Appointment Policies
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Cancellations are required 24 hours in advance.
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Appointments scheduled but not kept, as well as appointments canceled within 24 hours of the scheduled time, will be charged $50.
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Unless other arrangements have been made in advance, if you miss or do not schedule appointments for three consecutive weeks without any communication, for legal and ethical reasons, we must consider the professional relationship discontinued. We may then offer the spot to another individual in need. If you wish to resume services, we may or may not have a spot available at the previously established rate, so we will be creating a new arrangement.
The Counseling Relationship
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We provide individual counseling to adolescents, adults, and older adults.
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Our therapeutic approach incorporates several major counseling theories, and we tailor our approach to meet the needs of each client.
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We believe that every individual possesses the strength and potential to work through life’s problems. We seek to help my clients uncover their potential and learn skills and strategies to help them achieve their goals.
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During our work together, we usually meet weekly for approximately 50-minute sessions unless other arrangements are made. Although our sessions may be psychologically deep, our relationship is professional rather than social. Therefore, we will not attend social events with you, take gifts, barter, or exchange services, write references or recommendations for you, or relate to you in any way other than the professional context of our counseling relationship. You will benefit the most if our interactions are focused on addressing your counseling concerns.
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We work to be inclusive of all persons and multicultural identity dynamics including ethnicity/race, gender identity/expression, age, religion or spirituality, national origin, disability/ability, sexual orientation, social class and socioeconomic status, or other salient identity expressions. If significant differences, such as in culture or belief system, exist between us, we will work to understand and honor those differences.
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The counseling process involves a collaborative relationship between client and counselor in an open environment where clients are free to share their thoughts and feelings honestly. Thus, your active participation and personal work outside of sessions are essential for counseling to be effective.
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We may ask you to try various activities outside of the counseling hour to help you reach your goal. In some cases, you will be given a mental health diagnosis as part of your treatment. This diagnosis will be discussed with you and be used to plan the appropriate course of counseling. Your diagnosis will become part of your permanent record at this site and may be accessed by your insurance company and any other entity to which your records are released.
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At any time, you may initiate a discussion with me of possible positive or negative effects of entering or not entering, continuing, or discontinuing counseling. We expect you to benefit from counseling in some way. However, we cannot guarantee any specific results.​​
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Counseling is a personal exploration that may lead to major and/or minor changes in your life perspectives, experiences, and choices. These changes may affect your significant relationships, job, and/or understanding of yourself. You may feel troubled, usually only temporarily, by some of the things you learn about yourself or some of the changes you make. In addition, counseling can have long-lasting effects. Although the exact nature of changes resulting from counseling cannot be predicted, we intend to work with you to achieve the best possible results for you at this time.
Client Rights
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Some clients achieve their goals in only a few counseling sessions, whereas others may require more time. As a client, you are in complete control and may end our counseling relationship at any time. If you choose to end the counseling relationship, I ask that you participate in a termination session. You also have the right to refuse or to discuss modification of any counseling interventions or suggestions that you believe might be harmful. We render counseling services in a professional manner consistent with accepted ethical standards. If at any time, for any reason, you are dissatisfied with our services, please let us know. As a client, you have the right to:
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Be informed of your counselor's qualifications, including education, experience, professional counseling certification(s), and State license(s)
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Prior to receiving services, you should receive an explanation of the services offered, your time commitments, fee scales, and billing policies.
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Be informed of limitations of the counselor’s practice to special areas of expertise (e.g., career development, spirituality, etc.) or age group (e.g., adolescents, older adults, etc.).
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Have all that you say treated confidentially and be informed of any state laws placing limitations on confidentiality in the counseling relationship.
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Ask questions about the counseling interventions and strategies and be informed of your progress.
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Participate in setting goals and evaluating progress towards meeting them. Be informed of how to contact a mental health professional in an emergency situation.
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Request referral for a second opinion at any time.
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Request copies of records and reports to be used by other counseling professionals.
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Request to review your records and make amendments.
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Receive a copy of the code of ethics to which your counselor adheres.
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Contact the appropriate professional organization if you have doubts or complaints relative to the counselor’s conduct.
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Terminate the counseling relationship at any time.
Client Responsibilities
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Set and keep appointments with your counselor. Let him/her know as soon as possible if you cannot keep an appointment or are running late.
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Help plan your goals.
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Follow through with agreed upon goals and counseling interventions.
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Keep your counselor informed of your progress toward meeting your goals.
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Terminate your counseling relationship before entering into an arrangement with another counselor.
Confidentiality Agreement
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All interactions which take place in the setting of therapy are considered confidential. This includes requests by telephone, all interactions with this counselor, any scheduling or appointment notes, all session content records, and any progress notes that I take during your sessions. I will not even verify that you are a client. You may choose to give me permission in writing to release any or specific information about you to any person or agency that you designate.
Limits to this agreement
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1. In some legal proceedings, a judge may issue a court order, which would require this counselor to testify in court.
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2. If I learn of or believe that there is physical or sexual abuse or neglect of any person under 18 years of age, I must report this information to county child protection services.
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3. If I learn of or believe that an elderly person or disabled person is being abused or neglected, I must file a report with the appropriate state agency that handles elder abuse.
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4. If I learn of or believe that you are threatening serious harm to another person, I am obligated to report this. This can involve telling the person you have threatened, contacting the police, or placing you in hospital.
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5. If there is evidence that you are a danger to yourself and I believe that you are likely to kill yourself unless protective measures are taken, I may be obligated to seek hospitalization for you or to contact family members or others who can help provide protection
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6. There may be times when I consult with outside sources about cases. In these cases, no personally identifiable information will be used to discuss the case. However, discussion topics will be used to ensure that I am getting and giving the best assistance possible. The persons with whom I discuss cases are legally bound to keep information confidential.