As a client, you have certain rights:

• The right to ask questions about the qualifications and experience of your counselor/therapist.


• The right to ask questions about any procedures used in treatment. If you wish, your counselor/therapist should be happy to discuss his/her usual procedures and philosophy of treatment.


• The right to refuse a particular treatment method. Your counselor/therapist may feel that a particular treatment method is essential to your therapy, and this must be resolved to your mutual satisfaction.


• The right to ask your counselor/therapist to discuss your progress and future counseling plans with you at any time.


• The right to have any testing results explained and discussed with you. You also have the right to refuse testing, but your counselor/therapist may feel that this is essential to your progress. This must be resolved to your mutual satisfaction.


• The right to request referral to another counselor/therapist, or agency. Discuss this with your counselor/therapist if you are comfortable doing so.


• The right to terminate therapy at any time. Since termination is an important part of the therapy process, it will be helpful to you to inform your counselor/therapist that you wish to terminate and to discuss your reasons for doing so.


• The right to be respected as a human being; to have your therapist convey this respect by keeping your appointments or letting you know ahead of time if a schedule change is necessary; by returning your phone calls; by giving his/her complete attention during sessions; and by providing you with the most effective therapy he/she can.


• The right to ask questions about anything related to your treatment and to expect an honest discussion of your concerns.