Our Online Work Agreement

I verify that I am of legal age and fully competent to consent to receive psychotherapy/coaching services without permission of a parent, legal guardian, or other authorized parties.

Unless we explicitly agree otherwise, our telephone/Skype*/face-to-face exchange is confidential. Any personal information you choose to share with me will be held in the strictest confidence. Your personal information will never be released to anyone without your prior approval, unless I am required to do so by law.

In Massachusetts, we are required to notify authorities if we become convinced a client is about to physically harm themselves or someone else; or if they are abusing, or about to abuse, children, the elderly, or the disabled. Clients must communicate an explicit threat to kill or inflict serious bodily injury upon an identified person and have the apparent intention and ability to carry out that threat.

In order to improve my effectiveness in working with clients, I may also, from time to time, discuss a case in peer supervision with a professional colleague, without divulging any names or identifying information.

You agree that our email exchange or telephone consults occurs in the state of Massachusetts, USA, and is governed by the laws of that state and country. In other words, you use the information super-highway or telephone lines to visit me in my Massachusetts office… where we meet to do our work. I, Dr. McMahon have fully disclosed my professional credentials to you, which are available on my website, along with links to the licensing and credentialing bodies involved. I have made it clear that I am a clinical psychologist and licensed for independent practice for more than 20 years as a certified health care provider in the State of Massachusetts, and in no other state.

I want to help you build a life worth living and that’s the reason we’re working together. I don’t want to continue with you if you don’t believe our process is helping. Either of us is free to terminate our relationship at any time and for any reason. If that happens, I will return any unused portion of the funds you’ve sent me. If you decide to stop telephone/Skype or face-to-face coaching or psychotherapy, please drop me a brief note. If you choose, you can also share the reasons for your stopping.

If, in my professional opinion, I don’t believe that continuing our exchanges are in your best interest, I will explain that to you, with the goal of finding alternative options better suited to your particular needs. These may include: (1) receiving mental health services, or coaching in person, (2) talking to a friend or family member, (3) exercising or meditating, or (4) not doing anything at all.

If You are Choosing Online Therapy:

You are aware that online therapy is a powerful way to get help with many of life’s problems, but it is not for everybody.

You may be facing intensely painful, immediate or potentially dangerous life circumstances. These situations are best helped by face-to-face professional local support. You understand that our email or telephone exchange is neither a universal substitute for, nor the same as, face-to-face psychotherapy treatment. You accept the distinctions made in the Feisty Life page explaining how online therapy and face-to-face counseling is different. In particular, you accept that online therapy does not provide emergency services. Email and telephone exchanges do not provide the necessary information for a professional to reach a meaningful mental health diagnosis; therefore you accept responsibility for evaluating your mental health needs or seeking appropriate help in doing so. If you are currently receiving psychotherapy, you are responsible for discussing the advisability of participation here with your therapist before beginning our work.

If You are Choosing Coaching:

You are aware that coaching involves a more candid give and take between professional and client. While I, Dr. McMahon, am freer to share my thoughts and opinions with you, and even details about myself, I will continue to keep your own best interest front and center and may not answer some personal questions if I believe that to do so would not be in your best interest. While my goal is to be more “friendly” and “active” in coaching, a coach is not simply a friend, and the exchange and responsibilities, like in a friendship, is not 50/50. My goal in coaching is to motivate you to take steps that you believe are in your best interest, and not to act in any way which doesn’t “feel right” or “fit” who you are or how you want to live your life. You are encouraged to be the prime navigator of your own life path, and use me as a “coach” to assist you in that endeavor.

For Both Online Therapy and Coaching:

You are aware that misunderstandings are possible with text-based modalities such as email (since nonverbal cues are relatively lacking,) bodily/facial cues are absent in telephone work and these cues aren’t always clear in Skype. While it happens rarely, email correspondence can be lost in transit, so if in doubt, you can re-send or request a “return receipt” (reply email) whenever your email is sent. While I will do my best to reply to emails within 48-120 hours, occasionally, greater delays in response time are sometimes unavoidable.

I also may experience difficulties that are beyond my control including:

• Difficulties with internet service providers
• Hardware crashes
• Severe weather affecting computer usage
• Viruses, worms and Trojans
• Power outages

If this happens, I will make every effort to contact you to re-establish communications. For this reason, I ask you to email me a telephone number where I can contact you in the event of continuing interruption to our online communication, even if our contact is restricted to online work.

The security of information on your computer is your responsibility. If you decide to keep copies of your emails on your computer, it’s up to you to keep that information secure. Unfortunately, I cannot guarantee the security of your emails as they travel between our computers. It is possible, though unlikely, to intercept emails in transit (just as it is to intercept snail mail).

In our telephone, Skype and face-to-face exchange you will receive information and guidance from an experienced psychologist. The focus is totally on you, and is designed to address your specific issues and obstacles. In our collaboration, you decide what we talk about and what is important to you. In other words, as a client, you are free to contribute or withhold any information you choose.

Moreover, you are under no obligation to act on information and/or opinions I contribute in our face-to-face, telephone or Skype exchange. I have no ‘crystal ball’ and cannot predict the future any better than you can. Nevertheless, I hope you will find our exchanges useful and motivational in your preparation efforts and that it will improve your life.

But, it is not possible for me to guarantee that.

Despite positive feedback from my face-to-face and telephone clients, and some research shows it promising, I believe that telephone and Skype therapy and coaching is best considered experimental… until it’s efficacy has been validated scientifically.

You have been informed of circumstances in which online coaching/ psychotherapy is not the appropriate or most effective treatment. In particular, in the event of an emergency, either medical, psychiatric, or of other type, that requires face to face intervention, you understand that it is your responsibility to seek such help.

IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY CONSIDERING OR THREATENING SUICIDE OR ANY FORM OF HARM TO YOURSELF OR OTHERS, YOU TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR SEEKING APPROPRIATE HELP IMMEDIATELY AND FOR ANY ACTION YOU MAY TAKE.

Online therapy and coaching is not an appropriate form of treatment under these circumstances.

You understand that information on nationwide crisis intervention and help resources exists in the United States and includes the following:

www.hopeline.com

1-800-SUICIDE

1-800-656-HOPE

1-800-TLC-TEEN

You have been informed about the fees and costs associated with this work and the methods of payment. You also are fully entitled to choose the frequency and mode of communication, and the option and method of applying for a reduced fee if your circumstances prevent you from paying the full fee. You are also aware that payment is due prior to the delivery of service, unless a different agreement is made in writing.

There are no other explicit or implied commitments in our telephone or Skype relationship.

(The Part Below You Complete!)

If you agree to this and are interested in beginning coaching or online therapy, please complete the following:

1.    I, _____________ (your name) am interested in (please type in the word “coaching” or “psychotherapy”) _____________________________.

2. I would like to conduct this work: (please type in the word “online” or “in person.”)

_______________________________.

3. If online, I would prefer to contact you by (please type in the words “telephone,” “Skype” or “both”) ______________________.

4.  I would like to schedule an in person session.  I will be traveling from___________________   I will/will not need accommodations (yes/no)____________ (I live in a vacation destination/the Berkshires, so advanced planning is suggested.)

I also understand that full payment is required ahead of time and Dr. K will be able to reschedule our session if seven days advanced notice is given.

5. I can be reached by telephone at:

I can be reached by email at:

The  address my credit card recognizes is:

My mailing/home address:

I have read the payment page and will complete the payment process prior to the start of our work. I’m aware that I have payment options as well as a reduced payment options as outlined in the payment page.

After completing this section, cut and paste this entire agreement to an email and send it to: DrK@feistylife.com with the email subject heading “I agree.”

Looking forward to working with you!