Counseling provides a safe and confidential space for you to explore thoughts and feelings, behaviors, and relationships that may be troubling you or causing difficulty in your life. It offers a source of support in times of crisis. There are many times when we need someone to walk with us through difficult, challenging, or confusing situations. However, counseling does require you to actively participate in this journey; as a counselor, I can support you, but I cannot do your work for you during these challenging times.

Benefits and risks of counseling:
Counseling can enable some deeper personal insights and help you find better ways of coping with problems. However, there is also potential for strong emotions, uncomfortable feelings, and difficult memories to surface due to the nature of the conversations; to master these always requires honesty, and sometimes bravery. It is my job to keep you safe in those moments. It should also be mentioned that if you choose not to actively participate in counseling (and expect the counselor to magically ‘fix’ everything), the struggles that brought you to counseling could potentially continue for the rest of your life.

Counseling sessions are typically 55 minutes long, but you are free to leave before that if you want. We will review the work in the sixth session, giving us both a chance to assess how the relationship is working out. If you would like to stop counseling, I would like to be told and preferably have an ending session.

Counseling fee:
The agreed-upon fee is paid at each session. The fee is paid per 55-minute session. Payment may be made at the time of the session, however, payments via internet banking are expected within 24 hours. Payments via internet Cashapp, Venmo, Zelle, or by credit card on my website, however, there is a credit card fee associated with your payment. Reference: your last (family) name

Cancellation policy:
24-hour notice is expected if you need to cancel. Otherwise, you will be charged for the full appointment.

If you have any complaint or concern regarding my conduct, it is preferable if you bring it to my attention. If not resolved to your satisfaction, you may approach the NASW Marriage & Family Counseling Association to have it addressed.

Confidentiality:
Seeds of the Love counseling relationship is built on trust between counselor and client, therefore anything that is shared in the session will remain confidential. There are some limits to this, which are:

1. If I believe you or another is at risk of imminent harm: where possible I would let you know and discuss it with you before taking appropriate action.
2. If a Court Order is received demanding records.

Please be aware of this if you chose to communicate through e-mail, text, social media, Zoom or any similar format. Records and notes from sessions are the property of Seeds of Love Counseling Limited. I can supply you with a summary of those if requested.

Confidentiality Agreement

I consent to receive counseling from Seeds of Love Counseling. It has been explained to me that all personal information that I choose to disclose is confidential, will not be shared with any other person unless consented to, and will be kept in a secure location.

• My details will not be given to any other person or agency
• I understand it is important to be honest and open with myself and the counselor
• I accept the above conditions for counseling sessions
• I have the right to withhold information, to push back at the counselor if I have not been heard properly, or to withdraw from the counseling process at any time.
• I understand that if I have a complaint it is my responsibility within a fair and reasonable time to notify and/or lodge that complaint with the counselor first and if not resolved I may contact the NASW Marriage and Family Counseling Association.