Welcome to Perspectives Counseling.  We are very pleased that you selected our facility for your therapy, and we are sincerely looking forward to assisting you.  This document is designed to inform you about what you can expect from your therapist or group leader, policies regarding confidentiality and emergencies, and several other details regarding your treatment here at Perspectives Counseling.  Although providing this document is part of an ethical obligation to our profession, more importantly, it is part of our commitment to you to keep you fully informed of every part of your therapeutic experience.  Please know that your relationship with your therapist or group leader is a collaborative one, and we welcome any questions, comments, or suggestions regarding your course of therapy at any time. 

 

Background Information, Theoretical Views, & Client Participation

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Information regarding your therapist's educational background and experience may be found on our website under his or her name.  Please feel free to view that information at www.perspectivesatlanta.com. It is our belief that as people become more aware accepting of themselves, they are more capable of finding a sense of peace and contentment in their lives.  However, self-awareness and self-acceptance are goals that may take a long time to achieve.  Some clients need only a few sessions to achieve these goals, whereas others may require months or even years of therapy.  As a client, you are in complete control, and you may end your relationship with your therapist/group leader at any point. 

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In order for therapy to be most successful, it is important for you to take an active role.  This means working on the things you and your therapist talk about both during and between sessions.  This also means avoiding any mind-altering substances like alcohol or non-prescription drugs for at least eight hours prior to your therapy sessions.  Generally, the more of yourself you are willing to invest, the greater the return.

Furthermore, it is our policy to only see clients who we believe have the capacity to resolve their own problems with our assistance.  It is our intention to empower you in your growth process to the degree that you are capable of facing life’s challenges in the future without your therapist.  We also don’t believe in creating dependency or prolonging therapy if the therapeutic intervention does not seem to be helping.  If this is the case, your therapist will direct you to other resources that will be of assistance to you.  Your personal development is our number one priority.  We encourage you to let us know if you feel that transferring to another facility or another therapist is necessary at any time.  Our goal is to facilitate healing and growth, and we are very committed to helping you in whatever way seems to produce maximum benefit.

 

Confidentiality & Records

 

Your communications with your therapist will become part of a clinical record of treatment, and it is referred to as Protected Health Information (PHI).  Your PHI will be kept in a file stored in a locked cabinet in our locked business office.  Additionally, your therapist will always keep everything you say to him or her completely confidential, with the following exceptions:  (1) you direct your therapist to tell someone else and you sign a “Release of Information” form; (2) your therapist determines that you are a danger to yourself or to others; (3) you report information about the abuse of a child, an elderly person, or a disabled individual who may require protection; or (4) your therapist is ordered by a judge to disclose information.  In the latter case, your therapist’s license does provide him or her with the ability to uphold what is legally termed “privileged communication.”  Privileged communication is your right as a client to have a confidential relationship with a counselor.  This state has a very good track record in respecting this legal right.  If for some unusual reason a judge were to order the disclosure of your private information, this order can be appealed.  We cannot guarantee that the appeal will be sustained, but we will do everything in our power to keep what you say confidential. 

Please note that in couple’s counseling, your therapist does not agree to keep secrets.  Information revealed in any context may be discussed with either partner.

 

Structure and Cost of Sessions

 

Costs vary per provider.  Please review to rates above.  Doing psychotherapy by telephone is not ideal, and needing to talk to your therapist between sessions may indicate that you need extra support.  If this is the case, you and your therapist will need to explore adding sessions or developing other resources you have available to help you.  Telephone calls and emails that exceed 10 minutes in duration will be billed at $30 per 10 minute increments.  The fee for each session will be due at the conclusion of the session.  Cash, personal checks, Federal Savings/Health Savings Accounts, American Express, Visa, MasterCard, or Discover are acceptable for payment, and we will provide you with a receipt of payment at your request.  The receipt of payment may also be used as a statement for insurance if applicable to you.  Please note that there is a $30 fee for any returned checks.

Insurance companies have many rules and requirements specific to certain plans.  Unless otherwise negotiated, it is your responsibility to find out your insurance company’s policies and to file for insurance reimbursement.  We will be glad to provide you with a statement for your insurance company and to assist you with any questions you may have in this area.

 

Cancellation Policy

 

An appointment represents time reserved personally for you.  In the event that you are unable to keep an appointment, you must notify your therapist at least 24 hours in advance.  If such advance notice is not received, you will be charged the full fee for your session .  This fee will be waived in cases of emergencies.

 

In Case of an Emergency

 

Perspectives Counseling is considered to be an outpatient facility, and we are set up to accommodate individuals who are reasonably safe and resourceful.  We do not carry pagers nor are we available at all times.  If at any time this does not feel like sufficient support, please inform your therapist, and he or she can discuss additional resources or transfer your case to a therapist or clinic with 24-hour availability.  Generally, your therapist will return phone calls within 24 to 48 hours.  If you have a mental health emergency, we encourage you not to wait for a call back, but to do one or more of the following:

 

• Call Behavioral Health Link/GCAL: 800-715-4225

• Call Ridgeview Institute at 770.434.4567

• Call Peachford Hospital at 770.454.5589

• Call 911.

• Go to your nearest emergency room. 

 

Professional Relationship

 

    Psychotherapy is a professional service we will provide to you.  Because of the nature of therapy, your relationship with your therapist has to be different from most relationships.  It may differ in how long it lasts, the objectives, or the topics discussed.  It must also be limited to only the relationship of therapist and client.  If you and your therapist were to interact in any other ways, you would then have a "dual relationship," which could prove to be harmful to you in the long run and is, therefore, unethical in the mental health profession.  Dual relationships can set up conflicts between the therapist's interests and the client’s interests, and then the client’s (your) interests might not be put first.  In order to offer all of our clients the best care, your therapist’s judgment needs to be unselfish and purely focused on your needs.  This is why your relationship with your therapist must remain professional in nature.

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Additionally, there are important differences between therapy and friendship.  Friends may see your position only from their personal viewpoints and experiences.  Friends may want to find quick and easy solutions to your problems so that they can feel helpful.  These short-term solutions may not be in your long-term best interest. Friends do not usually follow up on their advice to see whether it was useful.  They may need to have you do what they advise.  A therapist offers you choices and helps you choose what is best for you.  A therapist helps you learn how to solve problems better and make better decisions.  A therapist's responses to your situation are based on tested theories and methods of change.

You should also know that therapists are required to keep the identity of their clients confidential.  As much as your therapist would like to, for your confidentiality he or she will not address you in public unless you speak to him or her first.  Your therapist also must decline any invitation to attend gatherings with your family or friends.  Lastly, when your therapy is completed, your therapist will not be able to be a friend to you like your other friends.  In sum, it is the duty of your therapist to maintain a professional role at all times.  Please note that these guidelines are not meant to be discourteous in any way, they are strictly for your long-term protection.

 

Statement Regarding Ethics, Client Welfare, & Safety

 

Perspectives Counseling assures you that our services will be rendered in a professional manner consistent with the ethical standards of the American Psychological Association, the American Counseling Association, and the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.  If at any time you feel that your therapist is not performing in an ethical or professional manner, we ask that you please let him or her know immediately.  If the two of you are unable to resolve your concern, please contact Dr. Kristen Aycock at 678-557-0822.  You may also send a written complaint to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  Dr. Aycock can provide you with the appropriate address upon request.

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Due to the very nature of psychotherapy, as much as we would like to guarantee specific results regarding your therapeutic goals, we are unable to do so.  However, your therapist, with your participation, will work to achieve the best possible results for you.  Please also be aware that changes made in therapy may affect other people in your life.  For example, an increase in your assertiveness may not always be welcomed by others.  It is our intention to help you manage changes in your interpersonal relationships as they arise, but it is important for you to be aware of this possibility nonetheless.

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Additionally, at times people find that they feel somewhat worse when they first start therapy before they begin to feel better.  This may occur as you begin discussing certain sensitive areas of your life.  However, a topic usually isn’t sensitive unless it needs attention.  Therefore, discovering the discomfort is actually a success.  Once you and your therapist are able to target your specific treatment needs and the particular modalities that work the best for you, help is generally on the way. 

Technology Statement

 

In our ever-changing technological society, there are several ways we could potentially communicate and/or follow each other electronically.  It is of utmost importance to us that we maintain your confidentiality, respect your boundaries, and ascertain that your relationship with your therapist remains therapeutic and professional.  Therefore, we’ve developed the following policies:

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Cell phones:  It is important for you to know that cell phones may not be completely secure and confidential.  However, we realize that most people have and utilize a cell phone.  Your therapist may also use a cell phone to contact you.  If this is a problem, please feel free to discuss this with your therapist.

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     Text Messaging and Email:  Both text messaging and emailing are not secure means of communication and may compromise your confidentiality.  However, we realize that many people prefer to text and/or email because it is a quick way to convey information.  If you choose to utilize texting or email, please discuss this with your therapist.  However, please know that it is our policy to utilize these means of communication strictly for brief topics such as appointment confirmations.  Please do not bring up any therapeutic content via text or email to prevent compromising your confidentiality.  You also need to know that we are required to keep a copy of all emails and texts as part of your clinical record. 

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     Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Pinterest Etc:  It is our policy not to accept requests from any current or former client on personal social networking sites such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Pinterest, etc. because it may compromise your confidentiality.

    

Google, etc.:  It is our policy not to search for our clients on Google or any other search engine.  We respect your privacy and make it a policy to allow you to share information about yourself to your therapist as you feel appropriate.  If there is content on the Internet that you would like to share with your therapist for therapeutic reasons, please print this material out and bring it to your session.

 

Twitter, Blogs, or Other Professional Social Media:  We may write an entry on a blog or post psychology news on our professional Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc. accounts.  If you have an interest in following either of these, please let your therapist know so that he/she may discuss any potential implications to your therapeutic relationship.  Once again, maintaining your confidentiality is a priority.  We would recommend using an RSS feed or locked Twitter list, which would eliminate you having a public link to our content.

In summary, technology is constantly changing, and there are implications to all of the above that we may not realize at this time.  Please feel free to ask questions, and know that we are open to any feelings or thoughts you have about these and other modalities of communication.