Consent for Counseling
By booking a session with me, you confirm that you have read and agree to the practice policies, including the information provided here. Please make sure you are comfortable with these policies before booking an appointment.
COUNSELING SERVICES
Counseling is a relationship between people that works in part because of clearly defined
rights and responsibilities held by each person. Counseling has both benefits and risks.
Risks may include experiencing uncomfortable feelings, such as sadness, guilt, anxiety,
anger, frustration, loneliness and helplessness, because the process of counseling often
requires discussing the unpleasant aspects of your life. However, counseling has been
shown to have benefits for individuals who undertake it. Counseling often leads to a
significant reduction in feelings of distress, increased satisfaction in interpersonal
relationships, greater personal awareness and insight, increased skills for managing stress
and resolutions to specific problems. But, there are no guarantees about what will happen.
Counseling requires a very active effort on your part. In order to be most successful, you
will have to work on things we discuss outside of sessions.
The first sessions will involve an evaluation of your needs. This will allow us to evaluate
needs, and areas of difficulty in order to establish the best counseling goals for you as an
individual. As part of the initial intake process, you will receive a link to fill out a form with your emergency contact and your contact details. This will be discussed during the intake session.
You should evaluate this information and make your own assessment about whether you feel
comfortable working with me. If you have questions about my procedures, we should discuss
them whenever they arise. If your doubts persist, I will be happy to help you set up a meeting
with another mental health professional.
Urgent Support
Please note that this practice is not a crisis service and is unable to provide emergency support.
If you need urgent help, please contact your GP (huisarts) or, outside your GP’s regular opening hours, the Huisartsenspoedpost. In an emergency, call 112.
Other Support Resources in the Netherlands
Suicide Prevention: Call 113 or use the online chat, available 24/7.
De Luisterlijn: Call 088 076 7000 or use the online chat, available 24/7.
Veilig Thuis: If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence or child abuse or neglect, call 0800 2000, available 24/7.
Slachtofferhulp Nederland: If you have experienced a crime or abuse, call 0900 0101. Opening hours are Monday–Friday, 08.00 - 20.00, and Saturday, 10.00 –17.00.
CONFIDENTIALITY
Everything shared in our sessions is kept strictly confidential. The only exceptions are situations where I am legally or ethically required to disclose information — for example, a serious and imminent risk of harm to yourself or others, a court order, or suspected abuse of a child or vulnerable adult. Wherever possible, I will discuss any such disclosure with you first.
As a rule, I will disclose no information about you, or the fact that you are my client, without your written consent. My written records describe the services provided to you and contains the dates of our sessions, reasons for seeking counseling, symptoms, prognosis and progress. I will require your permission through your written authorization at the time the need for any disclosure arises.
APPOINTMENTS
Appointments will ordinarily be of a fixed duration, on a frequency which we agree upon. If
you need to cancel or reschedule a session, I ask that you provide me with 24 hours notice.
If you miss a session without canceling, or cancel with less than 24 hour notice, my policy is
to collect the full amount of your total session cost [unless we both agree that you
were unable to attend due to circumstances beyond your control]. It is important to note
that insurance companies do not provide reimbursement for canceled sessions; thus, you
will be responsible for the portion of the fee as described above. If it is possible, I will try to
find another time to reschedule the appointment. In addition, you are responsible for
calling in to your session on time; if you are late, your appointment will still need to end on
time.
PAYMENT
Payment may be made by electronic transfer and is the client responsibility to pay upon
completion of the service appointment. I am not able to process credit card charges as
payment. If you refuse to pay your debt, I reserve the right to use an attorney or collection
agency to secure payment.
Vosburg Counseling does not provide billing directly to insurance providers. Therefore, it is
the sole responsibility of the client to pay for the cost of services directly. It may be
possible to obtain reimbursement from your insurance provider, for which you will be given
an invoice and receipt of payment for services. It is the responsibility of the client to
contact their insurance provider to determine their eligibility for reimbursement, if any,
prior to sessions.
You agree to pay fees after each session by using the banking transfer information location
on the invoice. An invoice will be provided at the close of each session
stating the date of the session which took place and the amount owed. It is requested that
the client pay the invoice within 5 business days, unless otherwise agreed upon.
FEES
30 Minute Session - 30 Euro
60 Minute Session - 65 Euro
90 Minute Session - 100 Euro
CONTACTING ME
I am most often unavailable by telephone as I may be with a client. Please use email as the
primary form of communication (vosburgscounseling@gmail.com). I do my best to respond
to emails within 24-48 hours, excluding weekends. If there is any urgent matter, please 1)
call 112 (in the Netherlands) and ask to speak to the mental health worker on call; 2) go to
your local hospital Emergency Room, or 3) Call Crisismeldpunt at 0883580999. I will make
every attempt to inform you in advance of planned absences.
OTHER
If you are unhappy with what is happening in counseling, I hope you will talk with me so
that I can respond to your concerns. Such comments will be taken seriously and handled
with care and respect. You may also request that I assist in finding you alternative
counseling and are free to end services at any time. You have the right to considerate, safe
and respectful care, without discrimination as to race, ethnicity, color, gender, sexual
orientation, sexual identity, age, religion, national origin, or ability. You have the right to
ask questions about any aspects of counseling and about my specific training and
experience. You have the right to expect that I will not have social or sexual relationships
with clients or with former clients