness, family or employer emergency. Depending on the reason for late-cancellation, you will be billed 50%-100% of whatever fee would have been charged for such cancelled appointment in the case of cancellations made less than 24 hours in advance of an office appointment, if no replacement appointment can be made with another client. If you need to make a telephone call on a Saturday or Sunday to cancel a Monday appointment, please feel free to do so.

• Internet Chat and Telephone Appointment Cancellations. These services require a longer, 36-hour notice period due to the longer time period it takes to find a replacement appointment in the Internet environment.

• Billing Procedures.  Dr. Sterling does not provide any billing services at this time, except for appointments not cancelled as noted above. All fees are due and payable at the time of service or, in the case of online services, before an online service is rendered.

• Insurance Reimbursement Issues.  Dr. Sterling is not a preferred provider with any health insurance plan and is not part of any managed care organization. Insurance carriers use the term "out-of-network provider." If you have out-of-network coverage, Dr. Sterling can furnish you with appropriate receipts for services rendered with which you can directly seek reimbursement from you insurance provider. Clients are responsible for the disclosure of the information contained on such a receipt and for completing any relevant insurance claim form, submitting such claim, and directly seeking reimbursement from their insurers.

Payment for Services Using Your Credit Card  [Back to Index]

If you wish to pay for an office visit either in advance or within 24 hours after receiving services from Dr. Sterling using your Visa or MasterCard credit card, please go to the Office Visit Payment Page.

Dr. Sterling has Opted-Out of Medicare/Medicaid.  [Back to Index]

Because Dr. Sterling wishes to be very accessible to his clients, to keep his practice focused on client care, and to be able to decide on the best treatment options and procedures, he does not participate in Medicaid or Medicare reimbursement of services.
• Medicare will not reimburse for any of Dr. Sterling's services, including the payment of any part of any charges related to medications prescribed by Dr. Sterling.

• Any medications, laboratory or imaging studies that may be recommended can be ordered in consultation with a client's primary care physician. Clients with Medicare coverage wishing to have Dr. Sterling provide treatment services to them will need to sign a Medicare Private Contract Form.

• Dr. Sterling is very accessible. In addition to his office services, he provides senior mental health care services and support by phone, Internet chat, and e-mail, and he offers home, assisted living, and nursing home visits. If you have any questions, please feel free to call Dr. Sterling at 206-784-7842.

Office Forms and Documents.  [Back to Index]

The following forms are available.
• Client Registration Form
• Collaboration Agreement (regarding medication evaluation and management by Dr. Sterling in collaboration with the client's primary therapist)
• Medicare Private Contract
• Authorization for Dr. Sterling to Release Confidential Information to Others
• Authorization for Others to Release Confidential Information to Dr. Sterling