Policies for Contracted Services




Statement of the Policies for Contracted Services of
Tree of Life Counseling & Coaching Services


This document contains important information about my professional services and business policies. Write down any questions you can think of, and we will discuss them at our next meeting. You will need to read, sign and date a hard copy of the Professional Disclosure Statement for your records and mine before therapy or coaching begins. When you sign this document, it will represent a legal agreement between us.

The Clients Rights
I strongly believe that you should feel comfortable with the therapist or coach you choose. In this private practice, therapy is entirely voluntary, and you have the right to terminate my service at any time. You are invited to request changes in any aspect of the services I provide. Also, you have the right and will be encouraged to take part in formulating your treatment or coaching plan.

Records
Regarding therapy clients, your clinical file will consist of (1) legal forms such as the Professional Disclosure Statement (and a Release of Information if needed for clinical consultations outside of Tree of Life Counseling & Coaching Services or legal matters wherein the client directs SoulCraft Counseling & Coaching Services to share information with courts and/or legal counsel), (2) a record of visits and payments and (3) any assessment forms and clinical progress notes.* Progress notes will contain enough information about your treatment to justify it, should justification ever become an issue.

*Progress notes are not considered part of the permanent record; they may be kept separately.

Scheduling/Appointments/Cancellations
Appointments need to be scheduled at least 24 hours in advance, except in times of crisis. Regarding cancellations: The scheduling of an appointment involves the reservation of time specifically for you, and I will wait the entire 50 minutes for you to arrive. If you are late, we will meet for whatever amount of your time remains. You will, of course, be required to pay for the full session. A minimum of 24 hours notice is required for rescheduling or cancellation of an appointment. You will be charged the full fee for missed sessions without such notification.

Fees/Payments and Billing
For counseling and coaching services, clients are expected to pay at the time services are rendered. Currently, I am able to accept payments through insurance as an out-of-network provider. Contact Mr. Golden for a schedule of fees. A sliding scale is available for individuals who have to pay out of pocket. Please, do not let money get in the way of your well-being. We'll figure out something.

Telephone Calls
Therapy patients are welcome to leave messages at any time. If you need to speak with me, I will be happy to call you back and speak for a few minutes. Remember that, in general, telephone calls are not meant to take the place of an office visit; if you require extended time on the phone I may have to start billing you for my time. In special circumstances, I am agreeable to providing treatment over the phone at the same hourly rate as we have agreed upon for your office visits. Refer to the section below, entitled If You Need to Contact Me, for hours.

Coaching clients are allotted eight calls per month, of which four calls are sessions and the remaining four calls are supportive. If a client feels that more calls are needed, then an arrangement can be made if appropriate, bearing in mind that the cost of service will increase as well.

E-mail: E-mail is useful, but it poses risks to confidentiality; so, correspondences with established patients and clients will be encrypted to protect confidentiality.

Other Services: Charges for other services, such as hospital visits, consultations with other therapists, and home visits will be based on my regular fee schedule. Any court related services (such as consultation with lawyers, depositions, or attendance at courtroom proceedings) will be based on the time involved in providing the service at a rate of $250.00 per hour. Some services may require payment in advance.

I will assume that our agreed upon fee-paying relationship will continue as long as I provide services to you. I will assume this until you inform me verbally and in writing that you wish to end therapy or coaching.

If there is any problem with my charges, billing or any other money-related issue, please bring it to my attention. I will do the same with you. Unresolved financial problems can interfere with our work together. They must be worked out openly and quickly.

If You Need to Contact Me
My usual business hours are from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Friday. I cannot promise that I will be available at all times since I usually do not take phone calls when I am with a client. Please leave a message on my voice mail and I will return your call as soon as I am able. You can call me at the following numbers, Cell Phone:(206) 778-4465 or Office Phone:(360) 691-5055.

If you call in the evening, on a weekend, or over a holiday, I may be unable to call back until the next business day. In case of an emergency, leave a message for me and then immediately contact 9-1-1, or one of the following community emergency agencies:
  • King County Helpline Serving King County residents (866)4CRISIS | (866)427.4747 | 206.461.3222 (24 hours/7day a week)
  • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255): Suicide hotline, 24/7 free and confidential
  • Any community hospital emergency room


NOTICE
Counselors practicing counseling for a fee must be registered and licensed with the Department of Health for the protection of public health and safety. Registration of an individual with the Department does not include recognition of any practice standards nor necessarily implies the effectiveness of any treatment. (Reference: WAC 246-810-030 and 246-810-031) The Counselor Credentialing Act is to provide protection for public health and safety and to empower the citizens of the state of Washington by providing a complaint process against those counselors who commit acts of unprofessional conduct. Therapists have a responsibility towards their clients to maintain professional conduct and boundaries.

If you feel you have been treated in an unprofessional manner you have the right to report this information to the authorities. Contact the Washington Department of Health to obtain more information regarding these laws or call the Consumer Hotline (800) 525-0127.



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