Treatment Policies
Duration & Billing
Treatment sessions generally are 50 minutes in length. For most people, sessions are weekly but in some cases they are more or less often due to the client’s intensity of need or financial constraints. I bill for appointments that are missed or which are cancelled less than 24 hours in advance.
Continuation
Therapy often involves discussion of unpleasant feelings and experiences. Sometimes, clients feel worse as part of the process of getting better. Of course, sometimes there can be feelings of elation as the client gains insight and greets new opportunities. At those rough times, it is important and helpful to share those feelings with me, especially if they involve me. Sometimes, what happens is that feelings and experiences from the past can emerge in the session, connecting to something that is going on in the moment but with the emotional intensity from before. It can be tempting to stop treatment when these feelings surface. I would urge most clients to remain in treatment during these rough stages, in order to better understand and come to terms with the issues beneath them. Choosing to leave therapy in the middle may leave these feelings unresolved and more likely to cause difficulties. Termination of treatment is best discussed and planned. Often, the client will know when they are coming toward completion and can approach termination. There is considerable variation in how long treatment continues, depending on the individual and the issues.
Privacy & Retention
Privacy of information is an important principle to this practice. None of your information is made available to the general public. Your confidentiality is protected by law. However, there are limits to confidentiality such as reports of child abuse, elder abuse, or serious threat of harm, among other limitations that we would go over in our sessions. Otherwise, information is provided to others only at your direction.
I retain files for a minimum of ten years after the last contact.
I would be glad to answer any questions you may have on these policies.
Treatment therapies I offer include: