Informed Consent for Psychotherapy
General Information
The therapeutic relationship is unique in that it is a highly personal and at the same time, a contractual agreement. Given this, it is important for us to reach a clear understanding about how our relationship will work, and what each of us can expect. This consent will provide a clear framework for our work together. Feel free to discuss any of this with me.
The Therapeutic Process
You have taken a very positive step by deciding to seek therapy. The outcome of your treatment depends largely on your willingness to engage in this process, which may, at times, result in considerable discomfort. Remembering unpleasant events and becoming aware of feelings attached to those events can bring on strong feelings of anger, depression, anxiety, etc. There are no miracle cures. I cannot promise that your behavior or circumstance will change. I can promise to support you and do my very best to understand you and repeating patterns, as well as to help you clarify what it is that you want for yourself.
Confidentiality
The session content and all relevant materials to the client’s treatment will be held confidential unless the client requests in writing to have all or portions of such content released to a specifically named person/persons. Limitations of such client held privilege of confidentiality exist and are itemized below:
If a client threatens or attempts to die by suicide or otherwise conducts him/her self in a manner in which there is a substantial risk of incurring serious bodily harm.
If a client threatens grave bodily harm or death to another person.
If the therapist has a reasonable suspicion that a client or other named victim is the perpetrator, observer of, or actual victim of physical, emotional or sexual abuse of children under the age of 18 years.
Suspicions as stated above in the case of an elderly person who may be subjected to these abuses.
Suspected neglect of the parties named in items #3 and # 4.
If a court of law issues a legitimate subpoena for information stated on the subpoena.
If a client is in therapy or being treated by order of a court of law, or if information is obtained for the purpose of rendering an expert’s report to an attorney.
Occasionally I may need to consult with other professionals in their areas of expertise in order to provide the best treatment for you. Information about you may be shared in this context without using your name.
If we see each other accidentally outside of the therapy office, I will not acknowledge you first. Your right to privacy and confidentiality is of the utmost importance to me, and I do not wish to jeopardize your privacy. However, if you acknowledge me first, I will be more than happy to speak briefly with you, but feel it appropriate not to engage in any lengthy discussions in public or outside of the therapy office.
About the Therapist & Rosemary Collaborative LLC
I am an integrative clinician, which means that I take multiple approaches to the therapy. We will work together to address your most pressing concerns first, using strategies to enable you to have some relief from your symptoms. As symptoms improve, emotions are uncovered and acknowledged. Above all, I am interested in developing the relationship, which provides a safe place to explore your concerns together in a respectful and collaborative way. Personally, I am a white, cis-gender, straight woman, wife, and mother.
I have years of experience working with children and their families as a Professional School Counselor, have worked as a community mental health professional, and in college counseling centers. I am a member of the American Counseling Association and follow their ethical and professional guidelines.
My practice works on a trimester schedule, with approximately 14 weeks on and 4 weeks off. I am reachable during the 4 week “break” for emergencies and stabilization but it is ultimately a time for you to rely on the coping skills you’ve acquired during our time together. This also gives me a chance to pivot to other practice work; workshops, teaching, and writing.
Practice Policies
Appointments and Cancellations
Please remember to cancel or reschedule 24 hours in advance. You will be responsible for the entire fee if cancellation is less than 24 hours. The standard meeting time for psychotherapy is 50 minutes. It is up to you, however, to determine the length of time of your sessions. Requests to change the 50-minute session needs to be discussed with the therapist in order for time to be scheduled in advance. Current clients may self-schedule using a password-protected client portal and send messages to me there via a HIPAA compliant contact form.
Financial Policies
I agree to provide therapeutic services to you for a fee. Session length and cost will be confirmed with you via your intake session. Payment is expected in full at the time of service in the form of cash, check (made payable to Catherine McLaughlin LPC) or credit card. All credit card payments are processed using IvyPay, a HIPAA-compliant payment processing system designed for therapists. After our first appointment you’ll receive a text message from IvyPay prompting you to enter payment information. You’ll also receive a Good Faith Estimate as required by the No Surprises Act. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns about this. If there is a failure to pay two consecutive sessions, I reserve the right to cancel future sessions until the balance is paid. If this is the case, referrals will be made for you.
Cancellations and re-scheduled session will be subject to a full charge if not received at least 24 HOURS in advance. This is necessary because a time commitment is made to you and is held exclusively for you. If you are late for a session, you may lose some of that session time.
You will receive 30 days notice if rates are going to increase. Rates increase each 1-1.5 years in January or June, depending on additional trainings I’ve attending and subsequent new skills acquired. A few sliding scale slots are available. Please inquire should you have concerns about paying my full fee.
While I do not take insurance directly, I am considered an Out of Network provider and will provide you with a superbill receipt for your submission to your insurance company for potential reimbursement. You are responsible for calling your insurance company (ask to speak to Behavioral Health) to inquire about potential out of network reimbursement.
Telephone calls in excess of 15 minutes to parents, schools, or other professionals will incur a charge of $25 per 15 minute increment. The fee for completion of forms for schools, medical, or FMLA purposes will be $200/hour prorated. A $25.00 service charge will be charged for any checks returned for any reason for special handling.
Telephone Accessibility
If you need to contact me between sessions, please leave a message on my voice mail. I am often not immediately available; however, I will attempt to return your call within 24 hours. Please note that Face- to-face sessions are highly preferable to phone sessions. However, in the event that you are out of town, sick or need additional support, phone sessions are available. If a true emergency situation arises, please call 911 or any local emergency room.
Social Media & Telecommunication
Due to the importance of your confidentiality and the importance of minimizing dual relationships, I do not accept friend or contact requests from current or former clients on any social networking site (Facebook, LinkedIn, etc). I believe that adding clients as friends or contacts on these sites can compromise your confidentiality and our respective privacy. It may also blur the boundaries of our therapeutic relationship. If you have questions about this, please bring them up when we meet and we can talk more about it.
Electronic Communication
I cannot ensure the confidentiality of any form of communication through electronic media, including text messages. My email address cat@rosemarycollaborative.com is secured by a third-party, HIPAA-compliant provider, Paubox; however, if your email is not secured in the same manner, our communication may not be secure. If you prefer to communicate via email or text messaging for issues regarding scheduling or cancellations, I will do so. You may also contact me using my HIPAA-compliant contact button on my website at www.rosemarycollaborative.com. While I may try to return messages in a timely manner, I cannot guarantee immediate response and request that you do not use these methods of communication to discuss therapeutic content and/or request assistance for emergencies. I typically respond to emails within 48 hours.
Services by electronic means, including but not limited to telephone communication, the Internet, facsimile machines, and e-mail is considered telemedicine by the State of California. Under the California Telemedicine Act of 1996, telemedicine is broadly defined as the use of information technology to deliver medical services and information from one location to another. If you and your therapist chose to use information technology for some or all of your treatment, you need to understand that:
(1) You retain the option to withhold or withdraw consent at any time without affecting the right to future care or treatment or risking the loss or withdrawal of any program benefits to which you would otherwise be entitled.
(2) All existing confidentiality protections are equally applicable.
(3) Your access to all medical information transmitted during a telemedicine consultation is guaranteed, and copies of this information are available for a reasonable fee.
(4) Dissemination of any of your identifiable images or information from the telemedicine interaction to researchers or other entities shall not occur without your consent.
(5) There are potential risks, consequences, and benefits of telemedicine. Potential benefits include, but are not limited to improved communication capabilities, providing convenient access to up-to-date information, consultations, support, reduced costs, improved quality, change in the conditions of practice, improved access to therapy, better continuity of care, and reduction of lost work time and travel costs.
Effective therapy is often facilitated when the therapist gathers within a session or a series of sessions, a multitude of observations, information, and experiences about the client. Therapists may make clinical assessments, diagnosis, and interventions based not only on direct verbal or auditory communications, written reports, and third person consultations, but also from direct visual and olfactory observations, information, and experiences. When using information technology in therapy services, potential risks include, but are not limited to the therapist's inability to make visual and olfactory observations of clinically or therapeutically potentially relevant issues such as: your physical condition including deformities, apparent height and weight, body type, attractiveness relative to social and cultural norms or standards, gait and motor coordination, posture, work speed, any noteworthy mannerism or gestures, physical or medical conditions including bruises or injuries, basic grooming and hygiene including appropriateness of dress, eye contact (including any changes in the previously listed issues), sex, chronological and apparent age, ethnicity, facial and body language, and congruence of language and facial or bodily expression. Potential consequences thus include the therapist not being aware of what he or she would consider important information, that you may not recognize as significant to present verbally the therapist.
Minors
If you are a minor, your parents may be legally entitled to some information about your therapy. I will discuss with you and your parents what information is appropriate for them to receive and which issues are more appropriately kept confidential.
Termination
Ending relationships can be difficult. Therefore, it is important to have a termination process in order to achieve some closure. The appropriate length of the termination depends on the length and intensity of the treatment. I may terminate treatment after appropriate discussion with you and a termination process if I determine that the psychotherapy is not being effectively used or if you are in default on payment. I will not terminate the therapeutic relationship without first discussing and exploring the reasons and purpose of terminating. If therapy is terminated for any reason or you request another therapist, I will provide you with a list of qualified psychotherapists to treat you. You may also choose someone on your own or from another referral source.
Should you fail to schedule an appointment for three consecutive weeks, unless other arrangements have been made in advance, for legal and ethical reasons, I must consider the professional relationship discontinued. You will then be considered a new patient and appointments are subject to my availability.