Dan L Mitchell's office hours are Mon to Wed 10 am to 5 pm Pacific Time zone. Your registration will be received and responded to during office hours.
CLIENT CONSENT AND COUNSELLING SERVICE AGREEMENT
Welcome to Dan L Mitchell Counselling.
I have been a Canadian Certified Counsellor and member in good standing with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association since 1989. You can confirm my credentials at https://www.ccpa-accp.ca/find-a-canadian-certified-counsellor/.
This document contains important information about my professional services and business policies. Please read it carefully, and jot down any questions you might have so that you can discuss them with me.
IF YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND THESE TERMS OR HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, CALL ME AT 778-838-6824.
YOUR IDENTITY
- In all communications with Dan L Mitchell Counselling, you agree to honestly represent your identity and Personal Information.
- Role play in text communications is acceptable only if and when your counsellor suggests it as a part of your online counselling process.
AGE
- If you are under 19 years old, you must willing, upon request, to obtain signed parental/guardian consent before your counselling services can proceed.
THE NATURE OF COUNSELLING/THERAPY
- The Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association explains what counselling is and how it works at https://www.talkingcanhelp.ca/what-is-therapy-1.
- If you have questions about my words or actions, please discuss them with me whenever they arise. If you aren’t comfortable bringing them up just then, you can bring up your concerns in your next session.
LIMITATIONS OF THE SCOPE AND NATURE OF ONLINE / TELEPHONIC COUNSELLING
With in-person counselling, counsellors can assume more responsible for the treatment of their clients and exercise significant control over the in-the-moment therapeutic process. With video counselling, many of your non-verbal behaviours may not be visible; even more so in telephonic, chat counselling or asynchronous text counselling. That means you need to assume more responsibility for caring for yourself than if you were attending counselling in-person. So please take notice of your emotions and verbalize them.
IN-PERSON MEETINGS AND NATURE INFORMED THERAPY
In-person meetings take place in my home in North Vancouver or in the beautiful natural environment near my home. Clients are kindly asked to refrain from disclosing the location of my home to others. As an additional option, I am pleased to offer Nature-Informed Therapy, which has been shown by research to provide numerous benefits stemming from spending time in nature.
By choosing to participate in Nature-Informed Therapy, clients acknowledge and understand that they may be exposed to various risks, including but not limited to:
- Unpredictable weather conditions, such as rain, snow, hail, strong winds, and temperature fluctuations
- Encounters with wildlife, insects, or plants that could potentially cause injury, allergies, or disease
- Risks associated with walking or hiking on uneven terrain, steep slopes, or slippery surfaces, potentially resulting in falls, sprains, or other injuries
- Risks related to bodies of water, including drowning or other water-related accidents
- Physical or emotional reactions to the activities or exercises conducted during therapy sessions
- Encounters with other individuals, which may compromise confidentiality or lead to being recognized by someone, potentially causing discomfort, embarrassment, or distress
- Any other risks inherent to outdoor activities and participation in Nature-Informed Therapy
By signing this agreement, clients acknowledge and understand that they assume full responsibility for any injuries, losses, damages, or expenses that may occur as a result of their participation in Nature-Informed Therapy, whether caused by their own actions, the actions of others, or the conditions of the environment.
YOUR CONFIDENTIALITY
- In accordance with Canadian laws and ethical codes of the counselling profession, I will not communicate your Personal Information to anyone without your consent. However, there are several exceptions to confidentiality to which I am bound:
- I am regularly supervised by other qualified counsellors. Supervision may involve the supervisor viewing/monitoring your personal information and counselling records.
- The law requires all Canadian citizens, including counsellors, to report to appropriate authorities any suspicion of risk of child abuse or neglect, or risk of abuse to vulnerable individuals. This report may be given without your knowledge.
- If I believe that a person's life may be at risk due to suicide or homicide, I am required by law to report the situation to appropriate authorities and/or your emergency contact person and/or the endangered person.
- Courts of law have the power to demand that I release your records if you are involved in a court case in which your relationship to Dan L Mitchell Counselling is somehow relevant.
- Regular email is not secure. However, I provide you a secure alternative. If you choose to use insecure email, I cannot be held responsible for third party interception.
LIMITATION OF MY DUTY TO REPORT LIFE THREATENING SITUATIONS
- My ability to fulfill my obligation as described in 3 and 4 above is limited by the information that you provide me.
- If you move or any other contact info changes, please inform me immediately.
CIRCLE OF CARE
Dan L Mitchell Counselling can best benefit you if you allow a multi-disciplinary “circle of care” approach to your counselling service. This means you can allow the professionals and close friends/family members who are supporting you to share your personal health records for your care. For example, if you wish to include your doctor in your “circle of care” along with myself and perhaps a trusted relative, all three of these people would be permitted to see one another's’ notes and plans for your care and discuss your care.
PRIVACY
My responsibility:
- I adhere to the BC Personal Information Protection Act and to the Code of Ethics of the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association.
Your responsibility:
Please read the Privacy Policy of each software platform we are using.
You are responsible to protect your private information generally, to prevent any and all third parties at your location from detecting your involvement in online counselling, and especially to protect private information stored on your computer. You are responsible to select and control the environment in which you engage in online counselling. You assume the privacy risks associated with
- letting your local computer store your username and password
- sharing your password with a third party, or choosing a poor password
- leaving confidential material on a computer screen for others to see
- storing confidential material on the computer you are using
- allowing anyone to be present with you while engaging in my services
- using monitoring software (this could be spyware or legitimate monitoring by an employer, or other monitoring systems not listed here)
I strongly discourage you from disseminating, distributing or posting your counselling records on social networking sites or on a website.
Please never allow anyone to be present during video or telephone counselling without informing me.
SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY
- I will not “friend” or “follow” any of my clients.
- I do not provide counselling or crisis services on social media.
- I use social media for advertising and to offer psycho-education only.
COUNSELLOR USE OF SEARCH ENGINES
- Search engines reveal public information. I may search you for your therapeutic benefit.
SECURITY
- I do my utmost to protect and safeguard your personal information inasmuch as my own use of technology. I do not store print copies of your personal information.
- By participating in my services, you agree to accept the risks inherent in insecure Internet and/or cellular transmissions, including any losses or damages.
STORAGE OF CLIENT RECORDS AND PERSONAL INFORMATION
- Dan L Mitchell Counselling will securely store all counselling records containing personal information, including transcripts, for a period of seven years.
TECHNOLOGICAL FAILURE
- Technological equipment, whether mine, yours, or a third party’s, could fail unexpectedly. If you think there has been an unwarranted delay or you are having trouble on your end, please contact me at 1 (778) 838-6824.
NO CRISIS SUPPORT
- If you experience an emotional crisis (intense feelings of distress, emergency or life threatening situation, or any other crisis) during the course of your treatment, please call 911 if you are in an emergency or google “crisis line” to contact appropriate 24/7 support.
FEES AND PAYMENT
- The fee for each session is $150.00 Canadian plus applicable taxes per hour of counsellor time. This rate applies to all counselling sessions, regardless of modality. I accept payment by e-Transfer to danlmitchell@hushmail.com, Bitcoin, or Cardano (ADA).
- Cancellation Notice: I kindly request at least 24 hours' notice.
- Missed Appointments and Late Cancellations will incur a charge of $60. If this is inconvenient, ask me about a "Pay It Forward" option.
- All fees are subject to change without notice.
HANDLING DISSATISFACTION
- Please talk to me about even slight dissatisfaction. My services are for your benefit and I will try to learn from your feedback — for your sake and for other clients.
LOCATION OF SERVICES
- You agree that the counselling services provided by Dan L Mitchell Counselling, for all legal purposes, take place in Canada only, and specifically, in British Columbia where I have my residence.
LEGAL ACTION
- Any claims against Dan L Mitchell Counselling, its directors, officers and employees as well as your counsellor and your counsellor’s supervisor, which give rise to suits or judicial proceedings must be filed and tried in BC.
GOVERNING LAW
- By agreeing to this Client Consent and Service Agreement, you irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of British Columbia. In the event you initiate against Dan L Mitchell Counselling any claim, demand, action or proceeding relating to your counselling services or this document (collectively, “Claims”), you agree that the resolution of all Claims will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the province of BC and the substantive law of Canada, not including Dan L Mitchell Counselling's choice of law provisions.
- Dan L Mitchell Counselling makes no representation that its counselling services are appropriate or available for use in locations outside of Canada. If you are a citizen or resident of the United States or any country other than Canada, the laws in your place of residence may require counselling practitioners to register and/or be licensed to practice in your location. Since you agree that Dan L Mitchell Counselling online counselling services take place in Canada only, and specifically, in British Columbia, laws and regulations pertaining to any other location do not apply to your relationship with Dan L Mitchell Counselling.
WAIVER
- Without limiting any other term herein, you expressly waive any right you may have to initiate any Claims against any of Dan L Mitchell Counselling’s directors, officers, employees, affiliates and suppliers as well as your counsellor and your counsellor’s supervisor in the United States or any other foreign jurisdiction in respect of the Services you receive or of this document.
LIMITATIONS ON DAMAGES
- In any lawsuit arising out of these services, consequential damages, emotional distress damages, and punitive damages awarded shall not exceed the fees paid for these services.
INDEMNITY
- You must agree to indemnify and hold Dan L Mitchell Counselling and its staff harmless from any and all liability, costs, attorney fees, and other legal expenses arising out of negligence or the provision of services offered by Dan L Mitchell Counselling, to the maximum extent allowed by law.
REFUSAL AND WITHDRAWAL
- You are free to refuse to accept the advice or opinions expressed to you by Dan L Mitchell Counselling. You may withdraw from online counselling at any time with no obligation to Dan L Mitchell Counselling.
DURATION OF THIS AGREEMENT
- This Agreement will remain in effect for seven years from the agreement date. Dan L Mitchell Counselling reserves the right to change the terms of this Agreement at any time, as long as Dan L Mitchell Counselling allows you the ability to agree to the new terms.
SCOPE OF THIS AGREEMENT
- If any part of this Agreement is deemed by a Canadian court of appropriate jurisdiction to be illegal, invalid, or unenforceable, that part of the Agreement shall be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary so that this Agreement shall otherwise remain in full force and effect and enforceable.
- This agreement constitutes the entire, final, complete and exclusive agreement between the parties and supersedes all previous agreements, proposals or representations, oral or written, relating to this agreement.
You are not permitted to modify or amend this agreement.
SUBMIT THIS FORM TO INDICATE YOUR AGREEMENT TO THESE TERMS