• You have the right to refuse any treatment you do not want, and the responsibility to choose a mental health provider and treatment modality which best suits your needs.

• There are alternative types of services than those being offered by me. You may prefer to get counseling from another therapist who offers therapeutic modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Psychodynamic Therapy, Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE), Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), etc.

• You also have the right to terminate your treatment at any time for any reason.

• I encourage all clients to read the Department of Health’s What To Expect From Your Licensed Therapist.

• There are many types of therapists available in Washington State including: Licensed Independent Clinical Social Workers (LICSW), Licensed Psychologists (LP), Licensed Marriage & Family Therapists (LMFT), Licensed Mental Health Counselors (LMHC).

• The Department of Health receives and responds to complaints regarding services provided within the scope of practice of social workers, mental health counselors, and marriage and family therapists. You may contact the board online at www.doh.wa.gov, or by calling (360) 236-4700.

• You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical and mental health care will cost. For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises.

• Div 12 Psychological Treatments

• Trauma Treatment Models

• Zen Care List

Your participation in therapy, the content of our sessions, and any information you provide to me during our sessions are protected by legal confidentiality.

Some exceptions to confidentiality are the following situations in which I may choose to, or be required to, disclose this information:

• If you give me written consent to have the information released to another party;

• In the case of your death or disability I may disclose information to your personal representative;

• If you waive confidentiality by bringing legal action against me;

• In response to a valid subpoena from a court or from the secretary of the Washington State Department of Health for records related to a complaint, report, or investigation;

• If I reasonably believe that disclosure of confidential information will avoid or minimize an imminent danger to your health or safety, the health or safety of any other individual, or if you conduct yourself in a manner in which there is a substantial risk of incurring serious bodily harm;

• If I have any other legal duty, obligation, or right to report.

• I may also be required by law to disclose certain confidential information including suspected abuse of children under RCW 26.44, suspected abuse of vulnerable adults under RCW 74.34, or as otherwise required in proceedings under RCW 71.05.

If you have any questions regarding your confidentiality, the limits of confidentiality, or the exceptions to confidentiality, please let me know. I will be happy to discuss this with you further.

When you seek therapy, it is important to know there are benefits and risks involved in the changes that may occur.

Benefits can include:

• An enhancement of your ability to handle or cope with yourself and other relationships in a healthier way.

• Gaining a greater understanding of personal and relationship goals and values.

Risks can include:

• Discussing and resolving unpleasant events can cause intense feelings of discomfort such as fear, anger, depression, and frustration;

• An increase in conflict and tension; and

• Changes and conflict in your relationships you had not originally intended.

Even with our best efforts, not all problems will be solved during counseling, or how quickly changes will occur. There are no miracle cures. I cannot promise that your behavior or circumstance will change.

The outcome of your treatment depends largely on your willingness to engage in this process, which may, at times, result in considerable discomfort.

My promise is to support you and do my very best to understand you and your repeating patterns, as well as to help you clarify what it is that you want for yourself.

• As a consumer of therapy, it is your responsibility to do your due diligence and research what types of treatment you want to engage in.

• You have the right to refuse any treatment you do not want, and the responsibility to choose a mental health provider and treatment modality which best suits your needs.

• There are alternative types of services than those being offered by me.

• Click here for a list of other types of therapies (not exhuastive).

• Office of the Commissioner

• You have the right to end treatment at any time, with or without notice to your therapist.

• Ghosting culture is pervasive in our society and I encourage clients to avoid doing this as it can be helpful to practice direct and assertive communication (rather than passive or passive aggressive communication), to have a new experience of saying goodbye that is satisfying, easier, and more confident.

• However, you are in charge of session and treatment and can choose to say goodbye at anytime.

• California’s lawmakers and licensing boards want the public to know that professional therapy never includes sexual contact between a therapist and a client.

• It also never includes inappropriate sexual suggestions, or any other kind of sexual behavior between a therapist and a client.

• Sexual contact of any kind between a therapist and a client is unethical and illegal in the State of California.

• Additionally, with regard to former clients, sexual contact within two years after termination of therapy is also illegal and unethical.

• It is always the responsibility of the therapist to ensure that sexual contact with a client, whether consensual or not, does not occur.

Click here to read more.