Availability

I am available by email, text message, or phone call for rescheduling and cancellation matters only. Therapeutic advice and discussion of therapy session content will not occur via email/text/phone call due to lack of confidentiality and an effort to protect the therapeutic relationship. Please allow at least 24 hours for your contact to be returned. 

Social Media

Due to the importance of your confidentiality and minimizing the risk for dual relationships, I do not accept friend or contact requests from current or former clients on any social media site (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc). Adding clients as “friends”/contacts on these sites can compromise your confidentiality, impact our respective privacy, and blur the boundaries of our therapeutic relationship.

Medication

I am not a medical doctor, nurse practitioner, or psychiatrist, therefore I cannot prescribe any medication. I have positive working relationships with several trusted prescribers in the area and am always willing to provide a referral if needed and requested.

Privacy & Confidentiality

What is discussed in your therapy sessions stays between you and your therapist exclusively and is protected by law. However, as with most rules, there are a few exceptions:

1. In the case of a suspected child abuse, dependent adult, or elder abuse, I am required by law to report to the authorities immediately.

2. If a client is threatening serious bodily harm to another person(s), I am required by law to notify the police and inform the intended victim immediately.

3. If a client intends to harm himself or herself, I will first enlist the client's cooperation in ensuring her/his safety. If safety cannot be ensured together, I will take further measures that are provided to me by law in order to ensure their safety immediately.
   
   Privacy and Confidentiality will always be reviewed during first appointments, and whenever deemed appropriate thereafter. Please don't hesitate to ask for further clarification.

Psychiatric Emergencies

Typically, I am unable to provide emergency crisis care and may refer to you a more appropriate, higher level of care in order to ensure your safety. A psychiatric emergency can be defined as expressing suicidal and/or homicidal thoughts, attempting suicide and/or homicide, untreated symptoms of psychosis (i.e. hallucinations or delusional thoughts), showing signs of becoming violent, or rapid and unusual changes in behavior that are typically out of the individual's norm. If you believe that you are experiencing a psychiatric emergency, please immediately call or go to one of the crisis resources below. You or someone on your behalf may contact me once you have been evaluated by a doctor or mental health professional.

• Call 911 and ask for immediate transport to the nearest emergency room

• Anne Arundel County Crisis Response Team: 410-768-5522 (Available 24 hours, 7 days a week.)

• Oasis Center for Mental Health: 410-571-0888, located at 175 Admiral Cochrane Drive in Annapolis, MD. (Also provides an emergency nighttime clinic.)

• National Suicide Prevention Hotlines: Dial #988 or send a text to 988 to be connected to a trained counselor.

• Links to local hospitals: Baltimore Washington Medical Center, Anne Arundel Medical Center, Sheppard Pratt Health System

Still Have Questions?

Visit the Forms page where you can learn a little about the Client Portal and review HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices, General Informed Consent for Psychotherapy, and the Financial Policy and Practice Regulations.  You can also send me an email anytime with additional questions.