Maria Droste Counseling Center

POLICIES REGARDING PROVISION OF SERVICES

The following policies help us to ensure quality of care to our clients.

  1. CLEAR BOUNDARIES WITH CLIENTS: Interns must make it clear to clients that a social relationship is never appropriate. If a client does or says something that indicates that he or she is pushing social boundaries, this should be noted in the Progress Note, discussed in supervision, and reiterated in the Termination / Transfer Form. If a client cannot accept these boundaries, our services may not be adequate for him/her.
  1. TELEPHONE CALLS AND MESSAGES:
  • Interns are expected to check their telephone and e-mail messages EVERY DAY, and to return phone calls promptly.
  • Interns are not to give out their homeor cell telephone numbers to clients. If an intern needs to call a client from home, he/she is expected to block his/her number by pressing *67 prior to making the call, though some client telephone options may override this.
  • TELEPHONE SESSIONSare not permitted without supervisory permission.
  1. CLINICAL PAPERWORK, including MONTHLY CASELOAD SUMMARIES, must be kept up-to-date and signed, with credentials. See specific “Policy on Progress Notes.”
  1. PRACTICING OUTSIDE THE SCOPE OF EXPERTISE: An intern may find that it is necessary to transfer a client because the nature of the client’s difficulties lays outside the scope of his/her expertise, e.g., the client needs crisis services we cannot provide. There is a clear protocol to be followed, including a meeting with the client and referrals to appropriate agencies. Consultation with Intake is needed, in the case of the Options client. For CF clients see “Referring Children for Additional Services,” provided through the CF training.

OPTIONS PROGRAM ONLY

  1. OFFICE SPACE at MariaDrosteCounselingCenter: The privilege of using space that is furnished and paid for by a private practitioner requires that interns (and pro bono therapists) honor any restrictions the therapist may have regarding office use and leave the office in exactly the same condition as they found it. Out of respect for the private practice as well as other interns, interns are asked to cancel unneeded reservations. If an intern has signed up for space and it is in use by an intern who is running overtime, the intern who has signed up for the space has precedence.
  1. INTAKE PROCESS: Therapists fill out aTherapist Information Formfor Intake and keep Intake updated about which clients they are seeing at all times. Once a month, Intake will ask all therapists to update a Client Caseload Summary.
  1. CONNECTING WITH NEW CLIENTS: Internsshould discuss with their supervisorsthose clientswith whom they cannot make contact or who don’t show, so they may check the dynamics of connecting and dealing with possible resistance. Intern should report to Intake if a client does not connect after three voicemail messages have been left over a period of two weeks, or after two no-shows. The Intake form should be returned to Intake with dates and content of calls noted.
  1. DEPOSITS AND RECEIPTS: Interns give receipts to all clients, even if they don’t ask for them, and keep their receipt books up-to-date for possible audit. Payments for sessions must be deposited in the desk in the staff room promptly following the session.
  1. REIMBURSEMENT: MariaDrosteCounselingCenter is not able to reimburse interns for any of their work under MariaDrosteCounselingCenter auspices.
  1. FILES: Maria Droste Counseling keeps files for 10 years from date of last contact. See File Retention Procedures
  1. SUBPOENAS: No one at MariaDrosteCounselingCenter is permitted to accept a subpoena on behalf of anyoneelse. You will recognize a subpoena because the deliverer will ask for your signature, and it will be addressed to a therapist.

PROVISION OF SERVICES TO CLIENTS UNDER 18

  1. TEENAGE CLIENTS: If the client is 15 or older, the client must sign the Client-Therapist Agreement. Parental signatures are not necessary if the client is 15 or older, but if the client is seen with a parent, the parent should also sign the Agreement. Any client under 18 should be advised that his/her parents do have access to the file, should theyrequest it.
  1. CONSENT FOR COUNSELING FOR CLIENTS UNDER 15: It is important to ascertainif the parent/guardian has the sole authority to consent to his/her child being in counseling, orif the other parent needs to consent as well. The Options Program Client-Therapist Agreement and the CF Permission for Counseling Form both have statements for parents to sign indicating whether they specifically have permission to sign their child up for counseling. Be sure that the parent has noted this. However, should there be some question, the legalities are as follows:
  • NEVER-MARRIEDPARENTS: Either parent (listed on birth certificate) may consent, but if there is a custody determination, the person with authority for medical decisionsconsents.
  • MARRIED PARENTS (whether biological or adoptive), as well as LEGAL GUARDIANS: Although either parent may give consent for the child to receive counseling, if either parent wants to pull the child out of counseling, he/she also has the right to do so. If there is a likelihood that the parents will be in conflict, it is strongly recommended that both parents sign.
  • SEPARATED PARENTS: If, in the case of recent separation, there has not yet been a determination of custody, either parent may sign. If there has been a determination, follow the procedures for Divorced Parents below.
  • DIVORCED PARENTS: If one parent has “Sole Decision Making,” that parent must consent. If they have “Joint Decision Making,” which is no longer granted in Colorado, then both must consent, unless it has been specified that one person has the authority to make medical decisions.
  • MISSING PARENTS: The location of one of the parents who has the authority to object to treatment may not beknown. In that case, the parent who is requesting counseling should be advised to get a sole decision-making order from the court. In the meanwhile, the intern must attempt to mail a Children First Permission for Counseling form or a Maria Droste Counseling Center Client-Therapist Agreement to the missing parent at his/her last known address,through certified mail (see school secretary or Maria Droste receptionist). The form should be accompanied by a letter of introduction, which should statethat the parent must respond within two weeks, or treatment will begin.
  1. CHILD CUSTODY DISPUTES AND COUNSELING: If a parent asks for a child to be in counseling and indicates there is a custody dispute, the intern should inform them MariaDrosteCounselingCenter doesn’t allow interns to testify in court. See“Intern Involvement in Custody Disputes.”

CHILDREN FIRST PROGRAM ONLY

  1. SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH STAFF AND PARENTS AT CF SCHOOL:The intern is expected to refrain from establishing social relationships with parents at the CF school due to the fact that tension in the intern’s relationships with staff could impact credibility.
  1. CHILDREN OF SCHOOL STAFF MUST BE REFERRED OUT: Interns are not to provide counseling to children whose parents work at intern’s CF School, as this is a conflict of interest.
  1. CHILDREN SEEING OTHER THERAPISTS: If a child is referred to an intern for counseling and the intern is aware that the child is already seeing another therapist, even a family therapist, theintern must obtain a Consent for Release of Information from the parent. The intern should thencall that therapist toask if the therapist agrees that school-based counseling would augment whatever counseling the child is currently receiving. If that therapist gives his/her approval, and the intern’s supervisor agrees, counseling can begin. Coordination with the other therapist should be maintained.

Sometimes families will involve the child in counseling outside the school while they are in counseling at Children First. In that case, consult with your supervisor to see if your counseling should continue.

  1. CHILDREN WHO ARE PERPETRATING SEXUAL ABUSE: There are a myriad of ways in which a child may be “perpetrating sexual abuse.” If the sexual abuse is serious, it is outside the expertise of the intern to treat the child and the child should be referred for outside services. Regardless, the intern should follow proper reporting procedures if an abuse report is needed. Child Protection may be concerned to know whether the child perpetrating the abuse has beenvictimized him/herself, and so may investigate even minor incidents. Interns should seek supervision from their clinical supervisors regarding all cases of child perpetrators of sexual abuse.
  1. CHILDREN AND FAMILIES REFERRED TO MARIA DROSTE FOR COUNSELING: An intern may suggest to a CF family that they bring the child to Maria Droste so the intern can meet with the child, or possibly the family, here. The family needs to call Intake so that a reasonable fee can be established, and the family can become a part of the paperwork system. Paperwork will be done on Maria Droste forms rather than CF forms.
  1. CHILDREN WHO ARE ELIGIBLE FOR VICTIM COMPENSATION SERVICES:If a child is referred to an intern because they are the victim of a crime, that child might be eligible for Victim’s Compensation funds for treatment. A police report must have been made regarding the crime. In such a case, the intern should consider calling the child’s parent to suggest that the parent contact Victim’s Comp to inquire about payment for counseling. This way, the child can be seen by a more experienced, licensedtherapist, with additional expertise.

TERMINATION WITH CLIENTS

  1. TERMINATION: Terminations with Options or Children First clients should be planned with supervisor well ahead of time so as to help intern and client deal with the issues and decide whether or not to transfer the case.
  • Most Options clients will terminate when the intern does. When a transfer is necessary, contact the Intake Director.
  • Interns may not transfer clients to their own private practice. If an exception is deemed necessary by the intern’s supervisor, the supervisor will need to discuss it with the Executive Director. If approved, the intern must give the client her/his new phone number and encourage the client to call and make a new contract with him/her under the auspices of the interns new practice. Any paperwork the client signed at Maria Droste is null and void. Such transfers, if approved, must not be made until the client has terminated with Maria Droste.

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