Informed Consent & Practice Policies

Welcome

I’m glad you’re here and starting services at Oyster Cove Therapy. Beginning therapy is a meaningful step, and it’s important that you feel informed about how this process works. This document outlines the nature of therapy, my policies, and your rights as a client so you can make an informed decision about your care.

About Therapy

Therapy is a collaborative process designed to support insight, growth, and meaningful change. While many people experience relief and improvement, outcomes vary and cannot be guaranteed.

Therapy can sometimes involve discussing difficult emotions, past experiences, or patterns that may feel uncomfortable. This is a natural part of the process, and we will move at a pace that feels manageable for you.

My Approach

I work with individuals and couples navigating relationship challenges, emotional overwhelm, and recurring patterns that feel hard to shift. My approach is relational, insight-oriented, and grounded in helping you better understand yourself and your connections with others.

If at any point it feels like we are not the right fit, I welcome that conversation and can help you find alternative resources. I have a substantial local and regional referral network.

Confidentiality

Your privacy is extremely important. All information shared in therapy is kept confidential, with the following legal and ethical exceptions:

  • Risk of harm to yourself or others

  • Suspected abuse or neglect of a child, elder, or dependent adult

  • Court orders or legal requirements

  • Coordination of care with other providers (with your written consent)

For couples therapy, I typically operate under a “no secrets” policy, meaning information shared individually may be brought into the joint work if clinically relevant.

Sessions & Communication

  • Sessions are typically 60 minutes for individuals and 75 minutes for couples unless otherwise discussed.

  • Sessions are held in person in downtown Plymouth and/or via secure telehealth platform.

  • Email and phone communication are reserved for scheduling and brief logistical matters - nothing clinical.

Please note that I do not provide crisis or emergency services. If you are in immediate distress, contact 911, 988 (Suicide Hotline), or the Massachusetts Warm Line (Urgent Mental Health Care but not necessarily crisis: 833-773-2445) or go to your nearest emergency room.

Fees & Payment

  • Payment is due at the time of service unless you are using in-network insurance benefits, in which case an applicable deductible or co-pay will be charged at time of service.

  • I can provide individuals a superbill for potential out-of-network reimbursement. Check out our Thrizer benefits calculator on the Services page. I do not provide a superbill for couples sessions. Please refer to the FAQ section.

  • Although I will attempt to check out-of-network benefits, ultimately it is your responsibility to verify your benefits - check the Member Services number on the back of your card.

  • Fees are subject to change, but will have a 90-day advanced notice.

  • Current fees are: $165 for 60 min individual session, $200 for 75 min couples session. Limited sliding scale sessions are available through Open Path Collective for individuals.

Cancellation Policy

Your session time is reserved specifically for you. In a solo practice such as this, my entire income is based on my scheduled clients. As such, I do my best to maintain a consistent time for my clients and expect they do the same.

  • A minimum of 48 hours’ notice is required for cancellations or rescheduling unless you are incapacitated or dealing with a legitimate medical or mental emergency (e.g. hospitalization). Rescheduling is not guaranteed and based on the therapist's availability.

  • Late cancellations or missed sessions will be charged the full session fee to the card on file. In the event that insurance prohibits charging a cancellation fee, the client must reach out to reschedule within 24 hours of the canceled/ missed appointment in order to maintain the same time slot.

  • Open balances are not maintained and must be paid prior to each session. Subsequent sessions post-cancellation will not take place unless the balance is paid.

I understand that unexpected situations arise, and I aim to approach this policy with fairness but consistency. By signing this document, you accept the terms of this cancellation and no-show policy.

Telehealth

Telehealth sessions are conducted through a secure, HIPAA-compliant platform. While I take steps to protect your privacy, there are inherent risks with any technology.

By participating in telehealth, you agree to:

  • Be in a private, quiet location with a secure and stable internet connection

  • Provide your location (either Massachusetts or Florida) at the start of each session for safety purposes

  • Not be in a moving vehicle

Legal Requests & Court Involvement

I do not provide clinical records, letters, or testimony for the purpose of legal proceedings (including custody or divorce matters) unless required by a valid court order, which does not include subpoenas or other non-court orders.

If I receive a subpoena or other legal request, I will make reasonable efforts to notify you. However, I will not release clinical information without your written authorization, or a court order.

In the event that I am legally required to comply with a court order, the following policies apply:

  • Any time spent reviewing records, preparing documentation, or consulting with attorneys is billed at my full hourly rate

  • Court appearances, depositions, or other legal involvement are billed at my full hourly rate, including travel time

  • Fees are billed to the requesting or ordering party and must be paid in advance when possible

Please note that involvement in legal proceedings can alter the nature of the therapeutic relationship, and I may not be able to continue as your treating therapist in these circumstances. In that event, I will offer to provide three references or resources for your continued mental health care.

Your Rights

As a client, you have the right to:

  • Ask questions about the therapy process

  • Participate actively in your treatment

  • Request changes to your approach or goals

  • Discontinue therapy at any time (this does not mean “ghosting”, but rather planning a termination session wherein adequate review and referrals can be made).

Ending Therapy

Therapy can end for a variety of reasons, including achieving your goals, deciding to pause, or determining a different fit would be more helpful. When possible, I encourage discussing endings in session to allow for thoughtful closure and next steps.

Questions

If you have any questions about this information, I welcome you to reach out. It’s important that you feel informed and comfortable moving forward.