Office Information

Client Rights and Responsibilities

CLIENTS' RIGHTS:
At any time you may ask questions and are encouraged to do so. You may refuse any therapeutic or diagnostic procedure. You will be provided with a safe therapeutic environment, free from abuse and nonprofessional conduct. You are assured of confidentiality of the material discussed in your sessions, except for the following:

1. Legally mandated situations:
   • The notification of relevant others if I judge that you, as a client, have any intention to harm yourself and/or another person or commit a felony
   • The reporting of any incidence of:
     1. suspected child and/or elder abuse, neglect or molestation
     2. domestic violence
   • In legal cases, I, or my records, may be subpoenaed by the court
   • If you file a worker's compensation claim, I may be required to give your mental health information to relevant parties and officials.

2. Discussion of cases in ongoing professional supervision.

3. For those of you using your out-of-network benefits, PLEASE NOTE! It is important that you be aware that if you access your insurance benefits, the insurance company WILL REQUIRE a MENTAL ILLNESS DIAGNOSIS before reimbursing you. They may also require some type of access to your records, an ongoing treatment plan or other information that must be provided by me in order for you to get your benefit. I CANNOT GUARANTEE THE CONFIDENTIALITY OF INFORMATION AFTER IT IS SENT TO INSURANCE OR MANAGED CARE COMPANIES.

CLIENTS' RESPONSIBILITIES:
The following are responsibilities that are associated with much shorter and more effective therapy:

• The willingness to identify your problems/needs/issues and to work on achievable goals to deal with them.
• The willingness to talk about your feelings and not to act on them.
• The willingness to attend regularly scheduled sessions, arriving punctually, prepared to work hard in session and complete the necessary homework assignments.
• The willingness to conform your behavior to the standards of the world and the boundaries of the treatment.
• The willingness to look for support outside of therapy.
• The willingness to stick to subjects that you would prefer to avoid.