Welcome to The Briggs Institute, Inc. (“the Institute”). This Client Services Agreement & Consent to Treatment (this “Consent Form”) contains important information about the Institute’s services and business policies. It also contains information about privacy protections and client rights with regard to the use and disclosure of your personally identifiable information (“PII”) used for the purpose of treatment and payment. Although this Consent Form is long and sometimes complex, it is very important that you read it carefully before beginning your first session. Your therapist can discuss any questions you have about the procedures explained in this Consent Form. When you sign this Consent Form as specified below, it will represent an agreement between us and allow the Institute to begin providing services to you.

In an attempt to expedite the verification process, The Briggs Institute, Inc. asks that you, the client, read and sign this Consent Form electronically before receiving therapy at the Institute.

The electronic consent process requires all documents to be sent through your personal email account specified in this consent form.

By selecting the "I accept" button below and inserting your name, initials, email and date at the bottom of this Consent Form, you acknowledge and agree that you are signing this Consent Form electronically and agreeing to its terms and conditions. You acknowledge and agree that your electronic signature is the legal equivalent of your manual/handwritten signature on this Consent Form. By selecting "I accept" using any device, means or action, you consent to the legally binding terms and conditions of this Consent Form. You further acknowledge and agree that inserting your name, initials, email address and date at the bottom of this Consent Form (hereafter referred to as your "E-Signature") is as valid and legally enforceable as if you manually signed the document in writing. You also agree that no certification authority or other third party verification is necessary to validate your E-Signature, and that the lack of such certification or third party verification will not in any way affect the enforceability of your E-Signature or any resulting agreement between you and The Briggs Institute, Inc. You acknowledge and agree that you are the client authorized to enter into this Consent Form.

By selecting the “I accept” button below, you specifically agree to receive, obtain, and/or submit any and all Institute documents and information electronically. These documents and information will be collectively known as Electronic Medical Records (“EMR”), and may include information about your reasons for seeking therapy, a description of the ways in which your problems impact your life, your diagnosis, the goals for treatment, your progress toward those goals, your medical and social history, your treatment history, any past treatment records that the Institute receives from other providers, reports of any professional consultations, your billing records, and any reports that have been sent to anyone. You acknowledge and agree that you are able to use your personal email account specified below and are able to retain electronic communications by printing and/or downloading and saving this Consent Form and any other agreements, electronic communications, documents, or records that are signed using your E-Signature. You accept such electronic communications provided via email as reasonable and proper notice for the purpose of fulfilling any and all rules and regulations, and agree that such electronic communications fully satisfy any requirement that communications be provided to you in writing or in a form that you may keep. We recommend that you print a copy of this Consent Form for future reference. You acknowledge and agree that you will keep or maintain all electronic communications records, including this Consent Form, and print or make an electronic copy of all such records.

You have the right to withdraw and revoke your consent to submit communications via your personal email at any time. By selecting “I accept” below, you acknowledge and agree that you are aware that any such revocation may delay the process of reviewing your medical record. If you wish to withdraw and revoke your consent, you must contact the Institute director, office manager, therapists, or other staff.

You are responsible for installation, maintenance, and operation of your computer, browser and software. The Briggs Institute, Inc. is not responsible for errors or failures due to any malfunction of your computer, browser or software. The Briggs Institute, Inc. is also not responsible for computer viruses or related problems associated with use of an online system. Your E-Signature indicates that you have access to the Internet, an email account capable of receiving communication from The Briggs Institute, Inc. and appropriate software to review any and all electronic communications (e.g., a .pdf reader).

You may not sign/e-sign a document or transaction at The Briggs Institute, Inc., including this Consent Form, on behalf of another individual, unless you have been granted specific, written and legal authority to do so by that individual or by a court of competent jurisdiction.

You agree to report any suspected fraudulent activities related to electronic signatures immediately to the supervisors, therapists, or staff at the Institute.

You acknowledge and agree that if you falsify an electronic signature, you may be subject to appropriate civil or criminal penalties or proceedings under applicable federal and state laws.

Because of the nature of federal, state, and institutional guidelines affecting mental health and relationship care services, the information contained in this Consent Form is subject to change. You agree to indemnify, hold harmless and release The Briggs Institute, Inc. and its trustees, agents and employees from and against any and all losses, damages, claims, demands and actions arising from or related to any changes made to this Consent Form.

The therapists and supervisors at The Briggs Institute, Inc. are committed to offering affordable, high quality therapeutic services to the community.  We are dedicated to helping meet the mental health and relationship care needs of individuals, couples, and families and to the post-master’s supervision of skilled, pre-licensed marriage and family therapists.

There are two types of therapists at the Institute: Licensed Marital and Family Therapists (LMFT) and Pre-Licensed Clinical Fellows (TLMFT, M.MFT).

An LMFT is any person who has met the qualifications for licensed marital and family therapist and holds a current, unsuspended or unrevoked, license which has been lawfully issued by The Board for Professional Counselors, Marital and Family Therapists, and Clinical Pastoral Therapists in Tennessee.

After graduating with a master’s degree, all therapists seeking licensure in Tennessee are required to spend at least two years gaining post-graduate clinical experience and ongoing supervision. This stage of therapists' careers is similar to when medical doctors graduate and spend several years in a residency program. The pre-licensed clinical fellows at The Briggs Institute, Inc. have taken this step in their careers and are currently earning the post-graduate experience required for independent licensure.

Pre-licensed Clinical Fellows at the Institute provide mental health and relationship care services under the supervision of AAMFT Approved Supervisors. This designation signifies that these supervisors have "...attained the educational, experiential and supervisory training required for the competent supervision of marriage and family therapists and trainees." This places the pre-licensed clinical fellows at the Institute under the mentoring of clinicians who have earned the highest supervision designation in the mental health field. To learn more about AAMFT approved supervision, visit www.aamft.org.

As you begin work at the Institute, it is important for you to know that experiences in therapy vary depending on the personalities of the therapist and client(s) and the particular problems being addressed. There are many different methods that may be used to deal with the problems that you hope to focus on. Visiting a therapist is not like a visit to a medical doctor. Rather, it calls for a very active effort on the part of the client(s). In order for therapy to be most successful, you will have to work on things at home that are talked about during your sessions.

Therapy has both risks and benefits. Since therapy often involves discussing unpleasant aspects of your life, you may experience uncomfortable feelings like sadness, guilt, anger, frustration, loneliness, helplessness, and other difficult emotions. We believe that therapy has stronger benefits than risks. Therapy often leads to better relationships, solutions to specific problems, and significant reductions in feelings of distress. There are no guarantees, however, regarding your experiences in therapy or the outcome of your therapy.

Your first few sessions will involve an evaluation of your needs and could include your completion of several assessment instruments. By the end of the evaluation, your therapist will offer you some first impressions and present you with a general treatment plan to follow if you decide to continue with therapy. You should evaluate this information along with your opinions of whether you feel comfortable working with your therapist. Therapy involves a large commitment of time, money, and energy, so you should be careful about the therapist with whom you select to work. If you have questions about procedures at the Institute, you should discuss them with your therapist whenever they arise. If your doubts persist, we will be happy to help you set up a meeting with another mental health professional for a second opinion.

Your decision to enter therapy with a therapist at The Briggs Institute, Inc. is voluntary. You can stop therapy at any time and discontinuing treatment will not result in any penalty.

All of the therapists at The Briggs Institute, Inc. practice an evidence-based approach to therapy. This means their treatment plans for you are significantly influenced by scientific theory and research. Your therapist will ask you to contribute to this process by inviting you to complete brief questionnaires that let us know how you feel about your life in general, your relationships with others, and your experience in therapy. We use this information to track your progress and to inform our decisions as we try to help you reach your goals. We look forward to finding out what therapy can help you accomplish.

The Briggs Institute, Inc. offers confidential counseling in so far as allowed or required by applicable federal and state law. This means that your therapist has a responsibility to protect information received from you during treatment. In order for any information about you to be shared, usually you must first sign a Release of Information that allows your therapist to communicate only with the person or organization identified on the release and only regarding specific information identified by you. Because of the Institute’s commitment to evidence-based practice, therapists regularly discuss their clinical work with supervisors and colleagues to make sure that they are providing their clients with the best care possible. During these consultations, therapists most often do not share their clients’ personally identifiable information. When circumstances do require identifiable information to be shared, all Institute staff, supervisors, and consulting clinicians are legally and ethically bound to keep your information confidential.

Under certain conditions, the laws of the State of Tennessee allow exceptions to client confidentiality. In general, these exceptions occur under the following circumstances:

1. Your therapist is required to report suspected child abuse or neglect and to report suspected abuse of the disabled or elderly. This information is required to be shared with the Department of Children’s Services, County Sheriff, chief law enforcement official where the suspected victim resides, or a judge having jurisdiction.

2. Your therapist may give information to law enforcement or medical personnel in order to protect clients and others when there is a probability of imminent physical danger, including the potential for suicide, homicide, or serious injury on the part of the client. Your therapist may also disclose information to law enforcement or medical personnel in order to protect you from immediate mental or emotional injury. Your therapist may be required to disclose information to the courts regarding treatment information in proceedings affecting the parent-child relationship.

3. Confidentiality is not protected in connection with criminal proceedings, except communication by a person voluntarily involved in a substance abuse treatment program.

4. 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 client-therapist confidentiality. Your therapist cannot provide any information without your written authorization or a court order. If you are involved in or contemplating litigation, you should consult with your attorney to determine whether a court would be likely to order us to disclose information.

While this summary of exceptions to confidentiality should prove helpful in informing you about potential problems, it is important that you discuss with your therapist any questions or concerns you may have now or in the future. This summary is for general information purposes only and does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice. If you have any questions about your confidentiality rights, you should consult with your attorney.  

When therapy occurs in a relational context (i.e., when there is more than one client in the session), you acknowledge and agree that additional limits will apply to your confidentiality. For example, your confidentiality may be violated if one of the other clients in the session shares something you said in session with someone else.

Normally, Institute clinicians will keep separate case files for each client taking part in relational therapy. Keeping separate case files for each client allows the supervisors and therapists to create unique client records that we keep confidential in so far as allowed or required under applicable federal and state laws; however, if you take part in relational therapy, you acknowledge and agree that it is impossible for us to keep all of your information out of the other client case file/s. This means that your PII, including, but not limited to, your reasons for seeking therapy, a description of the ways in which your problems impact your life, your diagnosis, the goals for treatment, your progress toward those goals, your medical and social history, your treatment history, any past treatment records that we receive from other providers, reports of any professional consultations, your billing records, and any reports that have been sent to anyone, may also be recorded in the case files of those you are working with in therapy (e.g., your relationship partner, family members). For example, when a therapist provides couple therapy, both clients’ names, diagnoses, a description of what they discussed in session, and the therapist’s assessment of their relationship and reactions to treatment will appear in both client case files.

Most clients receive clinical services on-location at the Institute; however, there are times when therapists provide therapy services at off-site locations either in-person or through telehealth (e.g., video conferencing, phone sessions). When this occurs, there are additional limits on confidentiality. Sessions held off-site or via telehealth may be more likely to be overheard by others due to building design limitations and lack of soundproofing measures such as insulation and white noise machines. Additionally, paper case file materials such as signed informed consent and notice of privacy practices documents may be carried on the person of the therapist, making them more vulnerable to being stolen or lost than materials that are signed and stored directly at the Institute.

Please let us know if you have any questions about limits on confidentiality in relational therapy and off-site locations and we will do our best to answer them.

When treating a minor client (a person under the age of 18), your therapist may advise a parent, managing conservator, or guardian of a minor with or without the minor’s consent, of the treatment needed by or given to a minor. If the treatment, however, is for suicide prevention; chemical addiction or dependency; or sexual, physical, or emotional abuse, the law provides that parents may not access their child’s records. For adolescents between ages 16 and 18, because privacy in therapy is often crucial to successful progress, this can lead to potential problems in therapy. Older children have special rights with regard to mental health services in Tennessee. Youths 16 years and older may provide their own consents for mental health treatment. When these youths give consent, additional consent from the parent, legal guardian or legal custodian is not needed.

Institute therapists will work diligently to maintain a balance between a teenager’s need for privacy/confidentiality and a parent’s desire to access their child’s records. All therapists will work prudently with their clients to find a balance that is good for the teenager, unless they feel that the teenager is in danger or is a danger to someone else, in which case therapists will notify the parents of their concern.

You can expect the initial assessment and evaluation period to last from 1 to 3 sessions. During this time, you and your therapist can decide if s/he is the right person to provide the services you need in order to meet your treatment goals. Sessions are normally around 53-55 minutes in length and typically occur weekly or every other week. Once an appointment is scheduled, you will be expected to pay for it unless you provide 24 hours advance notice of cancellation (or unless both you and your therapist agree that you were unable to attend due to circumstances beyond your control). In the event of snowy or icy weather, the Institute will follow the opening/closing schedule of Lipscomb University, which will be communicated through local media outlets. If the Institute closes for inclement weather or any other reason, reasonable attempts will be made to contact you if you are scheduled for an appointment. If you are working with a therapist using a telehealth service, you may still be able to have a session even if the Institute is closed to in-person therapy due to weather-related circumstances; please check with your therapist if you are uncertain whether or not you are scheduled for a session.

Usually, the standard fee per 53-55 minute clinical hour is $150 when working with a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist or Pre-Licensed Clinical Fellow. Some Institute clinicians may have a higher standard fee than $150 depending on their caseload characteristics (please note that Dr. Briggs' standard fee is $200 per 53-55 minute clinical hour). Clients may request to use our sliding fee scale that runs from $60-$150 per clinical hour depending on their household income and therapist caseload characteristics (Dr. Briggs has a separate sliding fee scale running from $120-200 per clinical hour).

You should have been informed about your fee when you initially made your appointment. If you are unsure what your fee is, your therapist or other Institute staff will be able to tell you. The fee given to you is for each 53-55 minute time period that you are scheduled to spend in therapy. Payment is requested at the time services are rendered and may be made with cash, check, or major credit cards (i.e., Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and/or Discover).

There are times when fees may change. Most commonly, fee changes occur when a client’s therapist moves from a pre-licensed status to a fully licensed status or when clients experience a change in income. Client fees may also change when clients exhibit a pattern of canceling sessions or not paying for sessions on time; in these circumstances, any sliding fee scale adjustments may be discontinued and fees raised to the standard fee. Normally, fee changes occur after a therapist and client have talked about them either in session or over the phone. If you have questions or concerns about fee changes, please let your therapist know.

Clients sometimes request other services and there are charges for these services. The fee for report writing (psychological evaluations, treatment summaries, etc.) is $150 per hour with a minimum of one hour paid in advance. The fee must be paid in full before the requested document is released. Clients and/or attorneys must pay $150 per hour for courtroom testimony by a therapist, with a minimum of three hours payable in advance, when honoring a subpoena and/or when providing testimony in court, regardless of whether or not the therapist actually testifies. If you or someone representing you requests your clinical record, there is a $50 file location and/or printing fee.

You will be expected to pay for each session at the time it is held. You will not be seen by your therapist when your account is in arrears (i.e., after three sessions without payment) until you pay the balance on your account unless some prior arrangement has been made between you and your therapist.  You will be required to pay the fee for scheduled sessions you do not attend for which you do not provide cancellation notice at least 24 hours prior to the session.

The Institute does have preexisting partnerships with several organizations to provide services to their employees and/or clients. If you are associated with one of these organizations, please let your therapist know so that appropriate arrangements can be made. If you are associated with an organization that has agreed to pay for your therapy at the Institute, you will be asked to sign a Release of Information that will allow us to bill the organization for your time in therapy. Unless you specify otherwise, only the number of sessions you have attended and the amount billed for those sessions will be shared with the organization. If you do not wish to sign this release, we will not be able to bill the organization, and you will be responsible for payment.

Due to therapists’ busy schedules, they are often not immediately available by telephone. When your therapist is unavailable, a phone message will be left for him/her to contact you as soon as possible. Your therapist will make every effort to return your call within 1-2 business days (this time frame may be longer around holidays, university breaks, or other exigent circumstances). If you are difficult to reach, please inform the therapist of some times when you will be available. If it is an emergency, or if you are unable to reach your therapist and feel that you can’t wait for him/her to return your call, contact your family physician or the nearest emergency room (i.e., call 9-1-1) or call the Tennessee Office of Crisis Services and Suicide Prevention at 855-274-7471.

At The Briggs Institute, Inc., therapist and supervisor email accounts are secured by Google according to industry standards. Google has sought and received security certifications such as ISO 27001 certification and SOC 2 and SOC 3 Type II audits. We do ask you to please remember that there is always a risk of a breach of confidentiality whenever you share your personal information. We also want you to be aware that your email account may not be secured according to health industry standards. Therefore, please use discretion and reveal only the minimum necessary personal information when communicating via email. Email sent to therapists and supervisors at The Briggs Institute Inc. are saved and may be included in your clinical record.

We keep your PII in two sets of professional records. The first is a paper case file containing various components of your clinical record including any signed consent forms. The second set of records that contains your PII consists of your EMR. Your case file and EMR make up your clinical record (clinically relevant emails sent to therapists and supervisors may also be included in your clinical record). Your clinical record contains PII that may include information about your reasons for seeking therapy, a description of the ways in which your problems impact your life, your diagnosis, the goals for treatment, your progress toward those goals, your medical and social history, your treatment history, any past treatment records that we receive from other providers, reports of any professional consultations, your billing records, and any reports that have been sent to anyone. This clinical record is kept for seven years post treatment for adult clients and for ten years past the 18th birthday of minor clients. Except in unusual circumstances that involve danger to yourself or others, you may examine and/or receive a copy of your clinical record if you request it in writing. Therapists and supervisors at the Institute charge a $50 fee for locating and copying your clinical file. If we refuse your request to obtain a copy of your clinical record, you have a right of review it, which we will discuss upon your request. In addition to your EMR, we maintain an electronic directory of your contact information and other information including your name, address, email address, ID number, the date we opened your case file, the date we closed your case file (if applicable), and whether you are currently attending therapy sessions with a therapist at the Institute. We also keep an electronic spreadsheet that records the number of therapy sessions you have received and other information including your ID number, dates of service, fees charged, fees you paid, cancellations, and missed sessions.

All PII that we store electronically is secured by Google Apps. Unlike free Google accounts that many people are familiar with, The Briggs Institute, Inc. has established a contractual relationship with Google that includes a business associate agreement. Our Google Apps account comes with security measures and services not available in the more common, free Google accounts. A list of security and privacy controls available with Google Apps can be found on their security and privacy website. The Google Apps core services are audited using industry standards such as ISO 27001 certification and SOC 2 and SOC 3 Type II audits, which are the most widely recognized, internationally accepted independent security compliance audits. To make it easier for everyone to verify Google security, they have published their ISO 27001 certificate and new SOC3 audit report on their Google Enterprise security page.

In addition to the clinical record, your therapist may also keep a set of psychotherapy notes. These notes are for the therapist’s use and are designed to assist in providing you with the best treatment possible. While the contents of the notes vary from client to client, they can include the contents of your conversations with your therapist and his or her analysis of those conversations. Psychotherapy notes may also contain particularly sensitive information that you may reveal to the therapist that is not required to be included in your clinical record. These notes are kept separate from your clinical record and are not typically released to others. You may examine and/or receive a copy of your psychotherapy notes unless it is determined that releasing them would be harmful to your physical, mental, or emotional health.

When your case files are inactive for a period of 5-weeks or more, we will close the case file. Normally, case files can be reopened at any time should you decide to return to therapy. If we are not able to reopen your case file for whatever reason (e.g., limited therapist availability), we will be happy to provide you with a referral to see another therapist.

Once closed, a client case file and other PII is kept for 7 years after a client’s final session if the client is 18 years of age or older and for 10 years after the client’s 18th birthday if the client is under 18 at the time of treatment.

It is routine for our clients and clients at similar mental health and relationship care centers to fill out assessment instruments at the request of their therapist. Assessment instruments give us information about the types of problems our clients are dealing with and help us track clients’ progress in therapy. The information you provide in an assessment instrument helps us to improve our services to the community and may also be used for marketing and research purposes. No PII (e.g., your name, initials, birthdate, etc.) is included on any marketing materials or published research. Upon your completion of an assessment instrument such as a questionnaire, your answers will be stored securely according to state and federal standards. Therefore, by filling out an assessment instrument at the Institute, you will take on a minimal risk of harm or discomfort no greater than what you would experience when filling out paperwork at your medical doctor’s office. If you have any questions or would like additional information about how we use assessment results for service and research purposes, you may ask the Institute President, Dr. Justin Briggs, by calling 615-593-3999.

I, the client, have fully read and agree to the terms outlined in this Consent Form and give consent for therapy. I have discussed any questions I had with my therapist and/or Institute staff and I understand the information in this consent. Furthermore, I understand that the Institute will abide by the above mentioned policies, procedures, and techniques in providing my treatment and training its therapists. I hereby hold harmless and release The Briggs Institute, Inc. and all of its trustees, agents and employees from and against any and all losses, damages, claims, demands and actions arising from or related to any treatment that I or my minor children receive as set forth in this Consent Form. I hereby give my informed consent for treatment at the Institute for myself and on behalf of any of my minor children who receive therapy services as discussed above.

By inserting my name, initials, email address and date below, I hereby acknowledge and agree that I have read and understood this Consent Form, am at least 16 years old and fully competent, and have executed the same as my own free will.

(Parents giving consent for the treatment of any of their minor children will put their name and email information, not the minor child's name and email information, in the following "Client First Name," "Client Middle Initial," "Client Last Name," "Initials," and "Client Email Address" sections.)

We want to thank you for taking the time to complete this form. Please feel welcome to contact The Briggs Institute, Inc. with any additional questions you may have. We look forward to working with you.