..... Here are some highlights of what    
      
you can expect from psychotherapy
Your therapist will provide services guided by standards of professional ethics and
practice, will confer with you about the plan of treatment and progress, will notify
you in advance of any change in fees, and will discuss termination or referral
whenever appropriate. As part of professional standards of quality assurance, your
therapist might ask your permission to obtain consultation regarding your
treatment from colleagues. A standard therapy "hour" is 50 minutes.

Therapists avoid dual relationships with clients which potentially can be exploitive
of a client. In particular, sexual contact between therapist and client is strictly
prohibited by ethics and law.

Therapy is a joint effort -- progress depends on many factors, including motivation,
effort, and other life circumstances such as your interactions with family, friends,
and others. Sometimes therapy can be uncomfortable and matters can get worse
as well as better.  As a client, you may withdraw from treatment at any time.
However, if you wish to terminate the therapy, it is best to discuss it with your
therapist in person.

Information you disclose in therapy is protected by ethical and legal standards as
confidential and cannot be released without your written consent, with a few
important exceptions that may obligate your therapist to release records to
appropriate public authorities or private individuals without your consent:

          1. If you present a danger to yourself or others or are unable to care for yourself.
          2. If you communicate a serious threat to harm and identifiable person or the
              public, or a threat of property damage.
          3. If abuse of a child, elder, spouse, or dependent adult comes to the attention
              of the therapist.
          4. If a valid medical emergency exists.
          5. If you make your mental condition an issue in litigation.
          6. If either therapist or client alleges a breech of duty arising out of the    
              therapeutic relationship.
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