LAWANDA’S INFORMED CONSENT AND PRACTICE POLICIES
Lawanda Jackson, MA
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist # 131978
Light Heart Therapy Inc.
LightHeartTherapy.com
Lawanda@LightHeartTherapy.com
707-347-9472
Informed Consent & Confidentiality
WELCOME!
Beginning therapy is a big step, and it’s important to know a little bit about what you’re choosing, who you’re working with, and what you can expect – both from the process of therapy itself, as well as from me. Below are some things to consider before we begin…
Your Right to Refuse Services: Therapy values client autonomy and self-determination. You get to decide to enter therapy, and it’s always your right to end therapy, at your will.
The Course of Therapy: Therapy can be a beautiful process of expressing yourself without being judged, getting to know yourself better, and working toward goals that bring you closer to the life you want to have. However, therapy can also be a challenging process. At a pace that works for you, you will be encouraged to be an observer of your life, your thoughts, your emotions, and your bodily sensations. This can be difficult at times, and feeling less than enthusiastic about the therapeutic process is absolutely normal. You are encouraged to bring up any resistance, hesitancy, or concerns you have about therapy and our work together during our sessions so that I can make necessary changes to our course of work or otherwise support you through the process. If at any time you feel that we are not a good therapist-client match, I will do my best to refer you to a therapist that might be a better fit for you.
Alternative Treatments: Therapy isn’t the only thing out there that might help! Medication, changes in diet or exercise, acupuncture, massage, good friends, other therapeutic modalities, spiritual practices, and pets are just a few things that also may help you.
No Guarantees: It’s always possible that therapy won’t be helpful to you! It’s not the best treatment approach for everyone, and it’s important to notice this together if therapy begins to feel stagnant.
My Qualifications and Specialization: I am a licensed Marriage & Family Therapist license #131978. I have earned a masters degree in Spiritual Psychology from the University of Santa Monica and a masters degree in Counseling Psychology from John F. Kennedy University. My specialization is somatic/body oriented therapy. This means that I acknowledge the connection between the body and the mind and use body awareness in addition to cognitive insight to support clients in working toward their goals.
Body Movement: Movement is a tool that can be used in body oriented therapy to explore the body’s natural postures and movement patterns. This can provide insight into how the relationship to the body impacts emotional and mental states. Movement interventions are always done with explicit permission, cooperation, and an open dialogue about the purpose and benefit of the intervention. I strongly support the client in listening to their own body and following the direction of their medical provider around any movement limitations, illnesses, or injuries. It is the client’s responsibility to only move in ways that are safe for their body.
Therapeutic Touch: Safe touch is a another tool that can be used in body oriented therapy to support the body and/or facilitate the deepening of a healing experience. Explicit permission and cooperation are always required prior to engaging in a touch intervention and will never to done without permission and cooperation. Safe therapeutic touch is never sexual, intrusive, harmful etc. Therapeutic touch is not massage and clothing always stays on. Furthermore, the use of touch is never required, always optional, and is done with an open dialogue about the purpose and benefits of the particular intervention. Examples include, light touch on the back to support nervous system regulation, or a gentle hold on the backs of ankles to support grounding and embodiment.
Payment Method: A credit card on file will be required to start therapy with me. It will be kept on the Simple Practice client portal which is completely secure and PCI-compliant. This secure platform gives you full transparency and access to view and print receipts and superbills for insurance reimbursement. Having your credit card on file enables us to maximize our therapy session rather than spending time to process payment. If at any point you’d like to use a different form of payment you are welcome to do that at the beginning of our session. I accept cards and cash.
Fees: A 50-minute session is $250 for individuals and $290 for couples. Groups and workshop fees will be detailed separately if applicable. Arrangements can be made for longer sessions; please note that the fee will be adjusted accordingly. My fee will increase once a year to reflect my increased level of competency and experience.
Canceling Policy: Therapy sessions will be 50 minutes, once a week, unless other arrangements are made. 48 hour notice of cancellation is required to avoid being charged for the session. If you do not give a 48 hour notice, you will be charged the full cost of a session. This policy includes unforeseen circumstance such as illness, transportation issues, work obligations etc. No refunds are given for sessions that have already taken place.
Continuity: Therapy is a serious commitment of both time and money, and consistency is important for its effectiveness. Except in the event of illness, personal emergencies or vacations, please expect to attend your regularly scheduled session. If there are an excessive amount of absences, even planned ones, we will revisit your commitment to our work together.
Pause in Treatment: If for any reason you have an unpaid balance equivalent to the cost of two or more sessions, treatment will be temporarily paused until the balance is paid in full.
Availability between Sessions: Between sessions I am available via email and phone if necessary. If I am not available at the moment of your call, text, or email, I will return your message within 48 business hours. My business hours are Monday through Thursday. Regarding phone calls, if we need to speak for longer than 20 minutes, I do charge for a session and will make myself available to you at that time for a full 50 minutes. Regarding emails and text messages, I will respond to either confirm that we can follow up during our next scheduled appointment or to schedule a sooner appointment if needed, depending on availability. Please note that therapeutic interventions or recommendations will not be given via email or text messages. Please note that although we may use telehealth services, I cannot guarantee the confidentiality of electronic, digital, or cellular communications!
Emergencies: If you are in a psychological crisis, and need to speak with a therapist immediately, please call Alameda County Crisis Support Services at 1-800-309-2131. If the emergency is life-threatening, please call 911, or go to the nearest emergency room. Afterwards, please let me know (if you are able) by leaving a voicemail, so that I can follow up with you ASAP.
Vacations and Time Away From the Office: Occasionally I may leave town for vacations, continuing education events, or due to unforeseen circumstances. I will do my best to give you as much notice as possible, and when necessary provide you with alternate scheduling or with the support of another trusted therapist while I’m away.
Consultation: I receive regular professional consultation and training, as part of my commitment to offering you quality service. This happens in both individual and group formats. This is required by ethical standards in the field, and means that confidentiality extends to these other formats, as well. The goal of consultation is to assess and ensure the quality and efficacy of your treatment!
Court and Document Services: On the rare occasion that you may need legal documentation, representation, or testimony from me, either outside or during legal proceedings, my hourly fee is the same as my agreed upon session fee. For court appearances and depositions that are longer than a few hours, a $500 daily fee will be assessed. Additionally, although rare, if you are involved in a legal dispute, it is possible for my case notes and records to be subpoenaed by the court. This will likely affect your confidentiality. Copy fees are .25/page.
Confidentiality
Confidentiality is a valued and primary understanding between a therapist and a client, and Lu Jackson observes and maintains professional standards in this regard. The confidentiality of the client and the client’s material will be protected and upheld, unless there is a legal or ethical standard that demands differently. Primarily (but not exclusively) these arise when:
The client requests and consents to the release of information themselves.
There is a reasonable suspicion of child, elder, and/or dependent adult abuse (including the downloading or purchase of, and/or viewing of child pornography.)
There is a clear and immediate danger to the client or to someone else from the client (including the self).
The client is involved in a legal dispute where the mental or emotional well-being of the client is under review.
The client or the therapist become involved in a legal dispute against each other.
The therapist is court-ordered to do so.
The Patriot Act or Homeland and/or National Security privileges are invoked.
Additionally, it’s important to remember that as an ethical professional receiving consultation, client confidentiality extends to these other settings. As much as possible, identifying details of the client will remain confidential. Sometimes, when different members of the same family are seen by therapists’ in the same agency, each therapist may have access to information regarding the other family members. This is sometimes useful when a coordinated treatment approach is requested or clinically indicated, but also something that can be avoided as necessary.
I have read and I understand the above conditions of treatment, and am in agreement with the conditions stated