As a licensed marriage and family therapist I am dedicated to providing services to families, couples, and individuals from a systemic viewpoint. This means that I look at a family as more than a group of individuals. Rather, I see you and your family as a unique and complex interaction of relationships. I strive to help each family identify their special strengths and abilities so that they may utilize these gifts to build, grow, and maintain healthy relationships. Below you will find several policies and procedures necessary to begin a working relationship together. Please read through this information and ask any questions you may have.
Length of sessions — Sessions will typically run for 50 minutes, but may vary depending on the nature of the case. If you are unable to keep your appointment kindly give 24 hours notice to cancel or reschedule your appointment time. Less than 24 hours notice will leave you responsible for payment for your missed session.
Evaluations/Testing — The goal of our therapy sessions is to provide support to families, couples, and individuals as they move toward recovery, development, and maintenance of healthy relationships in their lives. With this in mind, it is important to maintain a neutral environment where all family members feel safe and are able to express emotions freely. Therefore I do not provide evaluations or testimony in matters of custody or separation and divorce proceedings. If you desire such services your lawyer can aid you in obtaining references for those services. Additionally I do not provide intelligence, educational, or career testing. I also do not prescribe medication. Referrals are given for these services as needed.
Confidentiality — The information shared with me is treated with the utmost respect and confidentiality. Your information is be protected by state and federal law as well as the ethical standards of my licensing body, the North Carolina Marriage and Family Therapy Licensure Board. Exceptions to confidentiality are when 1) I believe that you are a danger to yourself or others 2) When I believe a child or elder has been or will be abused or 3) when I have been subpoenaed by court order to release information. In any other incidences you must sign a release of information in order for me to communicate with another organization or individual regarding you or your family.
Emergency Contact — I am a non-emergency provider. In the event of a medical emergency call 911 immediately and access your local emergency room. Additionally you will be provided a list of emergency telephone numbers including local police departments and the 24-hour crisis line for REAL Crisis Counseling Center in Greenville, NC. The phone number for REAL Crisis is 252-758-HELP. In addition, I can be reached on my cell phone at 252-412-3756. During time of extended therapist absence, emergency calls will be fielded by Tammy Whitten, MS, LMFT, CFLE at 252-531-3703. You acknowledge that by contacting Ms. Whitten you are authorizing her to access your file and confidential information contained therein.
Ending Services — Upon completion of services I will close the client’s file within one week of the last session. For client’s whom I have not had any contact, I will make two attempts to contact the client via telephone and then close the file thirty days from the last face to face contact. Clients may contact me to re-establish services or receive referrals at any time. As the therapist I reserve the right to end services which I believe are not beneficial to the client, and will provide the client with resources and contact information for other providers who may be able to serve the client’s needs.
Complaint Procedures — Please notify me if you are dissatisfied in any way with any aspect of our work together. If you feel you have been treated unfairly or unethically and we have not been able to resolve the issue you may contact the
North Carolina Marriage and Family Therapy Licensure Board
P.O. Box 37669
Raleigh, NC 27627
(252)772-6600
Additional information about my therapy practice is provided in the documents and forms below.
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HIPAA
Emergency Telephone Numbers
Client Information Intake Form
Fee Policy
Therapy Agreement
If you plan to schedule an appointment please carefully review all information provided in these documents. Then download the Client Information Intake Form, complete electronically if possible, and send as an e-mail attachment to Debi@DebiLevine.com. Together we will schedule an appointment to meet and begin our work together.