This document describes the nature of psychotherapy services at Pasadena Clinical Group, the rights and responsibilities of clients, and the limits of confidentiality under California law. Your informed, written agreement is required before treatment begins.
Participation in therapy is voluntary. You have the right to ask questions about the process at any time, to refuse particular interventions, and to terminate services. Termination is itself part of clinical work and we ask that, where possible, you discuss it with your clinician before stopping.
Psychotherapy can produce significant benefits, including symptom relief, better relationships, and clearer self-understanding. It also involves risks: discussing painful material can produce temporary increases in distress, and some changes that come with the work (in relationships, work, identity) may be uncomfortable or unwelcome to others in your life. Outcomes are not guaranteed.
Information shared in therapy is confidential within state and federal law. The following exceptions apply under California law and we are required to act on them:
California Family Code § 6924 allows minors 12 years of age or older to consent to mental health treatment if, in the opinion of the attending professional, they are mature enough to participate intelligently in the treatment and either (a) present a danger to self or others, or (b) are the alleged victim of incest or child abuse. When this provision is used, a separate adolescent-specific consent process applies and the involvement of parents is determined accordingly.
Our current fee schedule is provided to you at intake and is reviewed with you before treatment begins. You have the right to ask about fees at any time. We accept most major insurance carriers (see Insurance), and offer sliding-scale rates on a case-by-case basis. If you are uninsured or self-pay, you have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate of expected charges under the federal No Surprises Act (read the GFE notice). Payment is due at the time of service unless otherwise agreed.
By using insurance benefits, you authorize disclosure of clinically relevant information (diagnosis, dates of service, treatment plan summaries) to your payer. Payers maintain their own privacy obligations. You may choose to pay out-of-pocket to limit such disclosures.
We use phone, email, and HIPAA-compliant text/portal messaging for scheduling and brief logistical exchanges. Email is not a fully secure channel; please do not include detailed clinical content in email. You may opt out of email communication at any time. We typically respond to non-urgent messages within one business day. For urgent matters, call (626) 354-6440 during business hours; for emergencies, call or text 988 or call 911.
Adult clinical records are retained for at least seven (7) years from the last date of service. Records of minors are retained at least until the minor reaches age 19 or seven (7) years past the last date of service, whichever is later, consistent with California law and Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) guidance.
Either party may end the therapeutic relationship. We provide referrals on request and, when clinically indicated, may make referrals when ending care. We do not abandon clients in the middle of acute episodes without arranging appropriate handoff.
You have the right to express any concern or complaint about your care. We encourage you to raise concerns with your clinician or with our administrator first; many issues are best resolved within the practice. You also have the right to file a formal complaint with the California licensing board that licenses your clinician, regardless of whether you have raised the concern with us. We will not retaliate for the filing of any complaint.
The following laws are particularly relevant to outpatient mental-health care in California. Your clinician can answer questions about how each applies to your specific care:
Disputes between you and any of the PCG Parties (as defined in our Terms & Conditions) arising out of, or relating to, billing, scheduling, the non-clinical operations of the practice, or your interaction with the website, are subject to the mediation-then-arbitration process set forth in our Terms & Conditions, Section 9. Each PCG Party (including, without limitation, our employees, supervisors, clinicians, interns, externs, practicum students, agents, independent contractors, vendors, business associates, and affiliates) is an intended third-party beneficiary of those provisions and may invoke them directly.
Nothing in this Treatment Consent waives your right to: (a) file a complaint with any California licensing board (BBS, Board of Psychology, Medical Board) for alleged professional misconduct; (b) file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights for alleged HIPAA violations; (c) file a complaint with the California Privacy Protection Agency or the California Attorney General; (d) report suspected abuse to any agency required by law to receive such reports; or (e) seek any remedy that, by statute, cannot be subject to mandatory pre-dispute arbitration. We will not retaliate against you for exercising any of these rights.