To familiarize you with the counseling process as we understand it, we have jointly developed the following description. This statement reflects the collective ideas of all associates in our practice. We hope that this description of the nature of counseling will serve help you maximally benefit from our counseling service. We strongly believe that it is in your best interest to know as much as possible about our beliefs concerning the process of counseling.
Purpose: The purpose of counseling is to provide you with the opportunity to explore a variety of concerns and to begin to make a variety of changes to improve your life. Counseling, therefore, will focus on you and on aspects of your experience that are of concern to you. Any area of concern to you is appropriate for exploration during counseling: self-esteem, trauma, loss, social relationships, emotion regulation, family, career, school, substance abuse, sexuality, spirituality, finances, or any other concern.
Responsibilities: Both counselor and client have certain responsibilities during counseling. As a client, your initial responsibility is to be as open and honest as possible in discussing your concerns. The more you allow yourself to address all aspects of a troubling area, the more beneficial the counseling sessions will be. In addition to openness, you will also be expected (at a later point in counseling) to make direct efforts to begin to accomplish changes in your behavior and in your life. Such changes will hopefully move you in the direction of growth that you desire. Although I, as your counselor, might wish that I could "magically" change your life for you, I am only able to help you identify the kinds of changes you want/need to make and to aide you in generating methods to implement your desired changes. You will need to make efforts, a little bit a time, to accomplish your goals. In addition to helping you identify these small steps to change, I will make every effort to listen carefully to what you say to me. I will be listening both for the content of what you say and for the feelings behind that content. I will certainly try to communicate to you what I have been able to understand of both the content of what you have said and of the emotions behind that content.
Limitations of Counseling/Confidentiality: Whatever is discussed during counseling is information that is solely between you and me. Although I may discuss aspects of your situation with one of my professional colleagues, I would do this only within the context of a professional, supervisory relationship which would assure you of maintained confidentiality. Beyond such a professional discussion (i.e., for my benefit in an attempt to be more helpful to you), I will not discuss the content of our sessions with anyone without your direct permission. The sole exceptions to confidentiality would occur: (a) during a clear and present life-threatening situation regarding your safety (i.e., clear suicidal intent) or the safety of someone else (i.e., clear homicidal intent) – this includes actual or suspected child, elder or disabled person abuse, (b) under a direct court order or subpoena for me to release information (this situation is very rare), or (c) in the case that I must provide information directly to an insurance company in order to facilitate partial payment of your bill. For situations (a) and (b), I would discuss this with you before I take any action. Voluntariness: Counseling is a voluntary process. Since you cannot be required to talk openly about your concerns, you cannot be forced to be a client. You may decide to discontinue counseling at any time. I will honor this decision and yet will ask that you arrange a termination session when you leave counseling. This would help both of us in achieving a clear closure to our work.
Time limits: Each individual, couples or family counseling session will be 45-60 minutes in length, depending on the agreed time structure. Although there is no maximum number of counseling sessions, it is appropriate to discuss the continuation of counseling on a periodic basis, reviewing our agreement and progress and assessing the benefits of continued work. If you have had no contact with your counselor after three months, your case will be closed.
Communication between sessions: The most effective way to ensure your privacy during communications between sessions is by leaving messages in our password-protected voicemail system or speaking by phone using a landline connection. (FYI, if you call our office phone, your call will go straight to voicemail; phone messages are regularly retrieved by your counselor.) Email or texting content will be limited to scheduling sessions; any sensitive information should be discussed during a phone call or scheduled appointment. If texts or emails include information relevant to your counseling treatment, they may be retained in your chart, or a summary of the content may be included in your counselor’s clinical progress note. If you choose to use email or text messaging, you agree to not hold your counselor liable for improper disclosure of confidential information that is caused by you or any third party. Please contact our office again, if for some reason you have not heard back from your counselor in a timely fashion after your email, text, or phone call. During any emergency situations, however, please call 911 or visit the closest hospital emergency room.