Nuts and Bolts

Counseling Services

As a client it is your right to decide on your personal goals for counseling. While I will be able to assist you in co-creating these goals, you are in control of deciding the issues on which you wish to work. An assessment will be conducted at our first meeting during which we will discuss your presenting issues, symptoms, medical and psychological history, and other information relevant to counseling. The assessment will help determine the type of services that will best suit your needs.

Sessions and Billing

Individual sessions are scheduled to last 45 minutes and the fee is $100. 

Use of Diagnosis

As a private practitioner I use diagnoses sparingly and only if it is in the client's best interest. Many reasons that clients seek counseling with me do not qualify for or require a diagnosis. If we determine together that a diagnosis is therapeutically important, I utilize the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) to make clinical diagnoses. Any diagnosis will become part of your client record and will not be disclosed to anyone without your written authorization (unless I am legally obligated to break confidentiality).

Confidentiality

All of our communication becomes part of the clinical record, which is accessible to you upon request. I am ethically required to maintain confidentiality regarding all of our communications. However, there are a few specific instances in which I would be legally required to break confidentiality. These include any disclosure of current child or dependent elder abuse/neglect and any imminent plans to harm yourself or others. I must also break confidentiality if I am court-ordered to release your information. Confidentiality will only be breached to ensure the safety of you or someone else.