Legal · Office Policies

Office Policies

Effective date: [TBD]. Last updated: [TBD].

1. Cancellation and no-show

We require 24 hours' notice for cancellations. Cancellations under 24 hours and no-shows are charged the full session fee, which insurance does not reimburse. Genuine emergencies are reviewed case-by-case at the clinician's discretion.

2. Lateness

If you arrive late, the session ends at its scheduled time so the next client is not delayed. If you are 20+ minutes late, we may need to reschedule and the session will count as a late cancellation.

3. Communication outside session

Email and phone are appropriate for scheduling and brief administrative matters. We respond within one business day. Email and text are not for clinical content; please save those for sessions. We do not provide same-day crisis response by email or text — for safety emergencies, call 988 or 911.

4. Court appearances and subpoenas

If a clinician is subpoenaed to provide records or testimony related to your treatment, time spent (preparation, travel, and testimony) is billed at $400/hour with a four-hour minimum. We do not provide custody evaluations or forensic-evaluation services.

5. Termination of services

Either client or clinician may terminate services at any time. Where clinically appropriate, we provide referrals to other providers and a brief termination process. We may terminate services if continued care is not clinically indicated, if there is a non-payment pattern unaddressed after notice, or if there is threatening behavior toward staff.

6. Social media and dual relationships

Clinicians do not connect with current or former clients on personal social media. They may engage with clients through professional channels (e.g. accepting an invitation to provide a recommendation). This protects the therapeutic relationship.

7. Concurrent treatment

If you are working with another mental-health provider concurrently (e.g. an individual therapist while doing couples work here), please tell us. Coordination across providers usually improves outcomes.

8. Fees

Current fees are provided at intake. Self-pay clients receive a Good Faith Estimate per the federal No Surprises Act before starting treatment. Fees may change with 30 days' written notice.

9. Office address and accessibility

301 N. Lake Ave, STE 600, Pasadena, CA 91101. The building is wheelchair-accessible. Accommodations consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq.) and the California Unruh Civil Rights Act (Civil Code § 51) are available — please request at intake.

10. Conduct toward staff and other clients

The Practice maintains a workplace free of harassment, threats, intimidation, and discrimination. Verbal abuse, threats, intimidation, harassment, or violence directed at any clinician, employee, contractor, trainee, or other client is grounds for immediate termination of services and, where appropriate, referral to law enforcement and pursuit of a workplace-violence restraining order under California Code of Civil Procedure § 527.8. The Practice complies with the California Workplace Violence Prevention in Health Care Act (Labor Code § 6401.8) and the FEHA (Gov. Code § 12940 et seq.).

11. Photography, video, audio, social media

Photographing, audio- or video-recording, livestreaming, or otherwise capturing clinicians, staff, other clients, or any part of the office (including waiting areas) is prohibited without the prior written consent of all parties. Posting about clinicians or other clients on social media in a manner that identifies or could identify them is prohibited. Violation of this Section may constitute a violation of California Penal Code §§ 632–632.7 (eavesdropping/recording), Civil Code §§ 3344 and 3344.1 (right of publicity), and the Practice will pursue all available remedies.

12. Property; assumption of risk

The Practice is not responsible for personal property left in the office or in the building's common areas. You acknowledge that the office is in a multi-tenant commercial building, and you assume the ordinary risks attendant to being on commercial premises.

13. Limitation of liability and dispute resolution

Use of the Practice's services is subject to the limitation of liability, indemnification, and mandatory mediation followed by binding individual arbitration provisions of our Terms & Conditions (Sections 9, 10, and 11), including the class-action and jury-trial waivers therein, except for clinical malpractice claims (governed by MICRA and Code Civ. Proc. § 364) and other claims California law expressly does not permit to be arbitrated.

14. Modifications

The Practice may modify these Office Policies from time to time. Material changes will be communicated to active clients with at least thirty (30) days' notice; non-material changes are effective upon posting.