What To Expect
Beginning therapy can bring up questions about the process, communication, confidentiality, and your rights as a client. The information below outlines the policies and practices that help create a safe, supportive, and professional therapeutic experience.
Treatment Policies
Beginning Therapy
Our first session is an opportunity to get to know one another, discuss your concerns, and determine whether my services are a good fit for your needs. If we decide to move forward together, we will collaborate on treatment goals and regularly review your progress throughout the therapeutic process.
Benefits and Risks
Therapy can be a powerful tool for growth, healing, and self-understanding. At times, however, it may bring up difficult emotions, memories, or experiences. While this discomfort can be challenging, it is often a natural and meaningful part of the therapeutic process. We will work together to navigate these experiences in a safe and supportive environment.
Confidentiality
Your privacy is important. Information shared in therapy is kept confidential except in circumstances required by law, including concerns about imminent risk of harm to yourself or others, suspected abuse or neglect of a child, elder, or vulnerable person, or when records are otherwise required by legal process. Information may also be shared with your written authorization.
Communication
You may contact me by phone, email, or text during business hours. I strive to respond within one business day. Communication outside of sessions should be limited to scheduling and brief questions. Clinical matters are best addressed during scheduled appointments.
Emergencies
I do not provide emergency or crisis services. If you are experiencing a mental health emergency, call 911, contact 211 for Emergency Mobile Psychiatric Services (EMPS), or go to your nearest emergency department.
Legal Proceedings
My role is to provide therapy, not forensic evaluations, custody recommendations, expert opinions, or legal testimony. Because therapy is intended to support treatment rather than evaluate legal matters, it is generally not clinically appropriate for me to participate in legal proceedings involving current or former clients.
Clients are strongly discouraged from requesting my involvement in litigation, including divorce, custody disputes, disability claims, personal injury cases, or other legal matters. Clinical records and treatment opinions are created for therapeutic purposes and are often not appropriate for use in legal proceedings.
Your privacy is a central part of the therapeutic relationship. I am committed to protecting your personal health information and maintaining confidentiality in accordance with applicable state and federal laws, including HIPAA.
Information shared in therapy is kept private and will not be disclosed without your written permission except in specific circumstances required or permitted by law, including:
When there is concern about imminent risk of harm to yourself or another person.
When there is suspected abuse or neglect of a child, elder, or vulnerable individual.
When records are subpoenaed or otherwise required by a court order.
When information is necessary for insurance billing, payment, or healthcare operations.
When consultation with other healthcare professionals is needed to support quality care. In these situations, every effort is made to protect your identity and confidentiality.
I may also be required to disclose limited information in response to certain legal proceedings, government oversight activities, or as otherwise required by law.
If a situation arises that requires disclosure of information, I will make every effort to discuss it with you whenever possible and will limit the disclosure to only what is necessary.
You have the right to request access to your records, request amendments to your health information, and receive a complete Notice of Privacy Practices upon request.