Practice Information

TELEHEALTH SERVICES:

Finkbiner Counseling Services LLC operates using virtual telehealth services. To engage with these services, you must have an internet connection and a device with a camera for video. There are some risks and benefits to using telehealth:

Risks

  • Privacy and Confidentiality: You may be asked to share personal information with the telehealth platform to create an account, such as your name, date of birth, location, and contact information. I have carefully vetted the TherapyPortal telehealth platform to ensure your information is secured to the appropriate standards.
  • Technology: At times, you could have problems with your internet, video, or sound. If you have issues during a session, I will follow the backup plan that you agree to prior to sessions.
  • Crisis Management: It may be difficult for me to provide immediate support during an emergency or crisis. You and I will develop a plan for emergencies or crises, such as choosing a local emergency contact, creating a communication plan, and making a list of local support, emergency, and crisis services.

Benefits

  • Flexibility: You can attend therapy wherever is convenient for you.
  • Ease of Access: You can attend telehealth sessions without worrying about traveling, meaning you can schedule less time per session and can attend therapy during inclement weather or illness.

Recommendations

  • Make sure that other people cannot hear your conversation or see your screen during sessions.
  • Do not use video or audio to record your session unless you ask for my permission in advance.
  • Make sure to let me know if you are not in your usual location before starting any telehealth session.

CONFIDENTIALITY:

The law protects the privacy of all communications between a client and a counselor. In most situations, I can only release information about you if you give me written authorization. The following exceptions allow me to release information without your consent:

  • I believe you are a danger to yourself or others
  • I believe a child, elderly person, or disabled person has been or will be abused, neglected, or exploited
  • A previous counselor sexually exploited you in a therapeutic relationship
  • For verification of insurance benefits and billing purposes
  • I receive a court subpoena for your records
  • If you are minor, your legal guardians can have access to your records
  • You file a complaint or lawsuit against me

If such a situation arises, I will make every effort to fully discuss it with you before taking any action and I will limit my disclosure to only necessary information. While this written summary of exceptions to confidentiality should prove helpful in informing you about potential problems, it is important that we discuss any questions or concerns that you may have now or in the future. If I see you in public, I will protect your confidentiality by greeting you only if you greet me first. Occasionally, I may find it helpful to consult other health and mental health professionals about a client. During a consultation, I avoid revealing your identity. The other professionals are also legally bound to keep information confidential. If I make reference to my counseling with you, I will do so in a way that disguises your identity. If I cannot make such a reference without revealing your identity, I will ask you to sign a waiver. If you do not agree to sign, I will not make identifiable references to you. You are not required to waive your right to confidentiality at any time.

COMMUNICATION:

  • Texting and email are not secure methods of communication and should not be used to communicate personal information. You may choose to receive appointment reminders via email. You should carefully consider who may have access to your emails before choosing to communicate via this method.
  • Secure communications are the best way to communicate personal information, though no method is entirely without risk. I will discuss options available to you. If you decide to be contacted via non-secure methods, I will document this in your record.
  • If you try to communicate with me via social media/review websites, I will not respond. This includes any form of friend or contact request, @mention, direct message, wall post, and so on. This is to protect your confidentiality and ensure appropriate boundaries in therapy.
  • If you see me on any form of review website, it is not a solicitation for a review. Many such sites scrape business listings and may automatically include mental health providers. If you choose to leave a review of me or my business on any website, I will not respond. While you are always free to express yourself in the manner you choose, please be aware of the potential impact on your confidentiality prior to leaving a review. It is often impossible to remove reviews later, and some sites aggregate reviews from several platforms leading to your review appearing other places without your knowledge.

REFERRALS & COMPLAINTS:

I render counseling services in a professional manner consistent with accepted ethical standards. If at any time you are dissatisfied with my services, please let me know. If I am not able to resolve your concerns, you may report your complaints to the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs:

Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs
Bureau of Professional Licensing
Investigations & Inspections Division
P.O. Box 30670
Lansing, MI 48909
(517) 241-0205

If you are in need of services that I do not provide, I am committed to assisting you in locating the appropriate professional to help you. Typically, I will be able to provide a list of referrals and you can then choose from those recommended professionals. If you are dissatisfied with my initial referrals, we will work together to find an appropriate referral that meets you and/or your family’s needs.