How to Set an Appointment
Navigate to the Contact Me tab, and you are taken to SimplePractice, which is my EHR (electronic health records) portal where you can input your demographic information and see my scheduling calendar to set up your sessions.
After you have done this, be sure to bookmark the site… for future scheduling of appointments you will go to my SimplePractice portal, enter your password, and make an appointment or change an existing appointment.
Online Therapy
Why Choose Online Therapy?
Online therapy is private, convenient, affordable, and portable! I honestly believe it is the best of both worlds; you can get great care AND keep your privacy. You can schedule online and ‘meet’ with me in the comfort of your home or a private area with internet access anywhere in Texas. Whether you call it online therapy, internet therapy, telemental health, or counseling it’s really easy to get started.
Going out of town last minute? No worries… you won’t have to reschedule or miss your appointment. Not able to drive, but have a session scheduled? No problem! Online therapy makes worrying about traffic, weather or missing appointments due to sickness or emergency a thing of the past.
This format is especially nice for clients with anxiety, depression, panic attacks, or concerns about privacy. My separate online therapy site (SimplePractice) is HIPAA compliant, which means your privacy is 100% guaranteed. I have heard numerous people say, “I could never get my partner to go to therapy!” or ” I don’t want anyone to know that I am in therapy.” Well, now you do not have to leave the comfort of your home. We can talk more about the convenience of therapy in your home when you call and will definitely go over it in detail in our first session. I want to make sure you understand and are comfortable with the online therapy format.
Advantages of Online Therapy
1. Texas is HUGE and it can be hard to find the right therapist in your area. Online therapy brings the therapist to you.
2. Physical limitations can make getting to or keeping appointments difficult. Sometimes surgery recovery or other physical situations can get in the way of keeping a session. Online therapy can bridge that gap.
3. Online therapy is convenient! Getting health care taken care of with all of the traffic and the distance involved in getting around the area can be challenging. No more panic attacks or anxiety about not getting to the office in time.
Disadvantages of Online Therapy
1. Online therapists have trouble responding immediately in a crisis situation. For instance, I will always make note of your location and a contact number before sessions because this mobile format means you can log-in to sessions anywhere in Texas. I need to be able to get emergency personnel to you if any kind of health event occurs (like an asthma attack).
2. Online therapy is not always recommended for serious psychiatric illnesses. There are instances where online therapy is not as hands-on as is beneficial and healing for clients. Some cases need coordinated care with a local provider.
3. Online therapy can sometimes miss important information. The missed information is primarily body movements that are important keys in the conversation that we have together. For instance, an uncomfortable topic might make you fidget or tense up. These are clues that I need to know so that we get the best conversational experience. We learn together to talk more about what is happening when we talk together (bodily sensations and movements.)
How Video Sessions Work
Video sessions take place on through the client portal at SimplePractice. Upon registering on the client portal you will see your appointment time. To attend the appointment simply use a device with a camera, microphone, speakers, and screen. If using video conferencing on the client portal simply click on your appointment and then click on “start session”.
How Phone Sessions Work
Phone sessions simply take place by you calling Russ at 817-840-7537 at your appointment time.
How Email Sessions Work
Email sessions take place only through the client portal. Upon registering on the client portal, and speaking to Russ about your email sessions, you will be able to securely message “email” Russ. Russ will respond to your emails within 24 hours’ time, excluding weekends and holidays. Please do not use your usual email client to send confidential information to Russ… it is not a secure platform! People at Google, Yahoo, or wherever can have access to your email and texts,
How to Handle Technology Issues
Technology issues are not expected. However, if you do encounter technology issues when trying to attend your session you can call Russ at 817-840-7537 to work through the issue.
Video Therapy Locations
State: Texas residents only
Privacy
All communication between you and Russ is designed to either take place via a phone call or by using strong encryption. All records are also kept using strong encryption and security procedures. Please do not text Russ using standard SMS texting since it is not secure.
Good Faith Estimate
You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical care will cost.
Under the law, healthcare providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the bill for medical items and services.
You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency items or services. This includes related costs like medical tests, prescription drugs, equipment and hospital fees.
Make sure your healthcare provider gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing at least one business day before your medical service or item. You can also ask your healthcare provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule an item or service.
If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill.
Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate.
GET MORE INFORMATION
For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit cms.gov/nosurprises or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227)
Client Records Requests
House Bill 4224 (89th Regular Session)
House Bill 4224 (89th Regular Session), which went into effect on Sept. 1, 2025, requires licensees, per Section 181.105 of the Health and Safety Code, to prominently post on their website and at any facility detailed instructions to enable a consumer to:
- Request the consumer’s health care records from the licensee (see instructions below);
- Contact the Council, as found on the Council’s Contact Us webpage; and/or
- File a consumer complaint with the Office of Attorney General’s Consumer Protection webpage.
Here’s The Legal Details
Per Texas Health And Safety Code Chapter 611, Page 179 of LPC Rules §611.008
- 611.008. Request by Patient or Representative
(a) On receipt of a written request from a patient to examine or copy all or part of the patient’s recorded mental health care information, a professional, as promptly as required under the circumstances but not later than the 15th day after the date of receiving the request, shall:
- Make the information available for examination during regular business hours and provide a copy to the patient, if requested; or
- Inform the patient if the information does not exist or cannot be found.
(b) Unless provided for by other state law, the professional may charge a reasonable fee for retrieving or copying mental health care information and is not required to permit examination or copying until the fee is paid unless there is a medical emergency.
(c) A professional may not charge a fee for copying mental health care information under Subsection (b) to the extent the fee is prohibited under Subchapter M, Chapter 161.
How To Make A Proper Records Request
- Step 1: Download and print this form: https://www2.texasattorneygeneral.gov/files/agency/hb300_auth_form.pdf
- Step 2: Once completed you may:
-
- Send it to my secured fax number: 817-725-9925, or
- Mail it to:
ATTN: Privacy Officer
Russ Bartee, Ph.D.
2501 Parkview Drive, Suite 183
Fort Worth, Texas, 76102
Please note that according to TX law (see above) the facility/counselor from whom you are requesting records has 15 calendar days from the receipt of your request to comply.