Therapy Rooted in Understanding & Growth

Please be responsible for coming to your session on time and at the time we have scheduled. Sessions will be 50 minutes unless previously determined to be a different length. If you are late, we will end at our scheduled time to prevent running into the next session. If you are in need of emergency help at a time when I am not available, it is your responsibility to call 911 or some other emergency/crisis service. You may also go to the Psychiatric Emergency Services located at 1165 Airport BLVD, Austin, TX 78702. They provide in-person services from licensed professionals who support adults, children, and families experiencing a mental health crisis. Psychiatric Emergency Services has a 24/7 crisis line available at 512-472-4357.

Please allow 24-hour’s notice if you decide to cancel a session so that I have time to schedule others in your place. Although I will take personal emergencies and extenuating circumstances into consideration, fees will still be charged for appointments missed without 24-hour’s notice. I also reserve the right to terminate therapy if cancellations or no-shows become excessive and are unable to be dealt with in the therapeutic relationship. I will discuss this with you prior to canceling services. Please be mindful of your time and mine.

With the exception of specific legal circumstances described below, you have the absolute right to the confidentiality of your therapy. I cannot and will not disclose to anyone what we discuss in session, or that you are even in counseling, without your written permission. The following are legal exceptions to your right to confidentiality. Whenever possible, I would inform you if I had to put one of these into effect.

1. If I have good reason to believe that you will harm another person, I must attempt to inform that person and warn them of your intentions. I must also contact the police and ask them to protect your intended victim.

2. If I have good reason to believe that you are abusing or neglecting a child or vulnerable adult, or if you give me information about someone else who is doing this, I must inform Child Protective Services and Adult Protective Services.

3. If I believe that you are in imminent danger of harming yourself, I may legally break confidentiality and call the police or the county crisis team. I am not obligated to do this and would explore all other options with you before I took this step. If at that point you were unwilling to take steps to guarantee your safety, I would call the crisis team.

4. If your record is subpoenaed in a court of law, I will do what I can to protect confidentiality within the limits of abiding by the law.

In the unlikely event that something should happen to me, (i.e. death or impairment), in which I am unable to continue counseling and unable to contact you, your records will be accessible through Liana Cox, LPC (License Number 84023). She is a colleague and therapist based in Texas. In the event of my death, Liana will work with you to find a new therapist.

• You are entitled to information about my methods of therapy, techniques used, and the duration of therapy (if it can be determined). Please feel free to ask if you would like to receive this information or if you have any additional questions.

• You are entitled to seek a second opinion from another counselor and terminate counseling at any time.

• In a professional relationship (such as ours), sexual intimacy between a counselor and client is never appropriate and should be reported to the Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors

• Confidentiality (please see above confidentiality section)

You have the right to terminate therapy at any time and you will typically be the one who decides when therapy will end, with the following exceptions:

• If cancellations and no-shows become an issue, as described above

• If I am not, in my judgment able to help you because of the particular concern you have, or because my training and skills are, in my judgment, inappropriate, I will inform you of this and refer you to another counselor who may meet your needs.

• If you are verbally or physically violent toward me or threaten or harass me, I reserve the right to immediately discontinue your therapy. If I terminate your therapy I will offer you referrals to other sources of care, but cannot guarantee that they will accept you for therapy. 

Notice to Consumers – Texas Mental Health Services

In accordance with Texas law (House Bill 4224 and Section 181.105 of the Texas Health and Safety Code), the following information is provided to help consumers understand their rights and available resources.

Requesting Your Health Care Records
You have the right to request a copy of your mental health records.

To request your records, please submit a written request to your treating clinician or to the practice directly. Requests may be made via email, secure client portal, or in writing. Records will be provided in accordance with Texas law and applicable privacy regulations.

If you have questions about accessing your records, please contact our office for assistance.

Contacting the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council (BHEC)
The Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council regulates licensed mental health professionals in Texas.

If you have questions about licensure or professional standards, you may contact BHEC directly:

Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council – Contact Us
https://bhec.texas.gov/contact-us/

Filing a Consumer Complaint
If you wish to file a consumer complaint regarding mental health services, you may do so with the Texas Office of the Attorney General:

Office of the Attorney General – Consumer Protection