FMLA & Therapy at SCAW – What You Need to Know
Thank you for considering Seattle Counseling & Wellness (SCAW) for your FMLA/leave support. We understand that requesting leave for mental health reasons raises many questions. Below is a guide to how our process works, so you know what to expect.
FAQ
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To ensure accurate, ethical documentation, we conduct a brief assessment phase (3-4 sessions) to understand the impact of your condition on your work functioning, develop coping/leave planning, and determine whether ongoing therapy is needed.
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We aim to schedule your first session within one week of your request, using a flex/cancellation slot to expedite.
What happens during those sessions?
Session 1: Intake & assessment (symptoms, work impact, history)
Sessions 2-3: Explore how symptoms affect work, develop self-care, and develop a transition plan
Session 4: Review and determine next steps: paperwork completion, ongoing therapy, or referral.
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After the assessment phase, if clinically justified, your therapist will complete the required FMLA/leave documentation indicating your condition, functional work limitations, recommended duration of leave, and treatment plan.
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If ongoing therapy is indicated (for return to work support, stabilization, ongoing symptoms), we’ll schedule a regular weekly spot beyond the paperwork phase. This may be with the therapist completing the paperwork, or if requested, we can match you with someone who best meets your clinical needs.
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If your leave is planned and short-term and therapy beyond the paperwork phase isn’t clinically necessary, we will complete the paperwork and then support you by referral or brief closure planning.
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We document clinically validated diagnoses (e.g., major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder) and link them to specific work-related functional impairments (e.g., inability to concentrate for prolonged time, frequent absence, impaired memory, difficulty interacting under pressure).
Cost and Insurance
You’ll be responsible for the standard session fee (or insurance co-pay) for the assessment phase and, if applicable, the ongoing therapy phase. Please check with your insurance about coverage of leave-related consultations. These will include codes 90791 and 90837.
Confidentiality
Your therapy and documentation are subject to standard privacy protections (e.g., HIPAA). If we submit paperwork to your employer, only the required functional information is shared, not full therapy notes.
How to Get Started
Contact our scheduling team and mention “FMLA/leave consultation.” We’ll guide you to the next available flex slot.