Policies

Attendance:

For individual and couples sessions, you are financially responsible for any scheduled appointment not canceled at least 48 hours ahead, unless a mutually agreeable rescheduling can be arranged in the same calendar week.
Cancellations must be made by phone or text if within 48 hours of a scheduled appointment. Email communication is not acceptable for last minute schedule changes.
In order to maintain your space in a group, you will be financially responsible for all group sessions whether or not you attend and regardless of advanced notice or reason for absence. This is necessary for the optimal functioning of the group.
In all cases, you are encouraged to inform me of any anticipated absence as soon as possible.

Confidentiality:

I will keep your verbal and written communications confidential.
I cannot, of course, guarantee the confidentiality of your fellow group members, but an ethic of confidentiality is strongly encouraged and a confidentiality agreement will be signed by all group members.
While I will not bring up anything in a group or couple session that I have learned in an individual session without your permission, I will strongly encourage you to find a way to avoid having secrets.
There are four exceptions to this confidentiality agreement:
- If I believe you are in serious danger of physically harming yourself or someone else, I will tell you and then notify the appropriate authorities and/or your immediate family.
- As a mandated reporter, I am legally obligated to report child abuse or neglect to appropriate authorities.
- With your permission, I will provide information to your insurance company or other professional providers as appropriate.
- If I receive a court order signed by a judge demanding my records, I will be obligated to comply with the law.

Telephone and Digital Communication:

My voicemail is available 24 hours a day, and I check it frequently for messages. I discourage use of the telephone for treatment issues but will make every effort to be available to you for genuine emergencies.
I also check my email regularly, and although I will not send a long reply, I will acknowledge receipt of your messages.
I discourage text messaging as a means of communication other than brief appointment timing questions.
Please be aware that email and texting are not confidential means of communication and consider this issue before using them.
I do not accept “friend” requests from current or former clients on Facebook or any other form of social media.

Ending treatment ("termination"):

For group, membership requires that you agree to give a minimum of three weeks' advanced notice of termination. That is, you give notice in a group and attend at least two subsequent sessions to allow time to process any feelings that you or other group members may have about your leaving.
For individual sessions, several weeks advanced notice of termination is also necessary. The length of time required to work through termination is an individual matter and will depend on the specific situation.

If you have any questions about any of these issues, please feel free to contact me for clarification. Unspoken expectations or dissatisfaction interfere with therapy, so it is important that you discuss any concerns you may have whenever they arise.