THE THERAPY PROCESS
Therapy is a collaborative process where you and your Provider will work together on equal footing to achieve goals that you define. This means that you will follow a defined process supported by scientific evidence, where you and your Provider have specific rights and responsibilities. Therapy generally shows positive outcomes for individuals who follow the process. Better outcomes are often associated with a good relationship between a client and their Provider. To foster the best possible relationship, it is important you understand as much about the process before deciding to commit.

Therapy begins with the intake process. First, you will review your Provider’s policies and procedures, talk about fees, identify emergency contacts, and decide if you want health insurance to pay your fees depending on your plan’s benefits. Second, you will discuss what to expect during therapy, including the type of therapy, the length of treatment, and the risks and benefits. If your Provider is practicing under the supervision of another professional, your Provider will tell you about their supervision and the name of the supervising professional. Third, you will form a treatment plan, including the type of therapy, how often you will attend therapy, your short- and long-term goals, and the steps you will take to achieve them. Over time, you and your Provider may edit your treatment plan to be sure it describes your goals and steps you need to take. After intake, you will attend regular therapy sessions at your Provider’s office or through video, called telehealth. Participation in therapy is voluntary – you can stop at any time. At some point, you will achieve your goals. At this time, you will review your progress, identify supports that will help you maintain your progress, and discuss how to return to therapy if you need it in the future.

Crisis Services:
I do not provide crisis services. If you feel you or someone in your care requires immediate assistance, call 911 or go to the closest emergency room. If you feel you need to speak with me before your next session, but are not in emergency need, please reach out to me via phone or email. I return calls/emails within 24-hour M-Th. Messages left after-hours, will be returned on my next business day.

IN-PERSON VISITS & SARS-CoV-2 (“COVID-19”)
When guidance from public health authorities allows and your Provider offers, you can meet in-person. If you attend therapy in-person, you understand:
• You can only attend if you are symptom-free (For symptoms, see: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html);
• If you are experiencing symptoms, you can switch to a telehealth appointment or cancel. If you need to cancel, you will not be charged a late cancellation fee.
• You must follow all safety protocols established by the practice, including:
• Following the check-in procedure;
• Washing or sanitizing your hands upon entering the practice;
• Adhering to appropriate social distancing measures;
• Wearing a mask, if required;
• Telling your Provider if you have a high risk of exposure to COVID-19, such as through school, work, or commuting; and
• Telling your Provider if you or someone in your home tests positive for COVID-19.
• Your Provider may be mandated to report to public health authorities if you have been in the office and have tested positive for infection. If so, your Provider may make the report without your permission, but will only share necessary information. Your Provider will never share details about your visit. Because the COVID-19 pandemic is ongoing, your ability to meet in person could change with minimal or no notice. By signing this Consent, you understand that you could be exposed to COVID-19 if you attend in-person sessions. If a member of the practice tests positive for COVID-19, you will be notified. If you have any questions, or if you want a copy of this policy, please ask.

TELEHEALTH SERVICES
To use telehealth, you need an internet connection and a device with a camera for video. Your Provider can explain how to log in and use any features on the telehealth platform. If telehealth is not a good fit for you, I will recommend a different option. There are some risks and benefits to using telehealth:
• Risks
• Privacy and Confidentiality. You may be asked to share personal information with the telehealth platform to create an account, such as your name, date of birth, location, and contact information. Your Provider carefully vets any telehealth platform to ensure your information is secured to the appropriate standards.
• Technology. At times, you could have problems with your internet, video, or sound. If you have issues during a session, your Provider will follow the backup plan that you agree to prior to sessions.
• Crisis Management. It may be difficult for your Provider to provide immediate support during an emergency or crisis. You and your Provider will develop a plan for emergencies or crises, such as choosing a local emergency contact, creating a communication plan, and making a list of local support, emergency, and crisis services.
• Benefits
• Flexibility. You can attend therapy wherever is convenient for you.
• Ease of Access. You can attend telehealth sessions without worrying about traveling, meaning you can schedule less time per session and can attend therapy during inclement weather or illness.
• Recommendations
• Make sure that other people cannot hear your conversation or see your screen during sessions.
• Do not use video or audio to record your session unless you ask your Provider for their permission in advance.
• Make sure to let your Provider know if you are not in your usual location before starting any telehealth session.

CONFIDENTIALITY
I will not disclose your personal information without your permission unless required by law. If I must disclose your personal information without your permission, I will only disclose the minimum necessary to satisfy the obligation. However, there are a few exceptions.
• I may speak to other healthcare providers involved in your care.
• I may speak to emergency personnel.
• If you report that another healthcare provider is engaging in inappropriate behavior, I may be required to report this information to the appropriate licensing board. I will discuss making this report with you first, and will only share the minimum information needed while making a report. If I must share your personal information without getting your permission first, I will only share the minimum information needed. There are a few times that as your provider, I may not keep your personal information confidential.
• If I believe there is a specific, credible threat of harm to someone else, I may be required by law or may make their own decision about whether to warn the other person and notify law enforcement. The term specific, credible threat is defined by state law. I can explain more if you have questions.
• If I have reason to believe a minor or elderly individual is a victim of abuse or neglect, I am required by law to contact the appropriate authorities.
• If I believe that you are at imminent risk of harming yourself, I may contact law enforcement or other crisis services. However, before contacting emergency or crisis services, I will attempt work with you to discuss other options to keep you safe.

RECORD KEEPING
Your Provider is required to keep records about your treatment. These records help ensure the quality and continuity of your care, as well as provide evidence that the services you receive meet the appropriate standards of care. Your records are maintained in an electronic health record provided by TherapyNotes. TherapyNotes has several safety features to protect your personal information, including advanced encryption techniques to make your personal information difficult to decode, firewalls to prevent unauthorized access, and a team of professionals monitoring the system for suspicious activity. TherapyNotes keeps records of all log-ins and actions within the system.

COMMUNICATION
You decide how to communicate with your me outside of your sessions. You have several options:
• Texting/Email
• Texting and email are not secure methods of communication and should not be used to communicate personal information. You may choose to receive appointment reminders via text message or email. You should carefully consider who may have access to your text messages or emails before choosing to communicate via either method. Please do NOT send personal information via text or email, call me instead to discuss
• Secure Communication
• Secure communications are the best way to communicate personal information, though no method is entirely without risk. Your Provider will discuss options available to you. If you decide to be contacted via non-secure methods, your Provider will document this in your record.
• Social Media/Review Websites
• If you try to communicate with me via these methods, I will not respond. This includes any form of friend or contact request, @mention, direct message, wall post, and so on. This is to protect your confidentiality and ensure appropriate boundaries in therapy.
• I may publish content on various social media websites or blogs. There is no expectation that you will follow, comment on, or otherwise engage with any content. If you do choose to follow your me on any platform, I will not follow you back.
• If you see my practice advertised in any form of review website, it is not a solicitation for a review. Many such sites scrape business listings and may automatically include me without my knowledge. If you choose to leave a review of of The Road Less Traveled Counseling on any website, I will not respond. While you are always free to express yourself in the manner you choose, please be aware of the potential impact on your confidentiality prior to leaving a review. It is often impossible to remove reviews later, and some sites aggregate reviews from several platforms leading to your review appearing other places without your knowledge.

FEES AND PAYMENT FOR SERVICES
You may be required to pay for services and other fees. You will be provided with these costs prior to beginning therapy, and should confirm with your insurance if part or all of these fees may be covered. You should also know about the following:
• No-Show and Late Cancellation Fees of $100 will be billed to your credit card after the appointment is either missed or not cancelled 24-hours in advance of the appointment.
• If you are unable to attend therapy, you must contact your Provider before your session. Otherwise, you may subject to fees outlined in your fee agreement. Insurance does not cover these fees.
• Balance Accrual
• Full payment is due at the time of your session. I will bill your insurance on file, however, you are expected to make any co-payment required at the time of the session. If you are unable to pay for the session, please let me know in advance of the session. I may offer payment plans or depending on your situation. If not I am not able to assist with your financial need, I may be able to give you information about other low- or no-cost services. Any balance due will continue to be due until paid in full. If necessary, your balance may be sent to a collections service.
• Administrative Fees
• I charge administrative fees for writing a letter or reports at your request; consulting with another healthcare provider or other professional outside of normal case management practices; or for preparation, travel, and attendance at a court appearance. These fees are listed in the fee agreement and below. Payment is due in advance:

I do not do any court evaluations or attestations for substance use, competence, custody, visitation, or any other court-related determinations. I am not a forensic psychologist, and as such am not qualified to make these determinations. If I am contacted by your attorney or receive a subpoena, you will be billed my hourly rate of $180 an hour as well as the hourly rate of my attorney for any work on your case including but not limited to 1. Preparing documents (case notes and assessments), 2. Appearance in court, 3. Travel to court, 4. Legal consultation for my practice, and others. Neither insurance nor the court will pay these charges, you will be required to pay all fees before documents are released.

• Insurance Benefits
• Before starting therapy, you should confirm with your insurance company if:
• Your benefits cover the type of therapy you will receive;
• Your benefits cover in-person and telehealth sessions;
• You may be responsible for any portion of the payment; and
• If I am in-network or out-of-network.
• Sharing Information with Insurance Companies
• If you choose to use insurance benefits to pay for services, you will be required to share personal information with your insurance company. Insurance companies keep personal information confidential unless they must share to act on your behalf, comply with federal or state law, or complete administrative work.
• Covered and Non-Covered Services
• When I am an in-network for your insurance, I have a contract with your insurance company. Your insurance plan may cover all or part of the cost of therapy. You are responsible for any part of this cost not covered by insurance, such as deductibles, copays, or coinsurance. You may also be responsible for any services not covered by your insurance.
• When I am an out-of-network provider, I do not have a contract with your insurance company. You can still choose to see your me; however, all fees will be due at the time of your session. I will tell you if I can help you file for reimbursement from your insurance company. If your insurance company decides that they will not reimburse you, you are still responsible for the full amount.
• Payment Methods
• The practice requires that you keep a valid credit or debit card on file. This card will be charged for the amount due at the time of service and for any fees you may accrue unless other arrangements have been made with the practice ahead of time. It is your responsibility to keep this information up to date, including providing new information if the card information changes or the account has insufficient funds to cover these charges.

COMPLAINTS and Quitting therapy:
There are circumstances where someone may want to stop therapy. You can withdraw from therapy at any time, however, I would recommend a closing session to wrap up our work. This will allow us the opportunity to discuss how you can continue your progress on your own or to process anything difficult that has come up in therapy. There also may be times I assess I am not the best fit for you, or can no longer assist you. In these circumstances, we will discuss my recommendations, and if I am able, I may recommend another provider for you.

In the event I can no longer be your provider, and you are an active client, you will be notified as to your options. Barb Sherman, LCSW, will be able to assume your records with your permission should you choose that.

If you feel your Provider has engaged in improper or unethical behavior, you can talk to them, or you may contact the licensing board that issued your Provider’s license, your insurance company (if applicable), or the US Department of Health and Human Services.