What to Expect from Your Counseling Journey

Hello, and welcome.

Taking the step to begin counseling is an act of courage and self-compassion. Whether you are navigating a difficult season of life, working through longstanding challenges, or simply seeking greater clarity and growth, you deserve support — and you have come to the right place.

Counseling can feel unfamiliar at first, so we want you to know what you can expect from working together with counselor at Rose City Therapists.

A Safe and Confidential Space
Everything you share in sessions is held in strict confidence. You are free to speak openly and honestly without fear of judgment. Your therapist's role is not to evaluate or criticize — it is to listen deeply and to walk alongside you with care and respect. This is your space, and you set the pace.

What Our Sessions Will Look Like
Sessions typically last 50–53 minutes and will feel like a conversation — one that is purposeful, thoughtful, and centered entirely on you. In early meetings, we will spend time getting to know each other, exploring what has brought you here, and clarifying what you most hope to gain from counseling.

As we move forward, you can expect:
• Genuine listening — your therapist will be fully present with you, not distracted or rushing.
• Thoughtful questions — to help you explore your experiences more deeply.
• Honest and compassionate feedback — offered gently and with your wellbeing in mind.
• Practical tools and strategies — when helpful, to support you between sessions.
• Flexibility — the approach will evolve to meet your needs as they change.

The Pace Is Yours to Set
There is no pressure to share more than you are ready to share. Healing and growth rarely follow a straight line, and that is completely okay. Some sessions may feel light and productive; others may bring up emotions that are harder to sit with. Both are normal, and both are part of the process.

If something in a session does not feel right — if an approach is not working for you, or if you simply need something different — your feedback is vital, and will always be encouraged and respected.

What You Can Expect from Your Counselor
Our therapists bring to the work not only professional training and experience, but also a deep and genuine care for the people they have the privilege of sitting with. You can count on us to:
• Show up prepared, present, and fully invested in your growth.
• Meet you with warmth and without judgment — wherever you are.
• Maintain clear professional and ethical boundaries to keep our work safe.
• Be honest with you — even when the truth is hard to hear — because you deserve that respect.
• Celebrate your progress with you and hold hope for you, especially on the days when hope feels far away.

Progress Takes Time — and That Is Okay
Counseling is not a quick fix, and meaningful change takes time. Many clients begin to notice shifts — in how they feel, how they think, or how they respond to challenges — within a few weeks. For others, the deeper work unfolds over months. There is no single timeline that is right for everyone.

What we can tell you is this: the effort you invest in this process is never wasted. Every session, every reflection, every step you take — however small — is building toward a life that feels more like your own.

We are honored to be part of your journey. You do not have to have everything figured out before we begin — you just have to show up. The rest, we will work through together.

With warmth and care,

All of us at Rose City Therapists
Rose City Therapists is dedicated to providing a safe and confidential setting for you to discuss the issues in your life. Having your Protected Health Information (PHI) secure is of primary concern for our mental health practice.  Please read the document below, which is our official Office HIPAA Privacy Practices.

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) PRIVACY PRACTICES

At Rose City Therapists we respect clients’ confidentiality and only release information about you in accordance with state and federal laws.
THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW HEALTH INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.
This notice describes the policies related to the use of the records of your care at this office. We are required to present you this Notice about (1) the use and disclosure of your health information, (2) our legal responsibilities, and (3) your rights concerning your health information and to abide by the terms of this notice.
You may request a copy of this Notice at any time. For more information about our privacy practices, or for additional information, contact us at (503)908-3012
SEND ALL MAIL TO THE MAILING ADDRESS:
3747 SE Morrison Street, Portland, OR. 97214
1. USE AND DISCLOSURE OF PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION
We use and disclose the minimum necessary health information about you for your treatment and for payment for your services.
a. If it is necessary to provide information outside of this office for your treatment by another healthcare provider, we will have you sign an authorization for release of information (ROI). Furthermore, an authorization is required for most uses and disclosures of psychotherapy notes.
b. For payment. we may use and disclose your health information to obtain payment for services provided to you. For example, we may need to give insurance companies or other agencies the minimum necessary information in order for them to pay our organization for the service provided to you.
2. INFORMATION DISCLOSED WITHOUT YOUR CONSENT
Under Oregon and federal law, information about you may be disclosed without your consent in the following circumstances.
a. Emergencies. Information may be shared to address an immediate emergency you are facing.
b. Judicial and Administrative Proceedings. We may disclose your personal health information in the course of a judicial or administrative proceeding in response to a valid Court Order or other lawful process, including if you were to make a claim for Workers Compensation.
c. Public Health Activities. If we felt you were an immediate danger to yourself or others, we may disclose health information about you to the authorities, as well as alert any other person who may be in danger.
d. Child/Elder Abuse. We may disclose health information about you related to the suspicion of child and/or elder abuse or neglect.
e. Criminal Activity or Danger to Others. We may disclose health information if a crime is committed on our premises or against our personnel, or if we believe there is someone in immediate danger.
f. National Security, Intelligence Activities, and Protective Services to the President and Others. We may release health information about you to authorized federal officials as authorized by law in order to protect the President or other national or international figures, or in cases of national security.
g. Health Oversight Activities. We may disclose health information to a health oversight agency for activities authorized by law. These activities might include audits or inspections and are necessary for the government to monitor the health care system and assure compliance with civil rights laws. Regulatory and accrediting organizations may review your case record to ensure compliance with their requirements. The minimum necessary information will be provided in these instances.
h. Scheduling Appointments. We may use your phone number or email address to contact you, to leave messages, or to schedule and remind you of appointments.
3. YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING YOUR HEALTH INFORMATION:
a. Right to Inspect and Copy. You have the right to look at or get copies of your health information, with limited exceptions. Your request must be in writing. If you request a copy of the information, a reasonable charge may be made for the costs incurred.
b. Right to Amend. You have the right to request that we amend your health information. Your request must be in writing, and it must explain why the information should be amended. We have the right to deny your request under certain circumstances.
c. Right to an Accounting of Disclosures. You have the right to receive a list of instances in which we have discussed your health information for a purpose other than treatment or payment. To request an accounting of disclosures, you must submit your request in writing to this office. Such accountings are available for disclosures beginning from the date of your first visit and remain available for seven years after the last date of service at this office.
d. Right to Notification. You have the right to, or will receive notifications of any breaches of unsecured PHI.
e. Right to Request Restrictions. You have the right to restrict certain disclosures of Protected Health Information to a health plan when you pay out of pocket in full for the healthcare item or service. While you are in treatment, a written request for the restriction should be made with Rose City Therapists. To request a restriction after therapy is completed, you must make your written request to this office.
f. Right to Request Confidential Communications. You have the right to request that we communicate with you about health matters in a certain way or at a certain location. For example, you may ask that we contact you only by mail or at work. You must make this request in writing, and it must specify the alternative means or location that you would like us to use to provide you information about your health care. We will make every attempt to accommodate reasonable requests.
g. Right to Obtain a Paper Copy of this Notice. You have the right to receive a paper copy of this notice and any amended notice upon request. Copies will be available at the office. You may also obtain a copy of this notice at our web site, www.rosecitytherapists.com.
Any other uses and disclosures not set out in the information above will be made only with your written authorization. You may revoke a written authorization for release of information at any time. The revocation must be in writing and will become effective when it has been received and will only be for disclosures not already completed. All electronic submissions for billing are made using the most updated and secured encrypted software available. All clinical notes are stored under systems which comply with HIPAA Regulations. The files are archived for up to 10 years.  All files will be deleted within the guidelines set by law.
This office reserves the right to change the privacy practices provided as such changes are permitted by applicable law. Before the effective date of a material change, however, we will change this Notice and make a new Notice available to you at the office and on our website.
QUESTIONS AND COMPLAINTS
If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may make a complaint directly to our office, or you may file a complaint with the U. S. Department of Health & Human Service [email protected].  We will not retaliate in any way if you choose to file a complaint.