Policy & Consent

Practice Policy & Informed Consent for My Therapy Services

 

CONSULTANT-CLIENT SERVICE AGREEMENT

Welcome to my consulting practice. This document contains important information about my professional services and business policies.  Although this information may seem long and sometimes complex, it is very important that you understand it because when you agree to engage in consulting with me it represents a formal agreement between us. We can discuss any questions you have before we start or at any time during consultancy.

presentation_80pxConsultancy, such as I practice, has both benefits and risks. Risks may include experiencing uncomfortable feelings, such as sadness, guilt, anxiety, anger, frustration, loneliness and helplessness, because the process of gaining self-awareness may require discussing the unpleasant aspects of your life.  However, there are many positive benefits for individuals who undertake such inner work.  Our work together can often lead to a significant reduction in feelings of distress, increased satisfaction in interpersonal relationships, greater personal awareness and insight, increased skills for managing stress and resolutions to specific problems.  However, there are no guarantees about what will happen—there are so many variables I cannot predict anyone’s outcome from the beginning of our time together.  The consultancy I practice requires a very active effort on your part, in fact you are the major change agent for whatever situation we are addressing. In order to be most successful, you will have to work on things we discuss outside of sessions and take an active role in your own transformation.

clock_80pxAPPOINTMENT

Appointments will ordinarily be 60 minutes in duration, typically once per week at a time we agree on, although some sessions may be more or less frequent as needed, and we can assess this as we go along. If we are doing one-on-one work then the time scheduled for your appointment is assigned to you and you alone—do not bring anyone else along to a session without first talking it through with me. If you need to cancel or reschedule a session, I ask that you provide me with 24 hours notice. If you miss a session without canceling, or cancel with less than 24-hour notice, my policy is to collect the amount for that session [unless we both agree that you were unable to attend due to circumstances beyond your control]. If it is possible, I will try to find another time to reschedule the appointment. In addition, you are responsible for coming to your session on time; if you are late, your appointment will still need to end on time, as I would normally have others scheduled after you.

wallet_80pxPROFESSIONAL FEES

My fees are mostly formulated one a custom basis to meet the unique needs of each client. Please contact me to discuss estimates. Payment are made through credit card payment (using Stripe) or a third party payment management system, Practice Ignition, and ongoing or one-off payments are contracted through this system where you will be presented with specific terms and conditions of our contract together.

documents_80pxPROFESSIONAL RECORDS

I may keep appropriate records of the services that I provide. Your records are maintained in a secure location and kept confidential.  You have the right to a copy of your file. Depending on what we are working on, there may be reports and questionnaires that you have provided—these will all be treated with the strictest confidentiality.

shield_80pxCONFIDENTIALITY

I. Confidentiality

As a rule, I will disclose no information about you, or the fact that you are my client, without your written consent. My records may describe the services provided to you and contain the dates of our sessions, your difficulties and your progress.

 

chat_80pxCONTACTING ME


I am often not immediately available by telephone. I do not answer my phone when I am with clients or otherwise unavailable. The most expedient way to contact me is to email me at matt@matthewdahlitz.com with a text message and I will get back to you as soon as possible, but it may take a day or two for non-urgent matters.