The Center for Self
Practice Policies
Last updated July 11, 2024
The Center for Self LLC
PRACTICE POLICIES
Last updated July 11, 2024
TELEPHONE ACCESSIBILITY If you need to contact your therapist between sessions, please leave a voicemail. Your therapist is often not immediately available; however, your therapist will attempt to return your call within 24 hours. Please note that Face- to-face sessions are highly preferable to phone sessions. However, in the event that you are out of town, sick or need additional support, phone sessions are available. If a true emergency situation arises, please call 911 or any local emergency room.
TEXT MESSAGING
These SMS Text Messaging Terms of Service (these "SMS Terms") are incorporated into all agreements between you and "The Center for Self" ("our organization", "us", "we"), including any agreements that are preexisting and any agreements that might be enacted contemporaneously with these SMS Terms. "The Center for Self" might use SMS text messaging, from time to time, for certain types of communication with you, including potentially for administrative issues, such as billing, or for health-related issues, such as care reminders. You agree to receive (you "opt in" to receiving) SMS text messages from "The Center for Self" , related to services that we are providing to you. Message and data rates may apply, and message frequency varies. You may text us STOP at any time to opt out of receiving SMS text messages from us. You may text us HELP at any time to receive help. SMS text messages from "The Center for Self" may originate from our organizational phone numbers, including: (319) 435-1677, 319-250-2734, 319-271-6436. There may be terms in other agreements between you and us that also apply to our organization's use of SMS text messaging, such as general terms related to privacy and data handling for our organization that are not specific to SMS text messaging. You agree that you have reviewed all agreements that we have provided you.
SOCIAL MEDIA AND TELECOMMUNICATION Due to the importance of your confidentiality and the importance of minimizing dual relationships, Your therapist will not accept friend or contact requests from current or former clients on any social networking site (Facebook, LinkedIn, etc). Adding clients as friends or contacts on these sites can compromise your confidentiality and our respective privacy. It may also blur the boundaries of the therapeutic relationship. If you have questions about this, please bring them up during session and we can talk more about it.
ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION The Center for Self cannot ensure the confidentiality of any form of communication through electronic media, including text messages. If you prefer to communicate via email or text messaging for issues regarding scheduling or cancellations, While we may try to return messages in a timely manner, The Center for Self cannot guarantee immediate response and request that you do not use these methods of communication to discuss therapeutic content and/or request assistance for emergencies.
Services by electronic means, including but not limited to telephone communication, the Internet, facsimile machines, and e-mail is considered telemedicine. If you and your therapist chose to use information technology for some or all of your treatment, you need to understand that:
(1) You retain the option to withhold or withdraw consent at any time without affecting the right to future care or treatment or risking the loss or withdrawal of any program benefits to which you would otherwise be entitled.
(2) All existing confidentiality protections are equally applicable.
(3) Your access to all medical information transmitted during a telemedicine consultation is guaranteed, and copies of this information are available for a reasonable fee.
(4) Dissemination of any of your identifiable images or information from the telemedicine interaction to researchers or other entities shall not occur without your consent.
(5) There are potential risks, consequences, and benefits of telemedicine. Potential benefits include, but are not limited to improved communication capabilities, providing convenient access to up-to-date information, consultations, support, reduced costs, improved quality, change in the conditions of practice, improved access to therapy, better continuity of care, and reduction of lost work time and travel costs. Effective therapy is often facilitated when the therapist gathers within a session or a series of sessions, a multitude of observations, information, and experiences about the client. Therapists may make clinical assessments, diagnosis, and interventions based not only on direct verbal or auditory communications, written reports, and third person consultations, but also from direct visual and olfactory observations, information, and experiences. When using information technology in therapy services, potential risks include, but are not limited to the therapist's inability to make visual and olfactory observations of clinically or therapeutically potentially relevant issues such as: your physical condition including deformities, apparent height and weight, body type, gait and motor coordination, posture, work speed, any noteworthy mannerism or gestures, physical or medical conditions including bruises or injuries, basic grooming and hygiene including appropriateness of dress, eye contact (including any changes in the previously listed issues), sex, chronological and apparent age, ethnicity, facial and body language, and congruence of language and facial or bodily expression. Potential consequences thus include the therapist not being aware of what they would consider important information, that you may not recognize as significant to present verbally the therapist.
TERMINATION You may terminate therapy at any time. Ending relationships can be difficult. Therefore, it is important to have a termination process in order to achieve some closure. The appropriate length of the termination depends on the length and intensity of the treatment. Your therapist may terminate treatment after appropriate discussion with you and a termination process if your therapist determines that the psychotherapy is not being effectively used or if you are in default on payment. Your therapist will not terminate the therapeutic relationship without first discussing and exploring the reasons and purpose of terminating. If therapy is terminated for any reason or you request another therapist, Your therapist will provide you with a list of qualified psychotherapists to treat you. You may also choose someone on your own or from another referral source.
Should you fail to schedule an appointment for three consecutive weeks, unless other arrangements have been made in advance, for legal and ethical reasons, your therapist must consider the professional relationship discontinued.