Individual and Marriage Counselor

The Counseling Relationship

It will be to your benefit that our counseling relationship remains a completely professional one in which we concentrate exclusively on your agenda and goals. In order for psychotherapy to be the most effective a therapeutic rapport that is unique from all other relationships must be established. This means that our contact will need to be limited to the counseling sessions that you arrange. I will not be able to attend social gatherings, accept gifts, or relate to you in any way other than in the professional context of the counseling relationship. In order to maintain your privacy I will not initiate any acknowledgement of our contact should we encounter one another outside the counseling setting.

Your Rights as Client

Each counseling relationship is unique. Some clients may require only a few sessions, while others may require months or even years of counseling. Sessions usually occur weekly or as scheduled according to our mutual agreement.

As the client, you are in control of your therapy. If at any time during counseling you have questions or concerns about any of the techniques or interventions please feel free to openly discuss these with me. You have the right to refuse any treatment you feel may not be helpful. It is your right to terminate the counseling relationship at any time, although I do request that we work this out together.

There may be circumstances in which I am unable to provide you with the best treatment option. In this event I will discuss your options with you and offer a referral to another professional or alternative program as appropriate.

 Your Records and Confidentiality

Your record which will contain any communication between you and me will be considered my property. However, you are entitled to receive a copy of your record, or I can prepare a summary for you instead. In either case you will need to submit your request in writing and allow 10 business days for preparation. Because these are professional records, they can be misinterpreted and/or upsetting to untrained readers. If you wish to see your records, I recommend that you review them in my presences so that we can discuss the content. You can read more about your privacy rights and HIPAA compliance by linking to: http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/hipaa/consumer_rights.pdf

The confidentiality of our sessions are protected by law except under the following circumstances: 1) if I have strong reason to suspect, or if you reveal to me the abuse or harmful neglect of children, elderly, disabled, or incompetent individuals, 2) if I have strong reason to suspect, or you reveal to me that you are a threat to yourself or to someone else, 3) a subpoena or other court order is received directing the disclosure of information, or 4) you sign a written release of information directing me to do so. (Also, be advised that any correspondence through e-mail cannot be strictly protected.)