Therapy is an intensely personal process which can bring unpleasant memories or emotions to the surface. Clients can sometimes make improvements only to go backwards after a time. Progress may happen slowly. Therapy requires a very active effort on your part. In order to be most successful, you will have to work on things we discuss outside of sessions. There are also many benefits to therapy. It can help you develop coping skills, make behavioral changes, reduce symptoms of mental health conditions, and improve the quality of your life.

There are benefits and potential risks of engaging in online (videoconference) therapy. Benefits include immediate access to services, convenient scheduling, and reduced or eliminated transportation barriers. Potential risks include lack of visual and auditory cues, delayed responses, confidentiality breaches, and technological failures.

Appointments will typically be 60 minutes in duration (or another duration if agreed upon by both parties). The time scheduled for your appointment is assigned to you and you alone. If you need to cancel or reschedule a session, please provide at least 24 hours notice. If you miss a session without cancelling, or cancel with less than 24 hour notice, you may be required to pay for the therapy session (unless both parties agree that you were unable to attend due to circumstances beyond your control). It is important to note that insurance companies do not provide reimbursement for cancelled sessions. In addition, you are responsible for coming to your session on time; if you are late, your appointment will still need to end on time.

If there are technological difficulties during an online therapy session that results in interruption of the session, reasonable efforts will be made to resolve the situation (via e-mail, phone, online chat). If despite reasonable efforts the technological difficulties cannot be resolved within 15 minutes, the therapy session will be terminated with the following understanding:

1. If less than 75% of the therapy session was completed before interruption of service, you will be invoiced for only the portion of the therapy session completed, and will be given an opportunity to reschedule for a future date.

2. If more than 75% of the therapy session was completed before interruption of service, you will be invoiced for the full duration of the therapy session. Additional time may be added free of charge to a future therapy session (at the discretion of the therapist).

You will be sent an invoice shortly following the therapy session. Payment is due within 7 days of receipt of invoice (unless agreed upon with the therapist due to extenuating circumstances).

You may contact your therapist between sessions for the purpose of communication about a session (e.g. cancellations, rescheduling). The therapist is not able to respond to clinical issues between sessions, and cannot be contacted for urgent safety concerns. It is your responsibility to contact the appropriate service for urgent concerns (e.g. 911, local mental health emergency services). You must also schedule an appointment if you have non-urgent questions or concerns you would like to discuss with your therapist.

All interactions which take place in the setting of therapy are considered confidential. This includes all interactions such as scheduling or appointment notes, all session content records, and any progress notes taken during sessions. You may choose to give permission in writing to release any or specific information about yourself to any person or agency that you designate.

Due to the nature of online therapy, there is always the possibility that unauthorized persons may attempt to discover your personal information. The therapist will take every precaution to safeguard your information but cannot guarantee that unauthorized access to electronic communications could not occur. Please be advised to take precautions with regard to authorized and unauthorized access to any technology used in therapy sessions. Be aware of any friends, family members, significant others or co-workers who may have access to your computer, phone or other technology used in your therapy sessions. It is your responsibility to be in a private setting for your therapy sessions.

Therapist obligations to protect your privacy:

1. The therapist is obligated to protect your confidential information through the use of proper safeguards, including secure firewalls, encryption software, and password protection.

2. The therapist ensures all records and information are stored securely (e.g. password protected hard drive/external drive, PIPA compliant third-party server ).

3. The therapist will notify you as soon as possible of any breach of confidential information.

Limitations to confidentiality:

1. In some legal proceedings a judge may issue a court order. This would require the therapist to testify in court.

2. If the therapist learns of or believes that there is physical or sexual abuse or neglect of a minor, the therapist is obligated to report this information to the local child protection agency.

3. If the therapist learns of or believes that you are threatening serious harm to another person, the therapist is obligated to report this to the appropriate person and/or authority.

4. If there is evidence that you are at imminent risk of harm to yourself and require protective measures, the therapist is obligated to contact police and/or ambulance for transport to the nearest hospital for further evaluation.

5. There may be times when the therapist consults with outside sources about cases. In these cases, no personally identifiable information will be used without your written consent.

If you are unhappy with what is happening in therapy, please be sure to talk with your therapist about your concerns so that they can be addressed. Such comments will be taken seriously and handled with care and respect. You may also request that your therapist refers you to another therapist, and you are free to end therapy at any time.

You have the right to considerate, safe and respectful care, without discrimination as to race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, national origin, or source of payment. You have the right to ask questions about any aspect of therapy and about your therapist's specific training and experience.

You have the right to expect that your therapist abides by their profession's Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice. If you have any concerns about your therapist's conduct or practice, you have the right to file a complaint with the BC College of Social Workers at https://bccsw.ca/

Your signature below indicates that you have read and understand this Agreement, and consent to participate in therapy.