Beginning therapy requires informed consent – a legal and ethical foundation ensuring you understand your rights, responsibilities, and what to expect from our work together.
Informed Consent: The Foundation of Our Work Together
Effective Date: November 10, 2025
Informed consent is more than a formality – it’s the foundation of a transparent, collaborative therapeutic relationship. Before we begin working together, it’s important that you understand what therapy involves, your rights as a client, and the policies that guide our work. This process ensures you can make informed decisions about your care with clarity and confidence.
Why Informed Consent Matters
Therapy is most effective when built on trust, transparency, and mutual understanding. The informed consent process provides clear information about:
- What to expect in therapy: How sessions work, the therapeutic approach, and realistic expectations for the process
- Your rights and responsibilities: Your autonomy in treatment decisions, confidentiality protections, and what’s expected from both of us
- Practical policies: Session fees, cancellation policies, telehealth requirements, and emergency procedures
- Supervision and credentials: My status as a Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate (LPCC #0021389) working under the supervision of Shannon Heers, LPC #4786
This transparency empowers you to ask questions, understand the therapeutic relationship, and make decisions aligned with your needs and values.
The Informed Consent Process
How it works:
Before we meet for your first video session, you’ll receive an email inviting you to your secure SimplePractice Client Portal. In that portal, you’ll be asked to review and electronically sign several documents, including my Telehealth Informed Consent. This form explains how online sessions work, potential benefits and limitations, privacy and security considerations, and what to do in case of an emergency. You can read everything at your own pace, sign electronically, and then complete any remaining intake forms. Once those are finished, you’ll get an email reminder with a link to join our video session at the scheduled time.
What the Consent Form Covers
The informed consent document addresses the following areas:
Confidentiality & Privacy
Your privacy is protected under HIPAA and Colorado law. The consent form explains when confidentiality applies, the limited exceptions (such as imminent danger or court orders), and how your information is stored securely.
Telehealth Services
All therapy sessions are conducted via secure, HIPAA-compliant telehealth technology. The form outlines technical requirements, privacy expectations, and your responsibilities during virtual sessions.
Fees & Payment Policies
Session rates, payment methods, insurance considerations (out-of-network with superbills available), and cancellation policies are clearly outlined.
Rights & Responsibilities
You have the right to ask questions, discontinue therapy at any time, request records, and participate actively in treatment decisions. The form also clarifies what’s expected from both of us to create a safe, effective therapeutic environment.
Emergency Resources
Therapy is not crisis intervention. The consent form provides resources for mental health emergencies, including Colorado Crisis Services (1-844-493-8255) and 911.
Supervision & Credentials
As a Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate (LPCC #0021389), I work under the clinical supervision of Shannon Heers, Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC #4786). All clinical work is conducted under this supervision framework, which supports high-quality, ethical care.
Questions? Let’s Talk
If anything in the informed consent document is unclear, or if you have questions about the therapeutic process, I encourage you to reach out before your first session. Your understanding and comfort are essential to our work together.
Contact Information:
- Email: reevescedric@protonmail.com
- Phone: (720) 786-877-0932