Counseling is a major decision and I am thankful that you have chosen to be here. This consent will be explained to you verbally and I will assist you in understanding my services, policies, and the benefits and risks of counseling, and the limits of confidentiality. This document is our professional agreement.
Education and Qualifications
My name is Christi Barnes and I am an MFT/LPCC counseling student at Palo Alto University. I received my Bachelors of Child, Adolescence, Family Studies degree August 2018 from the California State University of Bakersfield. My experience includes school counseling, college and career advising, and international/domestic social work and adoption.
As a practicum student in the counseling program, I desire to enhance my counseling skills and gain experience. Clients, students, and mentees have described me as a compassionate and straightforward professional. I strive to be a caring ear, understanding heart, and respectful to each person’s background in counseling relationships. I seek to empower individuals to reach personal goals, gain insight, heal and/or improve life quality.
Professional Affiliations
-Member of the International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors.
-Member of the American Counseling Association
-Re-Engage Marriage Group Leader
-House of Moses International Haiti, Leadership
Treatment Approach
Together with the client, I assist clients in establishing life applicable goals that are relevant to their unique stories and situations. I embrace strength-based perspectives. I am interactive and seek to offer tools that improve the lives of children, adults, families and marriages. I utilize various processes in dynamic and collaborative therapy, including but not limited to cognitive and behavioral theory, and family-systems theory. Treatment approaches are individual to each person’s needs. Methods and techniques to expect range from motivational interviewing, psychotherapy, and restructuring coping skills. My goals are to provide long-lasting results for increased self-awareness, confidence, and mental health. Together, we will establish a plan and the avenue in which we will work together to accomplish them.
Benefits and Risks
Most people find counseling to be emotionally liberating and beneficial. However, specific results cannot be guaranteed, and there are some risks involved. Unpacking long-standing, unresolved problems can trigger uncomfortable memories and feelings. At times, you may experience stress, emotional discomfort, or changes in your relationships. Sometimes it can feel like things are getting worse before they get better. You are likely to gain the most benefit from counseling if you are committed to the process and attend regularly. I welcome your questions and comments about our work together. I will support you and your position throughout the counseling journey. You have the right to request changes in treatment, refuse any treatment that you do not want, or to end treatment at any time. You also have the right to a second opinion, a different approach, or a different counselor and I will give you a referral if needed.
Professional Relationship
It is important to maintain a professional relationship for working together in counseling. It is my policy not to connect with clients through social media such as Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter in order to protect your confidentiality as a client. If I receive a request to connect with you, please expect that I will not respond. Also, please do not use these methods to send me messages, as I am not prepared to watch them for important messages from clients.
Confidentiality
The information you share in the counseling sessions will be kept confidential and never shared without your consent. Limitations to confidentiality to exist with the following exceptions:
(a) CONSENT/REQUEST you direct me to tell someone else, and I agree to do so
(b) THREAT TO YOURSELF OR OTHERS. I decide you are a danger to yourself or others
(c) MANDATED BY COURT OF LAW. I am ordered by a court to disclose information
(d) ABUSE. you disclose abuse of a child, a disabled person, or an elderly person
(e) you disclose that a previous therapist sexually exploited you
(f) SUPERVISION other reasons as specified in laws of this state. Confidentiality also does not extend to criminal proceedings or to legitimate subpoenas in a civil proceeding. I will maintain a written record of our counseling sessions. As you are a client in a university setting which is also a learning setting for me and my classmates, there will be times I consult through supervision and class processes to better understand my approaches in counseling. Confidentiality also has limitations for minors.
Notice of Privacy Practices and Clients Rights
I have been given the HIPPA of Privacy Practice and Clients’ Rights. I understand that the information given below is my preferred contact information for my privacy rights in being contacted.
Consent for Treatment of Minors (if applicable)
In the case that in as a parent, I/we consent that my child may be treated as a client by the above referenced counselor.
Important Information
Student Counseling Services (SCS) strives for excellence in providing quality clinical, developmental, and preventative services within an inclusive and supportive learning environment. We offer confidential counseling, clinical assessment and referrals, crisis management, psychiatric services, academic skills counseling, and psychoeducational programming for a diverse student population. We provide consultation services to the Stephenville community, and are educators and advocates that promote health and wellness.
Vision Statement
The vision of Student Counseling Services to infuse mental health and wellness into the culture and traditions of TSU community including students, staff and faculty on all campuses.
I hereby consent to and agree to receive counseling services and acknowledge that I have received a copy of the Professional Disclosure Statement for Christi Barnes. I recognize that she is a counseling intern and that at any time I would like to contact her supervisor, Brenda Faulkner bfaulkne@tarleton.edu, I should do so.