INFORMED CONSENT FOR PSYCHOTHERAPY  (terms and conditions for entering into a therapist-client relationship)

** Prior to therapy services being provided, new clients are required to review and consent to the information below **

Ravenwater Counseling LLC / Shawn Crawford LPCC          750 Broadmoor Blvd NE suite D, Rio Rancho, NM 87124

GENERAL INFORMATION:

The relationship between a psychotherapist (therapist/counselor) and their client is unique in that it is highly personal and at the same time is a contractual agreement. Given this, it’s important for us to have a clear understanding about how our relationship will work and what each of us can expect. This consent is intended to provide a clear framework for our work together. Feel free to discuss any of this with me. 

THE THERAPEUTIC PROCESS:

You’ve taken an important step by deciding to seek therapy. You’re embarking on an experience where we have good reason to expect positive outcomes and see noteworthy change on your part. It’s known that the vast majority of people who enter therapy benefit from the experience. I trust you’ll make good effort to benefit from your therapy. While many concerns people bring to therapy might improve or resolve on their own given enough time, you’ve clearly decided to take direct responsibility for managing a process of change by enlisting my help in addressing concerns that are important to you. While the outcome of your therapy depends in part on the effort you put in and there is no absolute guarantee of a person achieving all of the changes they’d like to see, it’s very likely you’ll find positive changes taking place and also quite possible these will happen more quickly and profoundly than you imagine.

The potential downside or risks of therapy are generally fairly obvious and expectable. These include the fact that engaging in therapy may result in your discomfort. Remembering unpleasant events, talking about stressful things in your life, and being aware of emotions attached to those events or circumstances can result in a person experiencing feelings which may be uncomfortable or distressing – such as anger, depression, sadness, anxiety, fear, or loneliness. Also, working on awareness of our own behavior and its consequences may be uncomfortable. When people engage in psychotherapy, it’s common for changes to occur in aspects of their communication with others and the manner in which they navigate interpersonal relationships and respond to and interact with people around them. While this is often a positive or helpful experience for the person in therapy, it also means that those they are in close relationships with and others in their life may see such changes in behavior as unexpected, challenging, or difficult to comprehend. Thus, a risk of therapy is that others may experience a person differently and have trouble adjusting to, accepting, responding to, and accounting for changes that a person has incorporated due to their involvement in therapy.

While I cannot promise that your specific behavior, circumstances, or life experience will change, I do promise to support and encourage you and to do my very best to understand you, your situation, and any repeating patterns that may be a source of concern to you, and to understand your therapy goals. If needed, I will help you clarify what it is that you want for yourself and help you formulate goals. I also promise to answer any questions you may have about the therapy process, my manner of working as a therapist, or other concerns that arise pertaining to your therapy services.

CONFIDENTIALITY:

Session content and all materials and information relevant to a client’s treatment will be held confidential unless the client requests in writing to have all or portions of such content, materials, or information released to a specifically named person or persons or an agency. Please be aware that there are limitations to the client held privilege of confidentiality. Expectations of client confidentiality do not apply or may be limited in the following cases:

  1. If a client threatens or attempts to commit suicide or otherwise conducts themselves in a manner in which there is a substantial risk of incurring serious bodily harm.
  2. If a client threatens grave bodily harm or death to another person and there is reasonable expectation that they could or may carry out this threat.
  3. If a therapist has reasonable cause to believe that neglect, abandonment, exploitation, or physical, emotional or sexual abuse has been perpetrated on a minor, an elderly person, or a vulnerable adult (individual who has substantial mental or functional impairment).
  4. If a court of law issues a legitimate subpoena for therapy-related information that is stated on the subpoena.
  5. If a client is in therapy or being treated by order of a court of law, or if information is obtained for the purpose of rendering an expert’s report to an attorney.

Occasionally I may choose to consult with another professional in their area of expertise in order to provide the best treatment for a client. Information about you could be shared in this context but would be done so without using your name or identifying you specifically.

If we encounter each other outside of the therapy office, I will not acknowledge you first. Your right to privacy and confidentiality is of the utmost importance to me, and I do not wish to jeopardize your privacy. However, if you acknowledge me first, I will be more than happy to acknowledge your presence and perhaps speak briefly with you, but feel it’s not appropriate to engage in more lengthy discussions in public or outside of the therapy office.