practice guidelines
In order to provide the best care possible, we want you to have as much pertinent information as is possible to support our work together. Therapy involves a relationship with clearly defined rights and responsibilities held by each person. As a psychotherapy client, you have certain rights, as well as certain limitations to those rights. As your therapist, we have corresponding responsibilities and limitations. This helps create the safety and support needed for you to make meaningful changes in your life. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to discuss them with us.
in case of emergency
In the case of an emergency, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room (hospital) and ask for the psychiatrist on call.
voicemail
We listen to our voicemail on a daily basis and will return phone calls within 1 business day. After business hours and on weekends, if you have an urgent need, call the office phone and we will receive a notification of your call. If you have anonymous call blocking on your phone it is very important that you remove that function until you receive a call back. We will be unable to respond to your call if you have anonymous call blocking activated.
confidentiality
You have the right to privacy andwe do not have the right, without written permission from you (or the guardian of a child) to share information about you with anyone —EXCEPT:
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- If your records are court ordered.
- There is suspicion of child abuse or abuse of a vulnerable adult.
- You are a minor in which case your parents may have access to your records.
- In the case of an emergency, or if you threaten to take your own life. In the case of a threat to the life of another, we have legal responsibility to warn that person.
- If my services are being reimbursed by a third party (insurance carrier), that party has the right to review your records or request a summary of your treatment.
your rights
It is our goal to serve you in the most helpful way possible. We expect you to be open, honest and willing to share your concerns. We also expect you to ask questions if you do not understand something that we have said. The following are your rights regarding our work together:
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- You have the right to quality service. We will make every effort to provide you with considerate, respectful, professional, and appropriate care.
- You have the right to understand your treatment and our understanding of our work together.
- You have the right to refuse treatment. If you disagree with our recommendations for treatment, let's talk about it.
- You have the right to information. You may review your file but this must be done in our presence.
- You have the right to feel safe and free from physical, emotional, sexual abuse or harassment. Rev 02/09
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