New Westminster North Vancouver

Jennifer Harder

Steadfast Counselling

RPC #3164

New Westminster ∙ North Vancouver

T: 604-629-7108

About Me:

I am a Registered Professional Counsellor with the Canadian Professional Counsellors Association. I work mainly from a combination of perspectives that include Family Systems, Person centered, Gestalt and Transpersonal orientations. This means that I will likely ask you questions about your family history and look at how it may relate to your current situation. My services include individual, group, family, and relationship counselling.

What to Expect:

The counselling process is one of benefits and risks. Some of the benefits may include gaining personal insight, learning new ways to cope and overcoming/changing behaviors that are causing you difficulty or pain in your life. Your relationships with self and others often strengthen as you learn new ways to relate to self and others. Some of the risks of counselling may include evoking strong emotions or difficult memories. If at any time you have questions or concerns about the counselling process, please do not hesitate to talk to your counsellor about them.

Payment of Sessions:

Payment is due at the beginning of each session and is to be made by cash, cheque, Visa, or Mastercard. Please make cheques out to Steadfast Counselling. After payment is received a receipt will be issued by email. *Please note that returned cheques will incur a $15.00 charge.

Missed Appointments:

Clients must provide a minimum of 48 hours notice for all cancellations. Appointments that are cancelled or missed without 48 hours notice will be charged the full amount for the scheduled appointment.

Snow policy or weather emergencies: Sessions are held at the appointed time by phone or Skype (instead of in person) in the case of a declared Snow Emergency (or other Travel-Ban).

Sessions Fees:

55 minute sessions @ $130.00 (includes GST)

85 minute sessions @ $180.00 (includes GST)

115 minute sessions @ $250.00 (includes GST)

Insurance Companies and Extended Health Benefits:

Sessions with a Registered Professional Counsellor can sometimes be claimed on extended health benefits. Clients will pay for their counselling services directly and then are responsible for submitting their claim to their insurance provider. Please note that it is the client’s responsibility to ensure their coverage prior to beginning our work together. The client will be provided with a receipt after each session that will contain all of the necessary session information (length and charge).

Confidentiality:

All communication between a counsellor and client is strictly confidential and cannot be released to anyone (ex/spouses, partners, parents, physicians, teachers, or Social Services) without your written consent. That being said, provincial laws and professional codes of ethics limit confidentiality in the following circumstances:

1. The courts subpoena my files.
2. I am subpoenaed as a witness in court.
3. I suspect cases of child abuse that have not been previously reported. This includes physical harm, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, and emotional harm. In this case I am required by law to report to the Ministry for Children and Families.
4. If you threaten to harm yourself or another. In this case I am also required to report this to the proper authorities.
5. Our preferred and secure form of communication is through phone calls and we cannot guarantee confidentiality through emails and texts. Although we do our best to ensure that all communication is confidential.
6. In order to ensure that I am providing my clients with the best possible service, I consult with professional colleagues and supervisors. Should I consult on my work with you, no identifying information will be used.

If we happen to cross paths in a public or social setting (outside of the office), I will not approach or acknowledge you in order to protect your confidentiality. If you would like to greet me, and/or introduce me to someone you may be with, that decision would be yours.

General:

It is important for you to understand that you are the primary decision-maker in the direction your therapy takes, and therefore you have the right to full and active participation in the decisions that affect you. In addition, you have certain rights, which include:

1. The right to receive an appropriate referral to other resources as needed.
2. The right to accept or reject any task, exercise or procedure suggested by me.
3. The right to be made aware of the rationale, risks, and benefits of any and all counselling interventions.

I can be reached by phone at the number listed at the top of this consent. If you do not understand fully any portion of this statement, or have questions about it, please do not sign below. I will go over this disclosure and clarify any questions you may have. In the event of a counselling crisis and are unable to reach me please call the Vancouver Crisis Centre @ 604-872-3311. They have trained crisis counsellors available by phone 24/7 to take your call.

By signing below, I indicate that I have fully read, understand, and agree with the above.

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Please print first and last name Please print first and last name

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Signature Signature

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I look forward to connecting with you, and assisting you in your journey of life.

Yours sincerely,

Jennifer Harder