Please review this intake form before your first session with Lana. It covers informed consent to help you understand the nature of therapy and its ethical guidelines, such as confidentiality. Additionally, it outlines practice policies, including procedures for cancelling appointments.

Informed Consent

General Information

The relationship between therapist and client is personal and professional. We need to agree on some things to ensure we're on the same page about how we'll work together and what we can expect. This consent form outlines those agreements. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to talk to me about them.

The Therapeutic Process

Deciding to seek therapy is a positive step. Your progress in therapy depends on your commitment to engage, even when it feels uncomfortable. Exploring difficult memories and emotions might bring up strong feelings like anger, sadness, or anxiety. There are no miracle cures, and I cannot promise that your behaviour or circumstances will change. I can support you and do my best to understand you and what is challenging for you to support you towards your therapeutic goals.

Confidentiality

Everything we discuss during our sessions is confidential. Ethical limitations of client confidentiality exist and are outlined below:

  1. If a client threatens or attempts suicide or poses a significant risk of serious harm to themselves.

  2. If a client threatens grave bodily harm to another person.

  3. If the therapist reasonably suspects a client or another person is involved in physical, emotional, or sexual abuse of children under 18 years old.

  4. Similar suspicions regarding abuse or neglect of elderly individuals.

  5. Suspected neglect related to the situations described in points 3 and 4.

  6. If a court issues a valid subpoena requesting specific information or is court-mandated.

Professional Case Consultation

In order to provide the best treatment and therapeutic care, I occasionally may need to consult with other professionals in their areas of expertise. In this context, your identity will be kept confidential. Any information about your case may be shared anonymously.

Practice Policies

Appointments (Cancellations & Late-arrival)

Please use the scheduling software via the website. Please remember to cancel or reschedule 24 hours in advance. You will be responsible for the entire fee if cancellation is less than 24 hours. This is necessary because a time commitment is made to you and is held exclusively for you. If you are late for a session, your full session time is not guaranteed.

Communication

Please do not email any confidential or sensitive material.  I can't guarantee the confidentiality of emails or text messages. Emails are best used for scheduling or cancellations. I'll do my best to reply promptly, but I can't promise an immediate response.
Email is lana@armstrongcounselling.com.
If you require a consultation on therapy topics, please email me, and I will call you back. 

For emergencies, please call 911 or go to your local emergency room.

Completing / Concluding Therapy

If you are new to therapy, you might not be considering how therapy ends.  In some cases, it is important to have a termination process to achieve closure.  Closure helps clients maintain a positive mindset with therapy, whether it is to leave therapy or refer to another therapist or if you are in default on payment. I will not terminate the therapeutic relationship without first discussing and exploring the reasons and purpose of terminating.