Welcome to the Rise Up Skills Group. This document contains important information about our office policies. There is also a brief summary of information about the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), a Federal Law that provides privacy protections and patient rights about the use and disclosure of your Protected Health Information (PHI). In compliance with HIPAA. It is important that you read this document carefully and do not hesitate to contact us with questions.

Skills Program: Initially you will complete the intake packet and one of our clinicians will assess your readiness for entry into our Skills Group. The most important aspect of skills group is your willingness to commit and practice the skills. Showing up to group is extremely important! Once your level of readiness and commitment is determined, your work towards building a better life begins!

DBT Skills Group: This is a weekly ninety (90) minute educative group developed to acquire DBT and a variety of different coping skills.

Important Notice: It is important to know that the skills group is not meant to take the place of psychotherapy. Skills group is meant to provide psychoeducation only. The goal is to help encourage adolescents to utilize skills to help cope with difficult emotions, change destructive patters of thinking, improve interpersonal relationships and hopefully impact overall behavior and wellness in a positive manner. This group is not meant to process trauma, and there will be no discussion of traumatic experiences. However, if group members feel as though they need individual therapy, alternative treatments and therapeutic modalities may need to be considered. Please do not hesitate to ask any questions that may arise during the duration of skills group.

Limits of Confidentiality: The law protects the privacy of all communications between a patient and psychotherapist. In most situations, treatment information can only be released if you sign a written authorization form that meets certain legal requirements as imposed by HIPAA and/or California law.

¨     It is legally required of us that we act to prevent physical harm to yourself or others when there is “clear and imminent” danger of that happening. In cases of imminent suicidal behavior, the therapist may consider notification of family members as one means to protect the patient, but this would typically be discussed with the patient first.

¨     We are legally required to report ongoing child, elder, and disabled abuse.

¨     If you are involved in a court proceeding and a request is made for information concerning your diagnosis and treatment, such information is protected by the psychotherapist-patient privilege. Your psychotherapist cannot disclose any information without a court order or your written consent.

¨     We may have to release your records when ordered to do so by a court subpoena. However, we will discuss the details of privilege with you beforehand and request a written release from you if we judge this to be in your best interest.

¨     If you file a lawsuit or complaint against your psychotherapist, he/she may disclose relevant information regarding your treatment in order to defend himself/herself.

¨     As Skills Group Facilitators we will make every effort to avoid revealing PHI, and the other professionals are legally bound to keep the contents of the consultation confidential.

In the following situations, exceptions to confidentiality exist:

For patients under 18 years of age, parents legally hold the confidentiality privilege over disclosure of material from therapy sessions. However, out of respect for the teenage patient's privacy and autonomy, and to promote the most effective treatment, it is the therapist's policy that she/he does not disclose to parents the material which the teenage patient discloses to the therapist unless the teenager gives her/his consent to such disclosure, or if the therapist determines the teenager is in immediate risk of serious harm to themselves or others. In such cases, the therapist will typically discuss with the teenage patient her/his opinion of the need to consult with the parents before doing so. What is usually recommended for teenage patients who are in individual therapy is that a joint meeting between the therapist, patient and parents be held every few weeks, with the therapist and patient reviewing beforehand the patient’s perceptions of their current status with the goals they entered therapy to work on. Confidentiality issues can be complicated; so if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask us.

Appointments and Cancellations: If you miss a group therapy session (no show or cancelation), you will be unable to make up the session and the regular charge will be placed on your account. If you miss four (4) consecutive skills sessions (no show or cancellation of group therapy), you may be released from the program You may reapply for services during the next cycle. Please allow for 24 hour notice if you will be late or if you will miss a session. You may contact the Cavern City Child Advocacy Center at (575) 200-3929

Electronic Communication: We frequently communicate with patients via cellular phone. This includes calls, texts and email. Please understand that your confidentiality is always compromised when communicating by electronic devices or mail. There is always the risk of breaches in confidentiality when electronic or mail communication of any type is used for private information. Your use of such means of communication with your advocate constitutes implied consent for reciprocal use of electronic and mail communication.

Telephone Calls and Emergencies: If a crisis occurs please contact our office at (575) 200-3929. If there is an emergency situation and you cannot reach us directly, contact your family physician or the nearest emergency room for crisis treatment. If your DBT therapist is away, his/her voicemail will indicate that and provide alternate sources for contact. Calls made at nighttime or on weekends and holidays will be answered on the Advocate hotline. We will make every effort to return your call on the same day.

Patient Rights: HIPAA provides you with a number of rights which briefly include the right to amend the information in your record, to limit what information is disclosed and to whom, to request restrictions as to how you are contacted, and to receive an Accounting of Disclosures or a list of all information that has been released about you. You can also file a complaint about our policies and procedures regarding your records with the Federal Department of Health and Human Services. Please review the Notice of Privacy carefully.

Complaints and Grievances: Any patient who has a grievance arising from their treatment at Rise Up Counseling Services may present their grievance, verbally or in writing to their therapist or program manager. This individual will investigate the nature of the grievance and seek to reach an acceptable and reasonable resolution in a timely manner. However, if the patient continues to be dissatisfied with the program manager’s decision, they are encouraged to take their grievance outside the program (e.g. state licensing board, client rights advocacy group). All grievances will be kept confidential unless the law requires that they be disclosed. All investigations and communications regarding the grievance will be documented in patient’s file. All patients will be offered a copy of our Grievance Policy at the time of their first appointment.

Mediation and Arbitration: Lawsuits are something that no one anticipates and everyone hopes to avoid. The method of resolving disputes by arbitration is one of the fairest systems for both patients and psychotherapists. By signing this office policy contract, you are agreeing that all disputes arising out of or in relation to this agreement to provide psychotherapy services shall first be referred to mediation, before, and as a pre-condition of, the initiation of arbitration. The mediator shall be a neutral third party chosen by agreement with the Rise Up Counseling Services and patient(s). The cost of such mediation, if any, shall be split equally, unless otherwise agreed upon. In the event that mediation is unsuccessful, any unresolved controversy related to this agreement should be submitted to and settled by binding arbitration in Carlsbad, NM in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association which is in effect at the time the demand for arbitration is filed. Arbitration agreements between health care providers and their patients have long been recognized and approved by the NM court system. You may call witnesses and present evidence. Each party selects an arbitrator who then selects a third neutral arbitrator. These three arbitrators hear the case. This agreement generally helps to limit the legal costs for both patients and psychotherapists. Further, both parties are spared some of the rigors of trial and the publicity that may accompany judicial proceedings.

Consent to Treat Minor: Rise Up Counseling Services generally requires the consent both parents/guardians prior to providing any services to a minor child. If any question exists regarding the authority of a parent or caregiver to give consent for skills group, we will require copies of supporting legal documentation such as a custody order prior to the commencement of services. If your child participates in skills group, please understand the importance of allowing him/her to develop a confidential relationship with the group facilitators.  Group facilitators will provide you with general summaries of your child’s progress without sharing private details. However, please understand that the office is committed to inform you about unusual or dangerous symptoms or behaviors.