Resolutions & Solutions Counselling Services
Important Information
Privacy and Sharing of Information
I authorize the Resolutions & Solutions Counselling Services clinic and its associated health professionals to collect my personal and medical information as documented above. In addition, I authorize the clinic and its associated health professionals to communicate with my family doctor and/or referring doctor as deemed necessary for my beneficial treatment. I also understand that my personal and medical information is confidential and will only be disclosed to third parties with my permission.
Service Cancellation Policy
Your appointment time is reserved just for you. A late cancellation or missed visit leaves a hole in the therapists’ day that could have been filled by another client. As such, we require 24 hours’ notice for any cancellations or changes to your appointment. Clients who provide less than 24 hours’ notice, or miss their appointment, will be charged a cancellation fee to the card on file.
Online Counselling Policy
**Confidentiality**
The online therapy session follows the Limits of Confidentiality and Conditions of the Service form that must be signed together with this document.
**Emails and Text Messages**
When you book an online therapy appointment, a reminder email or text message is sent 24 hours prior to your appointment and a second reminder is sent 2 hours prior to your appointment. Please ensure your email system is secure, as your therapist cannot be held responsible for others reading any part of your email, even the subject line.
**Payment**
Currently, online therapy sessions are covered via credit card or e-transfer. Once payment is received a receipt will be sent to you via email.
**Zoom Pro for Telehealth and Jane Telehealth**
After consultation with our governing bodies, Zoom Pro for telehealth and Jane telehealth are recommended as they both meet the criteria laid out in privacy guidelines from PHIPAA and PIPEDA. Both online platforms are secure (encrypted) video conferencing system and virtually impossible for anyone to intercept and decrypt the video and/or audio transmission between two people. However, as with all forms of internet communication, if someone has access to your Zoom or Jane login details or has installed a virus on your computer, then it is possible your Zoom and Jane transmissions can be compromised. Your therapist is not responsible or liable for compromised Zoom and Jane communication between you and your therapist. It is VERY important you keep your Zoom and Jane login details secure and private, and routinely check your computer system for viruses and trojans.
*All of the above exceptions to confidentiality are extremely rare, but it’s important for you to be aware of these limitations of confidentiality under exceptional circumstances.*
If you choose to use your landline or cell phone, please contact your provider for security information.
**Cancellation / Rescheduling Policy**
I require a 24-hour notice of cancellation. If you provide less than 24-hour notice but call or email me that you need to cancel, you will be charged for half the cost of your session. If you do not inform me, you will be billed for the total cost of your session.
**Recording of Zoom and Jane Counselling Sessions**
Recording of Zoom pro and Jane sessions is a violation of our confidentiality agreement and is strictly prohibited. Management reserves the right to suspend all therapy services to any client who records or re-transmits any part of a counselling session. The sessions can only be recorded with the consent of both parts and for supervision purposes only.
**CONSENT**
I am choosing to facilitate counselling sessions through Resolutions & Solutions Counselling Services (RSCS), via the internet (Zoom or Jane Telehealth) or via telephone. I understand that:
• I understand that must be at least 16 years old to consent to online/telephone therapy/counselling. If I am under the age of 16, I will need my parent/guardian to consent for me.
• All sessions should be treated like an in-office session. No outside distractions: turn off cell phones not in use for therapy and close other computer programs. NO third parties will be in or near the session at any time without the therapist’s knowledge.
• Technical problems may occur. If the call is disrupted, the counsellor will call you back shortly. If reconnection cannot reoccur, the session will be rescheduled through the therapist at no additional fee. You will receive a phone call during office hours to reschedule.
• If I am in crisis or an emergency situation that needs immediate attention, where I may be considering harming myself or someone else, I will call 911 emergency services, 9-8-8 national Suicide Crisis Helpline, contact Mental Health Crisis/CMHA Helpline at 1-833-456-4566 (In QC: 1-866-277-3553), or immediately go to the nearest hospital emergency room. If I am unable/unwilling to do this and my counsellor/therapist considers me to be of high risk, I understand that they will contact the appropriate service on my behalf.
• I understand that if I choose to use my cell phone or land line for my session, I am completely responsible for any breaches of confidentiality or privacy as phones are not considered sufficiently private for this purpose.
Confidentiality and Consent to Mental Health Counselling/Psychotherapy
- Resolutions and Solutions Counselling Services (RSCS) will provide psychotherapy by Registered Social Workers capable of providing psychotherapy. They will hold a Master’s Degree in Social Work or equivalent. Each practitioner may have completed additional training in a variety of modalities including Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT), Traumatic Incident Reduction (TIR) Therapy, as well as Narrative Therapy for example.
- At RSCS we are committed to lifelong learning, we are passionate about competency with new approaches, and we focus on training internally during onboarding procedures. We have extensive experience working with client systems in various mental health settings, including inpatient and outpatient care.
- Currently, RSCS is working in the context of a private practice setting, and our practitioners have experience working with individuals with various difficulties, including anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, psychosis, complex trauma, interpersonal challenges, life stressors, identity struggles, inter/intra-personal including emotional dysregulation, and life transitions within both individual and group settings.
- We are registered member of the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW) or related college and in good standing.
What to Expect: Benefits and Risks to Counselling
- There are benefits and risks in seeking individual therapy. Some of the potential benefits of therapy include developing your ability to handle or cope with your daily life and providing you with greater insight into your personal goals and values. In working to achieve these benefits, however, you may address issues or make changes that you may experience as distressing. These risks of therapy include, but are not limited to, feeling or circumstances becoming worse before they get better, changes in your emotional state (such as feelings of depression or anxiety); important to note, medically, the possibility of hallucinations or dissociations, changes in perception or behaviour, and changes in occupational, social, or personal relationships are possible outcomes.
Legal Limits to Confidentiality for Registered Professionals
Our sessions, and the information that we discuss within them, is confidential and will not be shared with individuals outside my practice without written consent, except where disclosure is required by law. Noted exceptions are as follows:
**Duty to Warn and Protect**
When a client discloses intentions or a plan to harm another person, the mental health professional is required to warn the intended victim and report this information to legal authorities. In cases in which the client discloses or implies a plan for suicide, the health care professional is required to notify legal authorities and make reasonable attempts to notify the family of the client.
**Abuse of Children and Vulnerable Adults**
If a client states or suggests that he or she is abusing a child (or vulnerable adult) or has recently abused a child (or vulnerable adult), or a child (or vulnerable adult) is in danger of abuse, the mental health professional is required to report this information to the appropriate social service and/or legal authorities.
**Minors/Guardianship**
Parents or legal guardians of non-emancipated minor clients have the right to access the clients’ records.
**Insurance Providers (when applicable) **
Insurance companies and other third-party payers are given information that they request regarding services to clients.
**Abuse by a regulated health care professional: **
If another professional (i.e. doctor, nurse, social worker etc.) is found to be harming you I am mandated to report it to their regulating college.
I do participate in supervision and case consultations with other mental health professionals to ensure that I can provide you with the best treatment possible. No identifying information will be disclosed – please let me know if you have questions about this process.
Consent for Treatment and Acceptance of Policies
Your signature will represent a statement that you have read and understood the information above and as outlined by RSCS, have received a copy of this informed Consent form, have been made aware of your rights and the privacy practices of this office, agree to comply with fees and policies, and consent to the therapy process as described above.
**You have the right to withdraw your consent for treatment at any time**
By Attending My First Session:
I agree to Resolutions & Solutions Counselling Services’ policies and confirm my understanding my rights and responsibilities.
Need help?
Contact us at [email protected] for questions related to our services and policies.