Welcome to our online practice,  
 

We are Mariya Garnet and Lisa Cipparone, artists, coaches, facilitators, and postgraduate students of Expressive Arts Therapy at CREATE Institute (Toronto). This therapy is part of our practicum required for graduation and obtaining the Registered Psychotherapist designation with CRPO. Our practice is insured, and we operate under the clinical supervision of a registered psychotherapist.
 

By engaging in Online Group Expressive Arts Therapy, you acknowledge and agree to the following terms and conditions:

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1. This is a therapeutic relationship between individuals, and both the client and the therapist have certain rights and responsibilities. As a client, you have the right to considerate, safe, and respectful care, without discrimination based on race, ethnicity, color, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, national origin, or source of payment. You also have the right to ask questions about any aspects of the process and the therapist(s)s specific training and experience.
   
   You have the right to ask questions about any aspects of therapy and about our specific training and experience. You have the right to expect that we will not have social or sexual relationships with clients or with former clients.
    

2. Therapy has both benefits and risks. Risks may include experiencing uncomfortable feelings such as sadness, guilt, anxiety, anger, frustration, loneliness, and helplessness, as the process may require discussing the unpleasant aspects of your life. Your active participation is crucial to the success of the therapy, and you may need to work on things we discuss outside of sessions.
    

3. The intake session will involve a comprehensive evaluation of your needs and states. It is also an opportunity for you to evaluate whether you feel comfortable working with us. If you have any questions about the procedures, you should discuss them with us whenever they arise.
    

4. Sessions will usually be 120 minutes in duration with the exception of the intake/exit session which are 60 min, once per week at a time agreed upon by all parties.  If you need to cancel a session, you must provide at least a 24 hours notice. If you are late to a session, you will be able to join within the first 15 minutes, after which we will not admit latecomers as it disrupts the process for the rest of the group. 
    

5. Confidentiality is an essential part of the coaching services, and any information collected during sessions is treated confidentially and cannot be disclosed to a third party without written permission from the client. However, the confidentiality rule does not apply in certain cases, such as if you disclose information about harming yourself, harming a specific identified person, disclosing previously undisclosed sexual offenses, or other serious, violent crimes against identifiable individuals, disclosing information that would indicate a particular child under the age of 16 years has been harmed or is at risk of being harmed or neglected, or disclosing sexual abuse by a regulated health professional. In addition, a court may order the release of your records.
    

6. If you are unhappy with what is happening in the sessions, you should talk to us so that we can respond to your concerns. You may also request that we refer you to another professional, and you are free to end the therapeutic relationship at any time.
    

7. The cost of each session is $25CAD, and the entire cost of 12 sessions is collected upfront. Payment plans are also available, where an agreed-upon amount will be withdrawn automatically from your credit card until the invoice is paid in full. A transaction fee of $5 will be added to each withdrawal. 
   
   You are committing to participate in 10 group sessions and 2 private intake/exit sessions. After your intake session you are entitled to withdraw from the group and receive full refund. Once the group work begins, there will be no refunds available.
    

8. Sessions are held on Zoom, and the link to the meeting is emailed in the confirmation email upon booking a session. You must have access to the necessary telecare equipment and internet access or telephone for the telecare sessions and arrange a location with sufficient lighting and privacy that is free from distractions or intrusions for the environment.
    

9. I am often not immediately available by email. I do not check or answer my email when I am with clients or otherwise unavailable. I will respond as soon as possible, but it may take a day or two for non-urgent matters. If, for any number of unseen reasons, you do not hear from me or I am unable to reach you, and you feel you cannot wait for a return call or if you feel unable to keep yourself safe,
   1) call 911 and ask to speak to the mental health worker on call
   2) go to your Local Hospital Emergency Room, or
   3) call Crisis Services Canada at 1-833-456-4566 or text 45645.
   
   We will make every attempt to inform you in advance of planned absences, and may provide you with the name and phone number of the mental health professional covering our practice.