Informed Consent
Please read the following information carefully. Prior to the commencement of Counselling Services with Brandon Mayer, B.A, M.A. through Empathy Express, all clients must voluntarily, knowingly, and intelligently provide “Informed Consent” to the information below. Please note that Informed Consent is ongoing, and can be freely withdrawn at any time.
Basic Client Rights and Responsibilities
Clients receiving counselling services, including services from Brandon Mayer via Empathy Express, have the right to be informed on an ongoing basis of the purposes, goals, techniques, procedures, limitations, potential risks and benefits of services to be performed, and other such pertinent information that supports the informed decision making process. Clients have the right to collaborate in the development and evolution of the counselling plan. Clients have the right to seek a second opinion or consultation, to refuse any recommended services, and to be advised of the potential practical consequences of such refusal.
Due to the nature of services provided virtually or by home visit, clients of Empathy Express bear some of the responsibility for ensuring confidentiality and privacy during sessions. If other people are home during a home visit session, the client, knowing the layout and features of their home, should take care to ensure that the session is hosted in a place where the discussion won’t be overheard. Similarly, it is the client’s responsibility to be aware of their surroundings and the potential for privacy breach when engaging in a virtual session.
Scope of Practice
Services offered under the Empathy Express brand are offered exclusively by Brandon Mayer, who holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree in Music with a Minor in Psychology from Carleton University, and a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology degree from Yorkville University. Brandon has experience providing general mental health counselling services in a private practice setting, but does not provide “psychotherapy”, which is a controlled act.
Counselling with Brandon has a client-centred, solution-focused approach. Mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, anger, grief, low self-esteem, and relationship difficulties are explored in the context of how they impact a client’s life in the present, with an emphasis on facilitated self-help and simple guided techniques and interventions to improve the client’s wellbeing in the present and future. Some exploration of a client’s past may be beneficial and may take place minimally during a session, but in-depth exploration of past trauma or experiences is better suited to a long-term psychotherapy relationship and is not a service provided by Brandon. Through Empathy Express, Brandon provides primarily short-term mental health counselling, with the possibility of “as needed” counselling or ongoing maintenance sessions.
Confidentiality and Case Notes
Subject to certain limits explained below, everything discussed in counselling sessions is kept strictly confidential, as per the rules set out in the Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA). No other person or employee of Empathy Express or any third party consultant besides Brandon Mayer and Sarah McLeod will have access to information in your counselling file without your permission. Brandon may sometimes take written notes during counselling sessions, and will complete a “session note” after each session. Your personal information, as well as session notes, are securely stored via the online platform Carepatron, which is protected by multi-factor authentication (MFA) for login access. Please be mindful of what you send by email, as email is not always secure. You may request access to the information in your client file at any time.
The following Limits to Confidentiality are scenarios when confidentiality can be broken without your consent:
1) There is an imminent danger to a third party or to yourself.
2) Brandon has reasonable cause to suspect abuse or neglect of a child.
3) A disclosure is ordered by a court.
4) You make a complaint or a claim of professional liability against Brandon (such disclosure would only include what is necessary for Brandon to defend himself).
When possible, you will be informed ahead of time in the event that something warrants a disclosure of confidential information.
Benefits and Risks of Counselling
The purpose of counselling services provided by Brandon Mayer through Empathy Express is to promote healing and wellbeing, both in terms of mental health and lifestyle. Counselling promotes self-awareness of personal strengths and situational issues, with the ultimate goal of reducing mental distress and/or improving relationships using guided change techniques and coping strategies. The client is in control of what topics are explored in counselling.
While counselling is structured and paced to be manageable for each unique client, the process still comes with a risk of mental distress. Clients can expect to feel sadness, guilt, anger, anxiety, grief, frustration, etc. as part of the process. If at any point during counselling, you need to pause, switch topics, or end the session, please don’t hesitate to speak up.
For Virtual Sessions, provided via a Google Meet video link, the potential for confidentiality breach is an additional risk. While generally considered secure, video calls can potentially be intercepted, leading to a loss of privacy. Additionally, should the signal be interrupted at any point, this could cause additional distress due to the sudden loss of communication between the client and counsellor.
Fees for Services
The standard fee for service is $89.00 plus HST for a 1 hour home visit session, and $75.00 plus HST for a 1 hour virtual session. A limited number of lower cost spaces may be available for those with demonstrable financial need. The fee is due at the end of each session, and can be paid via cash, debit or credit card, Interac E-Transfer, or online credit card payment via an emailed link. A digital receipt will be sent via email.
Cancellation and Termination Policy
When possible, pre-cancellation of a session should be initiated by the client at least 24 hours in advance. At the counsellor’s discretion, a fee of 50% of the session cost may be billed in cases where a client is not home during a scheduled session, or does not log in for a virtual session. If a client does not answer the door or fails to connect for a scheduled session, the police non-emergency line may be called to initiate a wellness check as a precaution, if the client is unreachable by phone.
If a client withdraws consent for counselling during a session or otherwise ends a session early, prorated fees up to 100% of the full fee will still be calculated and billed.
Termination of the counsellor-client relationship is a step normally agreed upon once the goals of counselling have been met, but can also occur when certain issues in the therapeutic relationship arise, such as when the counsellor is threatened or endangered, or when fees are not paid. Reasonable steps will be taken to refer the client to an alternative service provider in such cases.
Emergency Situations
The establishment of a therapeutic relationship between a counsellor and client is not a replacement for emergency crisis intervention. Neither Brandon nor Sarah is available 24/7, and clients must be aware that in an emergency, such as a mental health crisis or the experience of imminent suicidal thoughts, the first best option is to call 9-1-1 or a designated crisis number.
For emergencies arising during sessions, Brandon will contact help if needed.