Covenant Agreement
It is our desire that your experience with us be helpful and encouraging. Listed below are some of the things you can expect from us:
Christian Care
- You will receive sensitive and non-preferential care offered in the name of Christ.
- You will be treated with respect and dignity, representative of your worth in God's eyes.
- We will do our best to offer biblically sound perspective and compassionate attitudes in dealing with your needs
- Your presence at the Counseling Center and all conversations with your counselor will be kept confidential, with two exceptions:
- If you report or we observe indicators of child or senior abuse, we are legally mandated to report this abuse to Children's Services.
- If you exhibit suicidal or homicidal behavior, we will contact appropriate persons so that the safety of all involved, including yourself, can be protected.
Counselor Qualifications
- Our counselors are professionally trained to offer you competent care.
- Our counselors have Master's degrees and are licensed (or in process) by the Ohio Counselor and Social Worker Board.
- Our counselors work within a supervisory system. All staff participate in weekly supervision sessions for training and licensure purposes. This is required by the training institutions and by the Ohio Counselor and Social Worker Board.
Appointments
- Your counselor will typically spend 45-50 minutes per session with you as an individual. This is the standard "clinical" hour.
- Marital and family sessions may require additional time. If so, you will be billed accordingly.
Client Rights
- You have the right to ask questions about therapy and to have those questions answered to your satisfaction.
- You have the right to terminate counseling at any time; we ask that you discuss your decision to terminate with your counselor.
- Should there be a need for consultation with persons outside the normal supervision process, you will be asked to sign a "Release of Information" form. This gives your counselor permission to talk with the person or persons designated on the form for the purpose and period of time indicated.
- If at any time you feel you have been treated unfairly or inappropriately, you may address your grievances to John Jung, the Center Director. If having utilized this option, you remain dissatisfied, you may request a meeting with David Mikel, Chairman of the New Creation Counseling Center, Inc. Board.
- If your counselor feels the issues you bring to counseling are outside the realm of his/her specialty, you will be given an appropriate referral to another counselor or agency.
Christian counseling is a covenental relationship and therefore involves mutual commitments. This means we have some requests of you as well:
Appointments
- We ask that you be faithful in attending your scheduled sessions with your counselor.
- Because our counselors depend on counseling fees for their income, it is necessary that we bill for missed appointments. If you must miss a scheduled appointment, please notify us at least 24 hours in advance. If we do not receive 24-hour notice or cancellation, except in situations that we mutually define as emergencies, we will bill you $25.
- Since some of our counselors are still in training, from time to time our supervisors observe sessions through a one-way window or via videotape. This will take place only with your prior knowledge and written consent. You have the right to refuse if you desire, but please consider hat your progress in counseling may be greatly enhanced by your participation. You have the right to have any questions answered at any time.
- Please understand that the counselors usually have full schedules and find it difficult to return phone calls in between sessions. Counselors will not be interrupted for phone calls. Unless it is an emergency, it is better to hold questions until your next session or to schedule an appointment to see your counselor. Some questions or problems may be answered by the receptionist and all appointments, changes or cancellations should be made through the receptionist.
- We ask that you hold in confidence the identity of any other persons you may see at the Counseling Center. Their sense of confidentiality and anonymity is important.
- We cannot be responsible for children left in the waiting room with adult supervision and ask that you do not leave them unsupervised. They must remain in the waiting room until your session is over. Children must not be allowed to wander the hall. If they are left unattended and they are causing a disturbance, we will interrupt your counseling session for you to deal with them.
Treatment Process
- Please be honest in conversations with your counselor. Growth in wholeness occurs only in an environment of truth.
- Be willing to work hard on the issues you are dealing with in your session. No healing can come without your active, prayerful participation, even though the process may be painful at times.
- Please complete any homework assignments your counselor may give you.
- Please treat your counselor with respect at all times. Violent behavior, or any other behavior that threatens the safety of our staff, will not be tolerated.
- Please come to your sessions free of alcohol or other drugs.
As we mutually respect and practice these expectations, we believe Christ will work in your life to bring healing and wholeness. If for any reason we conclude that referral or termination is needed, we will do our best to explain our reasons and to help you plan for your immediate future.
Treatment Of Children
- It is the policy of New Creation Counseling Center, Inc. to see children and younger adolescents only in the context of the family. This means that the custodial parent(s) or guardians will be involved in the treatment of the child, including signing the Consent To Treat form and involvement in the treatment plan. New Creation Counseling Center, Inc. believes that children are best served by involving their parents or guardians, and by providing a context for enhanced family functioning.
- Treatment of older adolescents will also be conducted with the involvement of parent(s) or guardians, but the older adolescent may be more likely to be seen alone by the counselor, based on the treatment plan, family situation and counselor discretion.
Consent To Treat
By signing the Covenant Agreement, an individual is agreeing to receive treatment at New Creation Counseling Center, Inc.. There are certain risks of treatment and non-treatment, which the client is encouraged to discuss with his/her counselor.
Covenant Agreement Form
New Creation Counseling Center's Covenant Agreement is a unique document which forms a relationship between New Creation Counseling Center and the clients whom we serve. It establishes what both parties agree to be a fair amount of payment, based upon the client's financial situation, and the recognition that the cost to provide services at NCCC is $80/hr.
This amount serves as the fee to be paid by the client after each session, regardless, of other payment sources. If insurance pays the full cost of services, the Covenant Agreement fee is returned to the client upon receipt of insurance money by New Creation.
It is important to remember that New Creation Counseling Center, Inc. counts on this Covenant Agreement to be paid faithfully by the client after each session. This enables the ministry to maintain financial viability since the Covenant Agreement accounts for over 50% of the operating revenues of the Center.
It is equally important to remember that Covenants are a matter of integrity for those who sign them. Whenever one enters into such an agreement, it is a matter of honor to fulfill it. In order to remain good stewards of God's resources, we need to remind people of the accountability of the Covenant Agreement and ask that clients faithfully pay their Covenant amount after each session. Payment by check is preferred by our auditors and should be made out to "New Creation Counseling Center" and handed to the counselor at the end of your session before you leave.
We are thankful that God has entrusted the care of each client who comes through our door to us. We take that trust seriously, and we pray regularly for each of our clients. We would ask for the prayers of our clients as well as we seek to enhance the health of all involved in New Creation Counseling Center, Inc.
Weather Conditions Policy - Notice to Clients
There are times during the winter months when weather becomes a major factor affecting the counseling schedule. Because New Creation provides services to a very broad geographic area, it cannot be assumed that the same weather conditions exist in the entire area.
If there is bad weather (ice, snow, sleet, etc.) and you will not be able to come, please call the counseling center before 8;30 a.m. if possible of the day of your appointment or as soon as possible if you intend to cancel your appointment. If no one is available to answer the phone, leave a message on machine. If you do not call to cancel your appointment, you will be billed according to the center's policy as outlined in this handbook. If the Center closes, your counselor or the receptionist will call to advise you as soon as possible.
