Our Practice Policies

All communications between you and your therapist will be held in strict confidence unless you  provide written permission to release information about your treatment. If you participate in marital or family therapy, your therapist will not disclose confidential information about your treatment unless all person(s) who participated in the treatment with you provide their written authorization to release.  (In addition, your therapist will not disclose information communicated privately to him or her by  one family member, to any other family member without written permission). Confidentiality also includes group supervision where our team of clinicians meet on a weekly basis  with their Clinical Supervisor to discuss their client’s treatment. We do our best to use the least  amount of our clients’ identifying information. 

There are exceptions to confidentiality. For example, therapists are required to report instances of  suspected child, dependent adult or elder abuse. Therapists may also be required or permitted to  break confidentiality when they have determined that a patient presents a serious danger of physical  violence to another person or when a patient is dangerous to him or herself. 

If you participate in marital or family therapy, your therapist will not disclose confidential  information about your treatment unless all person(s) who participated in the treatment with you  provide their written authorization to release such information. However, it is important that you  know that your therapist utilizes a “no-secrets” policy when conducting family or marital/couples  therapy. This means that if you participate in family, and/or marital/couples therapy, your therapist  is permitted to use information obtained in an individual session that you may have had with him or  her, when working with other members of your family. 

Please feel free to ask your therapist about his or her “no secrets” policy and how it may apply to you.

Minors and Confidentiality 

Communications between therapists and patients who are minors (under the age of 18) are confidential. However, parents and other guardians who provide authorization for their child’s  treatment are often involved in their treatment. Consequently, your therapist, in the exercise of his  or her professional judgment, may discuss the treatment progress of a minor patient with the parent  or caretaker. Patients who are minors and their parents are urged to discuss any questions or  concerns that they have on this topic with their therapist. 

Sessions are typically scheduled to occur one time per week at the same time and day if possible.  Your therapist may suggest a different amount of therapy depending on the nature and severity of  your concerns. Your consistent attendance greatly contributes to a successful outcome. In order to  cancel or reschedule an appointment, you are expected to notify your therapist at least 24 hours in  advance of your appointment. If you do not provide your therapist with at least 24 hours’ notice in  advance, you are responsible for payment for the missed session. Please understand that your insurance company will not pay for missed or canceled sessions. For individuals who are receiving  therapy free of charge, therapeutic services will be terminated if individual does not give notice of a  cancellation for three scheduled sessions. If this occurs, the therapist will provide their former client  with at least three therapist referrals. 

You are welcome to phone your therapist in between sessions. However, as a general rule, it is our  belief that important issues are better addressed within regularly scheduled sessions. You may leave  a message for your therapist at any time on his/her confidential voicemail. If you wish your  therapist to return your call, please be sure to leave your name and phone number(s), along with a  brief message concerning the nature of your call. Non-urgent phone calls are returned during the  therapist’s normal workdays within 24 hours. If you have an urgent need to speak with your  therapist, please indicate that fact in your message and follow any instructions that are provided by  your therapist’s voicemail. 

In the event of a medical or psychiatric emergency or an emergency involving a threat to your safety or the safety of others, please call 911 to request emergency assistance. 

Please be sure  to leave your name and phone number(s), along with a brief message concerning the nature of your  call. 

You should be aware that your therapist is generally available to return phone calls within  approximately 24 hours.  

Your therapist is not able to return phone calls after 7pm unless an agreement has been made  between you and your therapist. 

If you have an urgent need to speak with your therapist, please indicate that fact in your message  and follow any instructions that are provided by your therapist’s voicemail message. In the event of  a medical or psychiatric emergency or an emergency involving a threat to your safety or the safety of  others, please call 911 to request emergency assistance.

Sensitive, clinical information is to be discussed over the phone or in-person as deemed appropriate  by the therapist. For appropriate e-mail or text communication therapist will respond to your e-mail  or text within 24 hours. Potential risks of using electronic communication may include but are not  limited to; inadvertent sending of an e-mail or text containing confidential information to the wrong  recipient, theft or loss of the computer, laptop or mobile device storing confidential information, and  interception by an unauthorized third party through an unsecured network. E-mail messages may  contain viruses or other defects and it is your responsibility to ensure that it is virus-free. In addition,  e-mail or text communication may become part of the clinical record. You may be charged for time the therapist spends reading and responding e-mail or text messages. 

The length of your treatment and the timing of the eventual termination of your treatment depend  on the specifics of your treatment plan and the progress you achieve. It is a good idea to plan for  your termination, in collaboration with your therapist. Your therapist will discuss a plan for  termination with you as you approach the completion of your treatment goals. You may discontinue  therapy at any time. If you or your therapist determines that you are not benefiting from treatment,  either of you may elect to initiate a discussion of your treatment alternatives. Treatment alternatives  may include, among other possibilities, referral, changing your treatment plan, or terminating your  therapy. Your signature indicates that you have read this agreement for services carefully and  understand its contents.