Sample Site. No Counseling is offered here.

Confidentiality

All of your personal information and session information is kept confidential except when: you direct in writing to release information, there is a risk of harm, there is a medical emergency, a counselor on this staff is threatened or sued for damages, or a court orders the release of information.

Privacy Limitations of online therapy

Your therapist has done everything possible to ensure that your online therapy is private and confidential. Your therapist uses encryption for emails and chat sessions. Your therapist's computer is password protected. Nobody else uses the computer not has access to it. Your personal information stored on this computer is secure and the session is secure from your therapist's office. Privacy depends on you.

Unlike face-to-face therapy, where the main onus of privacy is the responsibility of the therapist and how he maintains his office, in online therapy the level of privacy depends equally on the steps taken by the therapist and the client. To maximize privacy, the client also needs to use encrypted email and chat. The client's computer should be password protected. Transcripts of sessions should not be saved unless under encryption and password protection. Likewise emails should only be saved with encryption and password protection. None of these should be saved on a network where others could have access. Privacy should also be watched during the counseling session. The room with the computer should be locked and no one else should enter.

Nothing is 100% secure.

When information is stored, it is never 100% secure. If someone is smart enough (or forceful enough) he/she can break into any computer or decode any encryption, whether the computer is in the therapist's office or in the client's home. If one follows the above security measures, though, the risk is minimal.

Costs of therapy

Insurance

It is not known if any insurance companies will pay for the expenses of online therapy. Receipts are available for services, but we will not file any claims on behalf of clients.

 Payment

Payment must be made before services can be rendered. For clients' convenience different payment options are available including online payment by credit card or deduction from a checking account.

Identity accuracy

The therapist keeps accurate and updated personal information online including information about credentials and education. For therapy to be successful, the client must be also accurate to the fullest extent possible when submitting personal and historical information, including information about his/her physical person. Certain information is required before the first session.

History awareness

Clients have the responsibility of informing their therapist of all of the treatment they are receiving and have received in the past for any mental and physical health concerns.

Technical difficulties

In the event of technical difficulties, it is the client's responsibility to make every effort to remedy the situation(see the technical difficulties page for more information). If the problem lasts longer than 5 minutes the therapist will attempt phone contact. If no contact is made, the therapist will wait 5 minutes for the client to make phone contact. If the client does not make contact within this time, the therapist may cancel the session. In this case the client will be charged $25 for an unexcused session cancellation.

Session cancellations

The client is responsible for notifying the therapist of a cancellation at least 24 hours in advance. Failure to do this may result in a $25 cancellation fee.

Communication outside of session times

Email your therapist at: Sampletherapist@catholicCounseling.org. If your matter is more urgent or you need to communicate something within the next 24 hours then you must telephone the therapist directly at (740) 555-1212.

Emergencies

In emergency situations where life or safety is an immediate concern, call 911 or your local police. Do not call or email your therapist because a response may not be immediate or possible to your emergency.

Website Information Disclaimer

Although every effort is made to keep the information on the site accurate and up-to-date, it can in no way be guaranteed. Information is intended to be helpful, but it is not intended to replace diagnosis, or treatment of an individual.

Limitations of online therapy

 Success rate for online therapy is not known Because the area of online therapy is so new, no research is available about the efficacy of online therapy. For this same reason, the therapists will not have years of experience performing online therapy.

Online therapy is not appropriate for all disorders Online therapy cannot be effective in treating all disorders. Many times, treatment needs the immediacy that can only come from face-to-face interaction. The therapist should be able to determine if treatment is feasible. If online treatment is not possible, the therapist will attempt a referral.

Referral is not always possible Referral is not always possible when the therapist is unfamiliar with the counselors in the client's local area. When this is the case, the therapist will try to point the client to several agencies or therapists that offer the types of services needed.

Location of therapy For the purposes of jurisdiction and licensing, the therapy is said to take place in the therapist's state of residence.

Treatment is voluntary

Clients have the right to refuse or discontinue online therapy services at any time. If therapy is not working, the client should work together with the therapist to correct the problem. Clients have the right to see another therapist, online or face-to-face at any time. They should inform the therapist when this is the case.

Rights violations

If a client believes his rights have been violated unethically by the therapist, he may submit a complaint to the state board where the counselor is practicing online therapy.