No Secrets Policy. If you participate in conjoint therapy, I will not disclose confidential information about your treatment unless all person(s) who participate in treatment provide their written authorization to release information. I practice a “no secrets” policy when conducting conjoint therapy, which means I will not hold secrets disclosed by one party from others involved in treatment. Cancellation Policy Cancellation notice should be left on my voice mail at 000-000-0000. You are responsible for payment of agreed upon fee for any missed session(s) for which you did not give me at least 24-hour notice of cancellation. Insurance does not provide reimbursement for missed sessions - you are responsible for the full fee. Payment for missed sessions is due at the next regularly scheduled meeting. If canceling by email, you must receive confirmation by phone or email that I have received the cancellation in order for the session to not be counted as a missed session. Therapist Availability I will make every effort to return calls as soon as possible. I do not return calls on weekends and holidays. All requests for clinical therapeutic communication should be made via voicemail, rather than email. Please let me know if a special arrangement needs to be made regarding communication. In the event that you are feeling unsafe or require immediate medical or psychiatric assistance, please call 911.
No Secrets Policy. I would also like for my couples and family therapy patients to be aware that I utilize a “no-secrets” policy. This means, when I determine it is clinically appropriate or necessary to do so, I am able to disclose information I obtain from one member of the couple, or a participating member of the family therapy unit, (i.e. the “treatment unit”) with the other member(s) of the treatment unit. This policy also applies to information a member of the treatment unit shares with me outside of couples / family sessions (e.g. via email, text, etc.) and information I obtain during individual session(s) with a member of the treatment unit (should we agree to hold individual sessions in furtherance of your couples / treatment goals). I find that this policy facilitates effective communication with and between my couples and family therapy patients. It also helps me to avoid potential problems which may arise when a therapist is perceived to be “keeping secrets” from other members of the treatment unit.
No Secrets Policy. If you participate in marital or family therapy, I will not disclose confidential information about your treatment unless all clients who participated in the treatment with me provide their written authorization to release such information. However, it is important that you know that I utilize a “no-secrets” policy when conducting family or couples’ therapy. This means that if you participate in said therapy, I am permitted to use information obtained in an individual session that you may have had with me when working with other members of your family; unless it poses a risk. MINORS AND CONFIDENTIALITY Communications between myself and clients who are minors (under the age of 18) are confidential. However, as a parent or guardian who provides authorization for your child’s treatment, you are often involved in the sessions. Therefore, using my professional judgement, I may discuss the treatment progress of your child with you. Please feel free to discuss any questions or concerns you have regarding this policy.
No Secrets Policy. In cases where Therapist is working with couples, Therapist considers the “relationship” as the client. There may be cases where an individual contacts Therapist privately or in their own individual therapy, to discuss a sensitive topic that transpired without the partner‟s knowledge. In these cases, it would be unethical for Therapist to hold information that the partner should be aware. Therapist will work with Patient to gently disclose sensitive information to their partner in therapy so as not to carry a secret that may be detrimental to the relationship. Therapist requests that all sensitive matters relating to the relationship be discussed with both partners present. Therapist Availability Therapist uses a confidential voice mail system that allows Patient to leave a message at any time. Therapist will make every effort to return calls within 24 hours (or by next business day), but cannot guarantee that call will be returned immediately. In cases where phone calls extend beyond fifteen minutes, Therapist will offer the options of either prorating the therapeutic time over the phone (when available), or ending the conversation and continuing at the next session. Therapist is unable to provide 24-hour crisis service. In the event that Patient is feeling unsafe or requires immediate medical or psychiatric assistance, he/she should call 911, or go to the nearest emergency room.
No Secrets Policy. The counselor may work with a smaller part of the treatment unit for one or more sessions. These sessions should be seen as a part of the work that the counselor is doing with the family or the couple, unless otherwise indicated. For the treatment of the unit as a whole, the counselor may need to share information learned in an individual session with the entire treatment unit for the effective treatment of the entire unit. The counselor will use his/her best judgment as to whether, when and to what extent the counselor will make disclosures to the treatment unit, and will also if appropriate, first give the individual or the smaller part of the treatment unit being seen the opportunity to make the disclosure. This No Secrets Policy is intended to allow the counselor to continue to treat the couple or family by preventing, to the extent possible, a conflict of interest to arise where an individual’s interests may not be consistent with the interests of the unit being treated. If the counselor is not free to exercise his/her clinical judgment regarding the need to bring this information to the family or the couple during their therapy, the counselor may need to terminate treatment of the couple or the family. This policy is intended to prevent the need for such a termination. We, the members of the couple and/or family or other unit being seen, acknowledge by our individual signatures below, that each of us has read this policy, that we understand it, that we have had an opportunity to discuss its contents with our counselor, and that we enter couple/family therapy in agreement with this policy.
No Secrets Policy. The counselor may work with a smaller part of the treatment unit for one or more sessions. These sessions should be seen as a part of the work that the counselor is doing with the family or the couple, unless otherwise indicated.
No Secrets Policy. If we have identified the 'therapeutic unit' as the couple – then I am not able to keep secret any information that conflicts with our shared goal. If one partner shares information of this nature with me in an individual setting, I will support them in disclosing this information to the other, OR we will need to suspend our work together until we can align our goals. Additionally, it is my policy to copy both partners on any scheduling or 'housekeeping' emails to keep the lines of communication open. Should either partner wish to send emails of a more detailed nature I'll always CC the other partner in the response. Please note that email is not recommended for the sharing of more detailed or personal issues, as it can not be guaranteed secure and confidential. Scheduling and Missed Appointments I schedule 60-minute sessions with clients usually once per week at a time we agree on. If you arrive late for a session, we will only be able to meet for the remainder of our scheduled time. Sometimes we will meet more or less than once per week if that is consistent with a treatment plan we both agree to. In agreeing to see you, I am reserving a block of time for your scheduled appointments. Therefore, it becomes time I cannot make available for any other person without sufficient notice. However, I do understand that emergencies can arise. I will try to balance your needs and mine in the following way: I reserve the right to charge you for any missed, cancelled or re-scheduled appointment with less than 48 hours' notice . *** Please note that while I will always try to work with you if difficulties arise, I may suspend the scheduling of further appointments if your account is not current *** I am delighted to be working with you and look forward to our therapy journey! Client 1 - Print Name Signature Date
No Secrets Policy. If you are receiving couples, family or group therapy, your therapist is not obligated to withhold information communicated privately by one family member with him. It is important that an atmosphere of trust is upheld within the experience of couples, family, and group therapy. As such, expecting your therapist to keep private information as a secret between you and him will risk undermining the trust within therapy with other family or group members. If you do share private information with your therapist on an individual basis, your therapist will encourage you to consider how to communicate this information to other family or group members, in a way that will be most appropriate and beneficial for the therapeutic treatment of yourself and for other clients who are in therapy with you. Minors and Confidentiality Communications between therapists and clients who are minors (under the age of 18) are confidential. However, parents and other guardians who provide authorization for their child’s therapy or counseling treatment are often involved in their treatment of care. Consequently, your therapist, in the exercise of his professional judgment, may discuss the counseling treatment progress of a minor client with the parent or caretaker. Parents of clients who are minors are encouraged to discuss any questions or concerns that they have on this topic with their therapist. In some situations, a minor client may be allowed to participate in therapy without the consent of a parent or guardian. Currently, under California law, this pertains to minor clients when the following criteria are met: (1) the client is at least 12 years of age, (2) the client is mature enough to participate intelligently in therapy, (3) there must be a sufficient reason not to inform the client's parents or legal guardian (e.g., due to the threat of the client's safety or well-being), (4) therapy must be provided on an outpatient basis, and (5) the minor client must be responsible for paying the fee of therapy and is able to pay this fee without relying on any illegal means of income.
