Practice Policies

Welcome to Sage & Serene Counseling. My goal is to provide a calm, supportive, and dependable space for your healing journey. The following policies help create clear expectations and keep our work together respectful and consistent.

Confidentiality & Privacy

What you share in therapy stays confidential. Your information is protected under federal and state laws, and I take that responsibility seriously. There are only a few situations where I’m required by law to break confidentiality:

  • If you share that you plan to harm yourself or someone else.

  • If there is suspected abuse or neglect of a child, elder, or vulnerable adult.

  • If records are required by court order.

Outside of those rare exceptions, everything you say is private. I use a HIPAA-compliant electronic health record for secure communication, documentation, and telehealth sessions.

If we’re meeting virtually, please choose a private, quiet location and make sure your connection is secure.

Privacy Policy

Your privacy is deeply valued at Sage & Serene Counseling. I collect only the information necessary to provide effective care—such as contact details, clinical information, and billing data—and store it securely within a HIPAA-compliant platform.

I do not sell, share, or disclose your personal information for marketing or any non-clinical purpose.
You have the right to access, request corrections to, or receive a copy of your records.
If you have questions about how your information is handled, please reach out at any time.

Session Fees & Payment

Payment for sessions is due at the time of service. I accept private pay and offer a limited number of sliding scale spots for those with financial need.

If you’re using insurance, please visit the Insurance & Billing page for more information.

Cancellations & No-Shows

I understand that life can get busy or unpredictable. If you need to cancel or reschedule, please provide at least 24 hours’ notice.

  • Cancellations made with less than 24 hours’ notice will be charged a $50 fee.

  • No-shows (missed sessions without notice) are also subject to the $50 fee.

Consistent attendance helps build momentum in therapy and supports meaningful progress. Clients who have three or more late cancellations or no-shows may be subject to termination of services and provided with appropriate referrals for continued care.

This policy helps maintain accountability, consistency, and respect for everyone’s time.

Communication Between Sessions

You’re welcome to reach out between sessions for scheduling or brief questions. I do my best to respond within 48 hours during business days.

For urgent mental health needs, please contact 911, go to your nearest emergency department, or reach out to:

  • The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (call or text 988)

  • Your local mobile crisis team or community support line

Please note that email and voicemail are not appropriate for emergency communication.

Ending Therapy

You’re in control of your therapy journey. We’ll regularly check in about progress and decide together when it feels right to conclude.
If you ever decide to pause or end therapy, we can use your final sessions to review your growth, reinforce coping tools, and set you up for continued success outside of our sessions.

A Final Note

These policies are here to help you feel safe, informed, and respected. If you ever have questions or need clarification, please ask—I want our work together to feel transparent, collaborative, and grounded in mutual trust.