Psychotherapy can be a very healing experience; yet it must proceed according to a set structure for the benefit of all parties - for you and your therapist. Because policies differ from setting-to-setting and from psychotherapist-to-psychotherapist, I've outlined my policies to give you an idea of how I handle these matters. These policies describe basic operating procedures of the business side of my psychotherapy practice. I've found that when these guidelines are adhered to, it permits the focus of therapy to be on the important healing work. Of course if you have concerns or reservations about any aspect of these policies, we can discuss them in further detail so as to meet your specific needs when possible. If meeting these guidelines presents a hardship, you may be better served by finding a clinic or therapist with different policies that meet your requirements. I am convinced that for the therapeutic work to have its best chance of succeeding, it is very beneficial for the patient and potential therapist to spend time in the beginning stage of therapy making sure there is a good fit. Please take time to review the office policies described below in order to acquaint yourself with my operating procedures and what is expected of you to allow the therapy to proceed most effectively.

FEES
CANCELLATION POLICY
TERMINATION
CONFIDENTIALITY
CONTACTING THE THERAPIST
TREATMENT OF MINORS AS INDIVIDUAL PATIENTS

• A sliding scale is available to those who meet a standardized criteria.
• Call for a free 15 minute phone consultation to see if the "therapeutic fit" is right for you.
• In the event that an appointment must be missed, please give the therapist a 24 hour notice. Appointments that are missed or notified with less than a 24 hour notice will be charged a session fee.

Back To Top

Cancellation Policy:
In order to be effective, therapy needs to take place on a regular basis. The best results occur when appointments are consistently scheduled and regularly attended. Put differently, missed appointments inevitably slow the healing work and jeopardize treatment continuity (time is lost in the next session by having to catch up with all that has gone on between sessions). The process of psychotherapy is a serious commitment to growth and needs to be prioritized to maximize its effectiveness. Rescheduling appointments is much preferred over cancellation due to the need to maintain treatment continuity. These considerations and my need to maintain a consistent schedule are the reasons for my cancellation policy: Appointments cancelled with less than 24 hours notice will be charged a cancellation fee at the price of the therapy hour. This is standard policy within the counseling profession.

Back To Top

Termination:
The patient's therapeutic relationship with the therapist continues as long as the therapist is providing professional services and until the patient informs the therapist, in person or in writing that he or she wishes to terminate therapy, or the therapist notifies the patient that therapy is being terminated. It is customary that the patient gives the therapist at least one week's notice before stopping therapy.

Back To Top

Confidentiality:
All information disclosed within the patient's therapy sessions, including case notes and records, will be treated as confidential and, under some circumstances, as privileged. No information will be revealed to anyone not present in therapy without the permission of the client or a legally authorized representative unless an applicable legal or ethical exception exists. However, the therapist is required by law to report any suspected child, spousal, elder or dependent adult abuse and any situation where the patient threatens violence to an identifiable victim. All actual or suspected acts of such abuse will need to be reported to the appropriate agency. The law also permits the therapist to break confidentiality when the patient presents a danger of violence to others or is likely to harm him or herself unless protective measures are taken. In addition, disclosures may be required in certain legal proceedings and actions.

Some courts have held that if an individual intends to take harmful, dangerous, or criminal action against another human being, or against him or herself, it is the therapist's duty to warn appropriate individuals of such intentions. Those warned may include a variety of persons such as: the person or family of the person who is likely to suffer the results of harmful behavior, the family of the patient who intends to harm him or herself or someone else, associates or friends of those threatened or making threats, and law enforcement officials. Before informing anyone who should be warned, the therapist will take all possible steps to share that intention with the patient. Every effort will be made to resolve the issue with the client so as to prevent such breach of confidentiality.

Back To Top

Contacting The Therapist:
Between therapy appointments, or in case of emergency, the patient can leave a message by calling (971) 404 - 1231. Days and hours of availability for sessions are Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 7:00 pm. Calls will be returned as soon as possible.

Back To Top

Treatment of Minors as Indivisual Patients:
When a patient who is a minor is in individual therapy, the parent or guardian has the right to ask for information about the minor’s therapy; and the therapist, acting in the best interest of the minor patient, has the right to limit the amount of information disclosed. If the minor patient is a participant in any legal proceedings raising the protection of all client/therapist communications as "privilege," then no disclosure will be made of any of the content of the therapy except by written waive of privilege, given in writing by the parent, guardian or other lawful representative acting on behalf of the minor patient.