1. You have the right not to enter treatment or to end treatment at any time. I can also end treatment and give you referrals if I do not have the clinical skills to help you. Your obligation is to pay for the sessions we've had. The first two sessions of individual treatment and the first four sessions of couples treatment are evaluative, during which I am determining your needs and determining if I am able to meet your treatment needs.

2. You have the right to ask any questions, at any time, about what we do during therapy, and to receive answers that satisfy you.

3. You have the right not to allow the use of any therapy technique. If I plan to use any unusual technique, I will tell you and discuss its benefits and risks.

4. You have the right to keep what you tell me private. Generally, no one will learn of our work without your written permission. There are some situations in which I am required by law to reveal some of the things you tell me, even without your permission, and if I do reveal these things I am not required by the law to tell you that I have done so. Here are some of these situations:

a.    If you are a serious threat to another person, I must warn that person and the authorities.

b.  If a court orders me to testify about you, I must do so.

c.  If I am testing or treating you under a court order, I must report my findings to the court.

6.  If I wish to record one or more of our sessions, I will request your consent in writing.

7.  You have the right to review your records in my files at any time, to add to or correct them, and to get copies for other professionals to use, although I may remove information that I believe may be inappropriate or illegal for you to possess.    A fee may be charged for copies or additional report preparation.