Please read the following as we have made changes to our services
Please note: we do not offer couples counselling at this time
Information provided is strictly confidential
You may be contacted for a follow-up intake if required
Client Information and Consent to Services
Thank you for asking us to help you grow and change. We pledge to provide you with high-quality and confidential services. For our services to be effective, you need to understand:
Thanks to the generous support of our funders, most programs are available to clients at no direct cost. Some programs are offered for a fee on a sliding scale to ensure affordability. We are committed to a philosophy of being accessible to all.
There may be a wait time of 6 to 8 weeks for service. We will triage and assign clients according to the highest need and urgency.
Where you have been assigned a counsellor, they will call you to set up your first appointment. For optimal treatment, we recommend maintaining regular contact with your counsellor.
If you are unable to attend an appointment/are finished with services, please give us a call to advise us of your intentions. Appointments must be cancelled or rescheduled within 48 hours, or you may be billed for the missed session.
If you do not contact your counsellor for four weeks, you will receive a letter with a proposed appointment time. If you fail to reschedule or attend this appointment, we will assume you no longer require our services, and your file will be closed.
We reserve the right to ask for proof of income.
If you have any concerns during your treatment, please let your counsellor know so that they can work to rectify the situation. If they are unable to do so and you would like to make a formal complaint to the agency, please contact the Clinical Director to express your concerns so that we can work to improve your experience.
Statement of Confidentiality and Client Rights
We wish to inform you that in certain circumstances, however, we cannot guarantee your privacy. We may be required by statute, the social work code of ethics, or court subpoena, to reveal information about you and your family, including written records. Occasionally, files may be reviewed by other professionals for Accreditation, Audit, etc.
Other situations include:
1. A risk of harm to self, others, or property,
2. A situation whereby a staff member deems that a client’s medical condition is life-threatening, an ambulance will be called.
3. The disclosure or suspicion of neglect, violence, or abuse to children under the age of sixteen years,
4. If you have signed a release of information with another agency that obligates us to disclose your personal information.
In all other circumstances, information is only released with your written permission.
As a client of the Counselling Centre of East Algoma, you have certain rights:
1. You have the right to decide your treatment; your counsellor will seek your opinion when setting the clinical goals.
2. All our services are voluntary. You have the right to terminate or decline services at any time.
3. You have the right to view your clinical file. You can appeal any information you feel is inaccurate or incomplete.
Mobile Communication Contract
Your counsellor at The Counselling Centre of East Algoma is sharing their mobile phone number and email address with you to make it easier to communicate with you directly. This will allow you and your worker to set up appointments, do quick check-ins, or share resources. Before engaging in this type of communication it is important that you understand the following:
· Our hours of operation are Monday to Friday from 8:30-4:30, save for statutory holidays, including Remembrance Day. If you phone, send a text message, or email outside of these times, your counsellor will reply within 24 hours of returning to the office.
o Where your counsellor is away for an extended period, this will be indicated in their voicemail or by email and will tell you their anticipated return date.
· Communication by text or email will not be for therapeutic purposes. If you need a counselling session, please set up an appointment with your counsellor.
o All emails/text messages will become part of your clinical record
· If you are experiencing a crisis, refer to your safety plan if you have one. If this is not sufficient, call the office at 705-848-2585 to speak to your counsellor directly. If they are unavailable when you call, leave a message and they will call you back as soon as they can.
o If you do not hear back from your counsellor and need to speak to someone, please call back and ask to speak with the Manager of Clinical Practice
o If it is after-hours or on a weekend, call the Mobile Crisis Line at 1-800-721-0077
If you cannot wait to speak to your counsellor and are experiencing an emergency, you need to go to the emergency room at your local hospital.
By completing and submitting the self-referral, you are agreeing to the above noted conditions to access treatment at Counselling Centre of East Algoma. Written consent will be collected at your first in-person meeting, however digital consent is confirmed by continuing in the online referral process.