Welcome to my practice

I would like to thank you for your trust and for letting me to become part of your process of personal growth. Allow me also to congratulate you for taking the first step towards feeling better, you have taken the most important step already, let’s work together on the following ones.

Counseling, as every important decision in life, requires for you to have enough information about the services you will receive, the expectations for each party involved and the limitations we might face. Only by understanding such information will you be able to consent to participate in therapy.

During our first session, and at any point, I encourage you to ask questions about any aspects of this document that are not clear to you. Your initials at the end of each section indicate you are in agreement of the statements. Should you wish for us to discuss them further please leave them blank so we can address them on or before our first session.

Throughout this document I will be referring to our sessions as counseling, therapy, psychotherapy or other names interchangeably. My approach is to tailor my interventions to each person or family, therefore I do not subscribe to one single theory to analyze and process all cases, for that reason I consider it adequate to use all those names to describe my services.

Individual counseling or family therapy can be rewarding growth experiences yet they can be intense too. You are required to take an active role, to share, to listen and to process information that is not always easy to accept. There will be many days in which you leave the therapy session feeling exhausted and satisfied with your progress and others that you are wondering if you want to continue with this hard work.

I can not guarantee any specific results or that the process will be always easy but I can assure you that I will support you through all those difficult moments and I encourage you to talk about those times when you might be considering quitting. Only by our open communication can we achieve the goals you set for yourself in therapy.

Being trained as a Family Therapist means that even when I am working with a single person I am thinking of them in the context of their family, their experiences and relationships with family members. This is called systemic thinking. I firmly believe that members in families (systems) are interconnected and that a change in one element of the system affects the others. In many occasions the best approach would be to work with the whole system or family to stop unhealthy cycles of interaction but this is not always possible; frequently other people are not interested in coming to therapy so I work with those who are interested on making a change for themselves. Although I always remind my clients that the only person they can change is themselves I have seen many times how personal growth has a ripple effect that can trigger the desire of others to grow too.

I take very seriously my responsibility to protect your identity and the information that you share with me. I consider it an honor to be allowed into your world, thoughts and experiences and keeping our conversations private is the foundation of our professional relationship.

We live in a small world so, if I ever see you in public, I will not acknowledge that I know you so I can protect your confidentiality. Feel free to do whatever feel comfortable: greeting me or not, introducing me to someone else as your friend or not. You and I know this is for your benefit to protect the private nature of counseling .

Except for a few circumstances detailed below Texas law protects the privacy of all communication between a client and counselor, therefore I can only release information about your treatment with another person if you specifically request that to me in writing.

• When I am treating a family my client becomes the family system (not each individual) therefore I can not be expected to “keep secrets” between family members. If at any time I consider it necessary to meet individually with a family member or a subgroup I will work with that part of the family to find a way to share their experiences with the rest.

• Part of being a professional and ethical clinician means that I may find it necessary or helpful to consult another professional regarding your case, in such circumstance I do not disclose your identity or that of your family and focus on the dynamics I observe to obtain the support I need.

• By Texas laws, I am legally obligated to take action to protect others from harm, even if I have to reveal information about a client’s treatment. If I have reason to suspect that a child, an elderly person, or disabled person is being abused or neglected, I must file a report with the appropriate state agency.
• If you or any of the family members participating in therapy threatens to harm her/himself (or threatens to commit suicide), I may be obligated to seek hospitalization for him/her and/or to contact any others who can provide protection.

• If I believe that a client is threatening serious bodily harm to another person, I am legally required to take protective actions. These actions may include notifying the potential victim, contacting the police, and/or seeking hospitalization for the client.

• In most legal proceedings, you have the right to decide whether or not you wish to release any information about your treatment. In some cases involving child custody and those in which psychological condition is an important issue, a judge may order my testimony if he/she determines that such disclosure would be in the best interest of judgment.

I can only communicate via email or text for reminders or cancellations. Counseling issues will not be handled via email nor text, I do this to protect your privacy (making sure I am talking to you) and provide the best help I can by listening to your tone of voice.

If you have a counseling related issue or question, please call and leave a message. I will return your call no later than the next business day.

Remember that 911 is the best and first resource for life and death emergencies.

Please let me know the day before your session (but preferably 24 hours in advance) if you need to cancel your appointment due to health reasons or family emergencies, otherwise you will be charged a $50.00 missed session fee.

My experience has shown me that when someone fails to cancel or show up for 2 consecutive appointments (not due to a health or family crisis) they are very unlikely to return. In such cases I will try to contact you once via phone/text and once via email, If I fail to hear from you within 2 weeks I will assume you are no longer interested in therapy and will close your case.

Payment for services is done:

* Via automated payments (if you chose to leave your credit card information on file)

* Via the client portal as soon as you receive an invoice or

* Via phone with therapist right after the session ends.

Forms of payment: Debit or Credit Card. Transfer via Zelle or Venmo.

    50-60 minute Individual adult session --> $150 per hour

    Family session                                  -->$200 per hour

    Up to 30 minute Phone Consultation   --> $60

    Missed appointment                          -->$50 

                  (unless cancelled 24 hrs in advance)

    Other services                                   --> $150 per hour minimum 1 hr.
       (Consulting with other professionals on your behalf, writing reports, etc ).

   Any court related issues                     --> $400 per hour   
(Preparing for court, testifying, wait and travel time)

If at any time and for any reason you are dissatisfied with my services, please let me know. Should you and/or I believe that a referral is needed, I will provide you with some possible referral sources.

If at any moment you feel you need to contact my governing board please do so at:

Texas State Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists
Complaints Management and Investigative Section
P.O. Box 141369
Austin, Texas 78714-1369

call 1-800-942-5540

or visit https://www.dshs.texas.gov/mft/mft_complaint.shtm

By writing my name and signing the box below, I am indicating that I understand that therapy is a voluntary activity and that no one can force me into it. I am aware that I can terminate therapy or refuse treatment at any time.

I also acknowledge that I have read and understand all the information in this document and can request a copy for my records.