Know what’s expected and what to expect.

Counseling Policies and Procedures

Full transparency so you can make informed decisions.

Why should you bother to read all this stuff?

Let's be honest. Everyone's least favorite part of the counseling process is reading policies and procedures and filling out intake documents. There's a lot of information in my policies and on this website, and I realize it's time-consuming to get through it all. Here are several good reasons for taking that time:

  • You want to feel comfortable with the service you sign up for.

  • You want to feel secure about your privacy.

  • You want to know something about the person you are trusting with your mental health care.

  • You want to understand what to expect and what's expected of you.

  • You want to know what tools will be used for your virtual counseling services.

  • You want a counseling service that exemplifies high standards.

“Ethical therapy shows due respect for each patient’s freedom, autonomy, and dignity. Informed consent— perhaps the most extensively recognized of the ethical safeguards in clinical work (Amer, 2013)—reflects that respect. Ethics codes highlight that consent as a key value.”

— Pope & Vasquez, 2016, p. 185

Before you sign an informed consent agreement, it's important to understand what you're agreeing to so you can make an informed decision to begin therapy. Please leave yourself a few days to digest all the information in the policies and on my website. If you have questions after reading the material and you're still feeling iffy, please feel free to contact me.

If you like what you've read and you want to dig in, fill out the initial contact and preliminary intake form. If you're not yet looking to deep dive into my policies, and you just want a general idea of what I do and how I work, please check out my my services and specialty pages from the menu up top.

As a current client, you will receive a copy of all agreements you sign with me, and you may request copies of these policies for your files. These downloads will be watermarked with your name and contact email to ensure that they are for your personal use only. Distribution is prohibited by law. 

Please note that these policies and procedures are copyrighted materials. My policies are available for purchase by other clinicians along with my other practitioner materials.

Policy and Procedure Documents

Important Notes

Online Only

My practice is fully online. This includes consultations with family members, healthcare professionals, and legal professionals involved in your care, and includes any court appearances related to your care. 

Records Requests

Requests from you for your records should be sent via the relevant form on my client forms page. HIPAA law allows up to 30 days for fulfilling records requests. I will make every effort to get them to you as quickly as possible. Requests for your records from anyone else should be initiated through you so you can sign a release of information. Records requests from third parties will not be considered without a signed release from you.  

Note to Attorneys

Attorneys and attorney's representatives, please read my policies, procedures, and fees for court appearances and related documentation, consultation, or coordination services prior to requesting records or sending subpoenas. Per HIPAA law,  I will not response to communications from you about a client until I have a signed release from that client. Please advise your client to contact me about providing a release and let them know the best HIPAA-secure method for communicating with you once the release is signed.

Policy Updates

Please note that all policies and procedures are subject to updates. When policies are updated, current clients will receive an addendum to sign in acknowledgment of the change(s).

Got more questions? See my FAQ library.