• EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS NOTICE: This notice was updated and went into effect on December 3, 2024. Original publication date: March 2, 2024.

    Curious Space Therapy
    4085 Chain Bridge Road, Suite 402
    Fairfax, VA 22030
    info@curiousspacetherapy.com
    571-496-8954

    The therapeutic relationship is unique in that it is both a highly personal connection and a contractual agreement. Given the nature of the relationship, it is important to set and understand expectations about how the relationship between you and your therapist will work. This document will provide a framework for therapy and outline administrative policies.

  • As Licensed Professional Counselors and Board-Certified Art Therapists, we are required to uphold the stands of professional ethics, conduct and practice set forth by the Commonwealth of Virginia Board of Counseling and the Art Therapy Credentials Board. We are required to report any behavior that is inconsistent with these policies as it applies to ourselves or other credentialed professionals.

    Read our values statement here

  • The outcome of your time in therapy depends on how you engage in sessions, which may sometimes feel uncomfortable, painful, or stagnant. Remembering unpleasant events and bringing awareness to your emotions can bring up anger, fear, depression, or anxiety, to name a few. There are no magic cures, and your therapist cannot guarantee that your situation will change. Curious Space Therapy can promise support and understanding about your perspective and way of living. The role of a therapist is to offer validation and gentle challenges to determine how you want to proceed in life. Therapy works best when you are focused, committed, and intentional about your goals.

    The first 6-8 sessions of therapy are considered an assessment period to establish treatment goals and determine if therapy is meeting your needs. Not every therapist is the right fit for every client, and it’s important to establish rapport at the beginning of therapy to make sure you feel safe in sessions. We recommend weekly sessions for the first several weeks; after this time you and your therapist can determine the frequency of sessions that works best for you.

  • What happens in therapy stays in therapy. Unless…

    Therapy is a private, confidential space for you to share and explore anything you want to with your therapist. We are obligated to keep session content, notes, and relevant materials confidential unless you submit a written request to have all or portions of your information released to a specific person/entity. There are specific limitations to confidentiality that therapists are mandated to report. These instances are as follows:

    1. A client threatens or attempts to harm to self, including threats or attempts to commit suicide. This includes behavior that indicates there is a substantial risk of serious bodily harm.

    2. A client threatens grave physical harm or death to another person.

    3. The therapist has reasonable suspicion that a client or other named person is the perpetrator, observer, or actual victim of physical, emotional, or sexual abuse of minors under the age of 18 years.

    4. Suspicions as stated in Item 3 apply to an elderly person or dependent adult who may be subjected to these abuses.

    5. Suspected neglect of the parties named in items #3 and #4.

    6. A court of law or credentialing board issues a legitimate subpoena for information stated on the subpoena.

    7. A client is in therapy or being treated by order of a court of law, or if information is obtained for the purpose of rendering an expert’s report to an attorney.

    8. A client is using insurance benefits to access services and the insurance company requests treatment summaries, treatment plans, progress notes, diagnosis, and/or treatment information to determine eligibility of payment.

    9. A client is undergoing a security clearance investigation and client session notes, diagnosis, or additional treatment documentation is requested.

    If you are using insurance benefits for services, the insurance company may request treatment summaries and/or additional information to determine eligibility of payment. Insurance companies require a mental health diagnosis to determine that services are medically necessary. This diagnosis will appear on all insurance claims.

    Occasionally clinicians may consult with other professionals in their areas of expertise to ensure you are receiving the best treatment possible. This can include other practitioners on your healthcare team that you have given specific authorization for your therapist to consult with, a therapist’s clinical supervisor, or a professional clinical consultation group. Information about your treatment and artwork made in therapy may be discussed in this context without using identifying details. Pre-licensed or pre-credentialed clinicians are required to participate in clinical supervision in which case information may be discussed with identifying information protected.

    There may be instances where you see your therapist out in the community. If this happens, your therapist will not acknowledge you unless you acknowledge them first. We take your right to privacy and confidentiality seriously, and your therapist will act in a way that will not indicate we have any type of relationship, therapeutic or not. If you choose to approach your therapist in public, they will say hello and keep the conversation brief. At no time will your therapist reference material brought up in session if we are outside of the therapy space. If your therapist is accompanied by a partner, family member, friend, or any other person, we will not introduce you or use your name in conversation in front of them. You may choose to introduce yourself at your own discretion and risk.

    CONFIDENTIALITY FOR MINORS
    If you are a minor (person under the age of 18), your parent(s)/legal guardian(s) may be legally entitled to some general information about your treatment. Your therapist will discuss with you and your caregivers what information is appropriate for them to receive and which issues are more appropriately kept confidential.

    CONFIDENTIALITY + EXPECTATIONS IN THERAPY GROUPS
    Privacy is important when participating in a group therapy setting, so Curious Space Therapy maintains certain expectations and boundaries for group members to follow. While therapists who facilitate groups are required by law to maintain confidentiality, group members are not, meaning that conversations in group therapy are not protected by confidentiality. It is important that all group members agree to uphold the privacy of all participants to ensure trust and respect in the space.

    Please follow these expectations for group therapy:

    1. Be respectful of the therapy space, which includes excess noise and loud conversations.

    2. All group members have the opportunity to share artwork in the group.

    3. Do not make judgmental statements about artwork, even praise or criticism. Our focus is on the meaning of the artwork and not what it looks like or the skills of the person who created it.

    4. Listen to others with curiosity. Your role is to witness and respond without attempting to problem-solve or fix others. If group discussion becomes uncomfortable, sit with that feeling rather than jumping to conclusions about the conversation or participants.

    5. No photography of any kind is allowed on the premises, including group members and their artwork.

    WORKSHOPS, SUPPORT GROUPS + COMMUNITY-BASED EVENTS
    Curious Space Therapy LLC may host art-based workshops, support groups, or professional continuing education (CEU) events at the office, in the community, and virtually. With the exception of CEU workshops, these events are open to the public as a space to learn a new art media or technique, prioritize self-care, and connect with others. Therapy clients can participate in workshops or other community events with the expectation that CST cannot guarantee confidentiality. CST and partner facilitators will not disclose your status as a client of the practice, but other participants may sense we have a close relationship.

  • Art therapy is unique in that the creative process is a central part of the therapeutic relationship. While the process is important to the session itself, the product is important to the record-keeping side of therapy. Using art materials in sessions is not required but can enhance the work we do together. Regardless of art media, your artwork is protected as part of your medical record and personal expression.

    Every in-person client at Curious Space Therapy has a portfolio where their artwork is kept throughout treatment. Should you choose to take your artwork home, your therapist may photograph the piece(s) to add to your portfolio. Any artwork created by you in session, or that you bring to session to share with your clinician, is considered part of your medical record and is treated as such. CST will not photograph any artwork created by you unless you have given written permission as outlined in the “Release to Photograph Artwork.”

    Artwork that is sent digitally, for example artwork created between sessions and emailed directly to the therapist, is uploaded directly to your chart through the Electronic Health Record (EHR). Artwork created or shared during a virtual session, if emailed to the therapist, is also uploaded to the EHR.

    When necessary, your therapist may consult with other art therapists and/or mental health professionals to ensure that you are receiving the best treatment possible. Limited information about your treatment may be shared in such cases without using Protected Health Information (PHI) or any other identifiable information. With informed consent, your therapist may also share your artwork for consultation purposes. Any identifying information on the artwork itself will be covered or obscured.

    If your therapist provides art therapy education (e.g. graduate-level art therapy courses, conference presentations, professional workshops), the terms of this consent form apply and your artwork cannot be shared without separate, specific consent.

    Artwork is treated like a part of a medical record and stored in a confidential manner. Any artwork you create, both during session and on your own, fall under U.S. Copyright protection and cannot be falsely attributed to anyone but yourself, nor can anyone, including Curious Space Therapy LLC, claim ownership of said artwork. Art therapists are required to maintain your personal records for a reasonable period of time after discharge, which includes artwork. Upon termination of the therapy relationship, you will be given your portfolio of work to take home with you. We strongly encourage you to take your pieces home to reduce the storage needed in the physical office. Should you leave your artwork behind, your portfolio will be kept securely and confidentially for a period of 5 years, after which shall be securely disposed of.

    In addition to artwork, CST therapists are required to keep a record of sessions and treatment progress through psychotherapy notes. CST uses an Electronic Health Record (EHR), SimplePractice, a HIPAA-compliant platform, to maintain client records. These files are part of your medical record and are kept private and confidential. The purpose of keeping such records includes documentation of treatment progress, payment for services, healthcare operations, and lawsuits and disputes (if applicable). Policies and procedures pertaining to medical records and psychotherapy notes are outlined in the Notice of Privacy Practices.

  • It is important to the therapy relationship that there is consistent contact between the client and therapist. Most clients attend therapy on a weekly or bi-weekly basis, but this can change depending on clinical needs. The standard meeting time for sessions is 50 minutes. In the event that a longer session is needed, options and fees may be discussed in advance.

    Curious Space Therapy LLC uses an Electronic Health Record (EHR) system, SimplePractice, that automatically sends appointment reminders to the phone number and email address on file. This setting is set to “ON” for all new clients. A reminder email is sent 72 hours in advance and a text 24 hours before the session. Email reminders provide the opportunity to cancel or reschedule with enough time to avoid accruing cancellation fees. While we encourage receiving at least one form of reminder for appointments, you may opt out of either reminder at any time.

    If you need to cancel a session, please do so, in writing, with 48 hours notice. You may send an email or text message to your provider to cancel a session, or you may go through the Client Portal and cancel the appointment yourself. There is a cancellation charge for late notice or no-show. Your therapist will attempt to contact you to check on the status of your attendance. In the event of an unexpected event or emergency where you are unable to give notice, you and your clinician can discuss the possibility of waiving the cancellation fee or crediting the fee toward a future session.

    Please refer to the following timeline for guidance in cancelling sessions:

    • Appointment on Monday: cancel by time of appointment on Saturday
    • Appointment on Tuesday: cancel by time of appointment on Sunday
    • Appointment on Wednesday: cancel by time of appointment on Monday
    • Appointment on Thursday: cancel by time of appointment on Tuesday
    • Appointment on Friday: cancel by time of appointment on Wednesday
    • Appointment on Saturday: cancel by time of appointment on Thursday
    • Appointment on Sunday: cancel by time of appointment on Friday

    The full session rate will be charged for cancellations within 48 hours of the appointment time or missing your appointment without notice. This is necessary to ensure your appointment time is reserved exclusively for you. If you are late for a session, you may lose some of that session time.

    PAYMENT FOR CANCELLATION CHARGES
    Cancellation fees must be paid in full on the day of the cancelled or missed session. Your card on file will be charged for payment. All fees must be paid before scheduling further sessions.

  • A credit card is required on file for all clients. Payment is due on the day of the session using the card on file. If you prefer an alternative card to be utilized for payment, please notify Curious Space Therapy LLC. In addition to session fees, charges will incur for any other professional services requested, including report writing, professional consultation (with your permission), telephone conversations lasting longer than 15 minutes, and preparation of treatment summaries. Please note that insurance does not cover these services.

    If you refuse payment for any session fees, the practice reserves the right to use an attorney or collection agency to secure payment. A $100.00 service charge will be charged for any disputed credit card charges. If a disputed charge is received on an account, an alternative form of payment may be required.

    In the event that payment is not completed on the day of services, your balance must be paid by the next session. If the balance is not paid during your next session, you will be unable to schedule again until your balance is paid. This ensures that clients do not accrue a balance on their account.

  • Curious Space Therapy LLC partners with Headway to handle insurance credentialing, claim filing, and collecting deductibles and/or copayments. Providing this service allows CST to provide in-network services to an expanded client population. CST is in-network with Aetna, Anthem BCBS, CareFirst BCBS, Cigna (Evernorth), and Quest Behavioral Health. All other insurance companies are considered out-of-network. Headway provides their own consent forms to be completed prior to your first session. They will contact you separately to confirm insurance benefits. Headway has access to your contact details, insurance information, credit card information that you provide, and scheduling of sessions. Client notes and session details are not provided to Headway unless specifically requested by the insurance company.

    Some client insurance will not be managed by Headway; in this case insurance claims will be handled directly through SimplePractice and all policies regarding payment will apply. If your account is not handled through Headway, you will not receive their consent forms and Headway will not know that you are a client of Curious Space Therapy.

    To determine whether mental health services are medically necessary, insurance companies require a mental health diagnosis which will appear on all insurance claims and billing documents. This diagnosis will become part of your medical record.

    While a mental health diagnosis can be helpful to some people to provide framework for their experience, for others it can carry a stigma, feel uncomfortable, or not align with personal values. As therapist and client, we can discuss your current symptoms and come up with a diagnosis that you are comfortable with that will allow you to use insurance benefits for services. If you prefer that a mental health diagnosis is not documented, you may choose to pay out of pocket.

    Please contact your insurance provider to ensure services are covered, to determine your copay, coinsurance, and/or deductible amount. Your therapist may have access to this information as a paneled provider, but you as the consumer can access the most accurate, up-to-date information. CST bills as Counseling Services under the Licensed Professional Counselor credential.

    Some insurance plans carry a deductible which must be met before sessions are covered. You are responsible for the full contract rate for services until your deductible is met. Clients with in-network benefits, and those who have already met their deductible, may be responsible for a co-pay at the time of service. Your insurance company is responsible for the remaining session fee.

    If an insurance claim is denied, you will be responsible for paying the session fee.

    Initial insurance claims can take up to 3 weeks to process. After your first session, CST will send a claim to your insurance company. The company will then return a claim report which includes information about your copay, coinsurance, and/or deductible that is your responsibility.

    Our billing system will read the claim report and apply the balance to your account, which will then be charged to your card on file. You may notice a delay in charging copays; this is due to the claims processing time. Once we have established your consistent copay or coinsurance, our billing system will begin automatically charging your card on file at the time of sessions. Please ensure that your card information is accurate and that you wish to use this card to pay for services. If you prefer to use a different card, please contact Curious Space Therapy LLC.

    OUT OF NETWORK INSURANCE BENEFITS
    CST is in-network with Aetna, Anthem BCBS, CareFirst BCBS, Cigna (Evernorth), and Quest Behavioral Health. All other insurance companies are considered out-of-network.

    If you have an insurance plan that covers out-of-network services or an FSA/HSA account that requires documentation of services, the practice will send a “superbill” (receipt of services) each month. This superbill will include information including a diagnosis code and service code.

    Reimbursement is not guaranteed. Please check with your insurance company, noting your therapist’s credentials. Non-licensed art therapist’s services are often not considered reimbursable due to requirements set by insurance companies.

  • Should you become involved in a court case while you are a client at Curious Space Therapy, please discuss your case with your therapist before involving them in court proceedings and before waiving your right to confidentiality. If you become involved in legal proceedings that require clinical participation, you are responsible for paying fees related to clinical involvement, including but not limited to preparation and transportation costs. This policy applies even if the therapist is called to testify by another party. Because of the difficulty and time required for legal participation, the rate is $350 per hour for preparation and involvement in all legal proceedings, including travel time. Curious Space Therapy does not provide court-ordered services.

  • The following sections discuss the various ways in which you might be in contact with your therapist and/or other Curious Space Therapy staff. Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns about these policies.

    CONTACTING YOUR THERAPIST BETWEEN SESSIONS
    If you need to contact me between sessions, it is best to email me at info@curiousspacetherapy.com. I am often not immediately available; however, I will attempt to respond to your message within 24 hours. This policy also applies to voicemail messages and text messages. I might also follow up with a secondary form of communication (for example, sending a text message to acknowledge that I got your email or voicemail). In the event of an emergency, please call 911 or visit your local emergency room for immediate assistance.

    The following methods of communication are HIPAA compliant and offer a higher level of privacy when communicating electronically:

    • HIPAA Compliant email (info@curiousspacetherapy.com)
    • Standard phone calls and voicemail, hosted by SpruceHealth (571-496-8954)

    Your privacy is extremely important. If you reach out via non-secure methods (e.g. text messaging) your therapist will respond with the understanding that by using this form of communication, you accept the risks involved with transmitting private information in a nonencrypted form. Please do not use these methods of communication to discuss therapeutic content and/or request assistance for emergencies.

    ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION
    You may communicate with your therapist through phone or email, but please limit the amount of private information you share in text, email or voicemail messages. Anything related to your treatment should be discussed in person. If you send information about your treatment electronically, CST will respond briefly to the message and reserve time in session for further conversation.

    Email messages containing information about your treatment are documented in your chart and will become part of your medical record.

    SOCIAL MEDIA
    CST maintains a professional website, which may include practice information, blog posts, newsletters, and upcoming events.
    CST uses email to communicate with clients, insurance companies, professional services, and other providers.
    CST has a public, unrestricted Instagram account to connect with professionals, community members, and perspective clients.
    Therapists at CST may have additional online presence (LinkedIn, Psychology Today, etc.) that associate them with the practice but are not specifically managed by CST. Therapists are expected to adhere to the standards of communication at all times, regardless of the platform they are using.

    You are welcome to connect with any of the official CST accounts you may find online, but understand that to do so can compromise your confidentiality. You are not required to follow any social media accounts run by CST and we will never ask you to do so. We may reference a recent post or online resource in session but will not require you to interact with accounts.

    Please do not message your therapist on social media platforms. Sites such as Instagram, LinkedIn, or the CST website are not secure and we may not receive your message in a timely manner. DO NOT USE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS TO CONTACT YOUR THERAPIST IN AN EMERGENCY. Do not use public comments, postings, replies, or any other means to engage in public communication with us. Again, this interaction may compromise your confidentiality and may also increase the need to document such interactions in your chart, which then becomes a part of your legal medical record.

    Any content you see on our profiles may be discussed together in our next session.

    Because CST professional accounts are open to the public, anyone may see that you “like” or “follow” these pages. This can increase the likelihood of compromised confidentiality, so messaging and commenting on these pages is not recommended. CST will NOT respond to messages or comments if we have established a therapeutic relationship, and we reserve the right to delete or hide public comments to protect your privacy.

    We do not accept friend or contact requests from current or former clients on any social media networking site that require specific permissions to connect. This is to protect your privacy and to avoid dual relationships outside of therapy. If you send a request to become friends or to connect, CST and your therapist will not respond to the request. To do so can compromise your confidentiality and may also complicate the boundaries of our therapeutic relationship.

    Should you choose to follow CST or clinician-specific accounts, we will not follow you back. Even if your online content is open to the public, our viewing of such media goes against appropriate therapeutic boundaries. We understand that social media can be a significant part of someone’s identity, and if there is anything you would like to share with your therapist, please do so in session. You may also bring in printed copies of posts you would like us to review together.

    Please note that social media sites may attempt to connect you with your therapist or other people around the office area through mutual friends, location-based services, or other features of such sites. Curious Space Therapy LLC has no control over apps that may track you or intrude on your privacy in this way. You may choose to use privacy controls on your phone to minimize the risk of privacy breaches.

    Curious Space Therapy LLC and/or your therapist may be listed on business review sites (e.g. Google, Yelp, Healthgrades, etc.) which allow the community to access public information about the business. Many of these sites auto-populate information that is not necessarily submitted or endorsed by CST. The existence of such listings is not a request for review, ratings, or testimonials. CST does not utilize client feedback or testimonials in any print or online media. We request any feedback to be shared directly with your therapist, as posting publicly compromises your privacy.

    SEARCH ENGINES
    We do not search for clients on Google, social media platforms, or other search engines. There are extreme exceptions, however, that would result in CST looking up your electronic information. Such circumstances include if you are in suspected danger and we have not communicated via our typical methods (e.g. appointments, phone calls, email). In the event you are suspected to be in danger, your therapist will first reach out to your emergency contact to ensure your safety, and in rare circumstances may resort to search engines to confirm safety. This would be a highly unusual situation, and if your therapist must utilize electronic searches, they will fully document the action and will discuss it with you at the next meeting.

    WIRELESS DEVICES
    The office may use smart and/or wi-fi enabled devices, including but not limited to cell phones, laptop computers, and wireless speakers. Most devices have voice control turned off and so are not recording. However, for any device that is voice-controlled, such as a wireless speaker, recorded snippets of conversations may be sent to the device manufacturer. This can include devices brought into the office by other clients or visitors. If you bring a wireless device into the office and have not turned off voice control, the microphone may record snippets of conversations and send it to the manufacturer. Please feel free to take notes in session if you would like to remember important points of the conversation. Audio and video recording of session is strictly prohibited without first discussing options with your therapist.

  • Services by electronic means, including but not limited to telephone communication, the Internet, facsimile machines, and email are considered telehealth by the State of California. Under the California Telemedicine Act of 1996, telemedicine is broadly defined as the use of information technology to deliver medical services and information from one location to another.

    Telehealth involves the use of audio, video, or other electronic communications to connect with you, which allows your therapist to provide counseling services remotely. During virtual sessions, personal details may be discussed with your therapist via interactive video, audio, and telecommunications technology. This may include your medical history, mental health history, and personal health information.

    Telehealth allows you to maintain regular access to therapy sessions without requiring travel into the office. This may be used in times of illness, inclement weather, or government-imposed travel restrictions. Telehealth can provide improved communication capabilities, convenient access to the most current information, consultations, support, reduced costs, better continuity of care, and reduction of lost work time and travel costs.

    Curious Space Therapy LLC conducts telehealth sessions in a secure setting that ensures privacy and confidentiality. However, your clinician cannot guarantee the same on the client end of the virtual platform. Should you have telehealth sessions, you are encouraged to attend your sessions in a private space away from others. We recommend reducing distractions in the environment and utilizing headphones/earbuds if necessary. You can discuss options for creating a private space with your therapist.

    All laws concerning patient access to medical records and copies of medical records apply to telehealth. Distributing any Protected Health Information, identifiable images, or information from the telehealth session is considered a breach of privacy. All existing confidentiality protections under federal and Virginia law apply to information used or disclosed during your telehealth session. Your access to all medical information transmitted during a telemedicine consultation is guaranteed, and copies of this information are available for a reasonable fee.

    You may withhold or withdraw your consent to a telehealth consultation at any time before and/or during the session without affecting your right to future care or treatment. You will not lose access to any program benefits that you would otherwise be entitled to.

    While technology can be a great asset in therapy, interruptions in session may occur. Telehealth services may feel different from in-person sessions since you are not located in the same space as your provider. Nonverbal information can be lost or misinterpreted through screens. Effective therapy can include clinical assessments, diagnosis, and interventions made by the therapist based on observations, information, and experiences about the client; the methods of collecting this data may include written reports, third-person consultations, and direct visual observations and verbal/auditory communications. When using information technology in therapy services, potential risks include, but are not limited to the therapist's inability to make visual and olfactory observations of clinically or therapeutically potentially relevant issues such as: your physical condition including developmental differences, gait and motor coordination, noteworthy mannerisms or gestures, physical or medical conditions including bruises or injuries, basic grooming and hygiene, eye contact relative to cultural norms, gender identity and expression, chronological and apparent age, ethnicity, facial and body language, and congruence of language and facial or bodily expression. Potential consequences thus include the therapist not being aware of what he or she would consider important information, that you may not recognize as significant to present verbally the therapist.

    If you or your therapist experience problems with audio or video during the session, your therapist may choose to finish the session via phone. In rare circumstances, security protocols could fail causing a breach of patient privacy. If there are persistent issues with telehealth, or if travel restrictions no longer apply, we may transition to in-person sessions.

    Telehealth by SimplePractice is the technology service we will use to conduct telehealth videoconferencing appointments. It is simple to use and there are no passwords required to log in. Please be aware of the following policies:

    Telehealth by SimplePractice is NOT an Emergency Service and in the event of an emergency, use a phone to call 911.

    Though you and your therapist may be in direct, virtual contact through the Telehealth Service, neither SimplePractice nor the Telehealth Service provides any medical or healthcare services or advice including, but not limited to, emergency or urgent medical services.

    The Telehealth by SimplePractice Service facilitates videoconferencing and is not responsible for the delivery of any healthcare, medical advice, or care.

    Do not assume that your therapist has access to any or all of the technical information in the Telehealth by SimplePractice Service – or that such information is current, accurate or up-to-date. Do not rely on my therapist to have any of this information in the Telehealth by SimplePractice Service.

    To maintain confidentiality, do not share your telehealth appointment link with anyone unauthorized to attend the appointment.

  • HOLIDAYS
    The Curious Space Therapy LLC office is closed on all federal holidays unless otherwise noted. Your therapist may choose to provide services on federal holidays; please consult with them regarding their availability. If you observe holidays that are not included in the federal schedule which might interfere with your session time, please contact your clinician to reschedule any appointments impacted by the holiday.

    INCLEMENT WEATHER
    Curious Space Therapy LLC follows the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) guidelines regarding emergencies and inclement weather. Information about the opening and closure status of the Federal Government can be accessed through the OPM website. In cases of inclement weather, CST offices will close if the Federal Government is closed or roads are unsafe. When this happens, your therapist may offer telehealth sessions in lieu of in-person services. If road conditions are clear and safe at the time of your appointment, and you are not able to attend your appointment or participate in a telehealth session, this will be considered a missed appointment and the full session fee will be charged. As always, use your best judgment when considering travel to and from the office.

    An email will be sent out the morning of your session if the office will be closed or if there are other scheduling alterations. If it is determined that the Federal Government will be closed the following day, and this information has been made available, CST may send notices in the evening before your appointment. If you do not receive an email, then the office is open as scheduled. Please check your email prior to your appointment and email, call, or text to check in for clarification regarding the opening status.

    MISCELLANEOUS CLOSURES  
    In other cases where the office is closed, you will be notified of the change before your session. This includes emergency situations and other instances not specifically addressed above. Reasons for closure may be addressed under “Emergency Procedures.”

  • Curious Space Therapy LLC makes every effort to provide in-person sessions where it is safe to do so. If there is a change in the current status of a public health crisis or if other health concerns arise, we may return to providing all services via telehealth. If you decide at any time that you would feel safer utilizing telehealth for services, we will accommodate the request as long as it is feasible, clinically appropriate, and within the guidelines of the therapist’s credentialing board.

    You understand that by coming to the office you are assuming the risk of exposure to and illness from infectious diseases, including but not limited to COVID-19. While we establish safety protocols to decrease risk factors, the risk of serious illness and death does exist.

    To obtain services in person, you agree to take certain precautions which will help keep everyone in the office and extended community safer from exposure, sickness, and possible death. If you do not adhere to these safeguards, it may result in transitioning to a telehealth arrangement. By utilizing in-person services, you agree to these actions:

    • You will only keep your in-person appointment if you are free of COVID-19, cold, and flu symptoms.
    • If you have an elevated temperature (100 Fahrenheit or more), have other symptoms of the coronavirus, or test positive for COVID-19, you agree to utilize telehealth services or cancel the appointment. Cancellations must adhere to the cancellation policy to avoid a fee.
    • You may opt to wear a mask while in the office. Your therapist will follow your preference, and when necessary may ask you to wear a mask. Please note that others may choose not to wear a mask. Should infection risk increase, Curious Space Therapy LLC may require all persons coming into the office to wear masks.
    • If you are exposed to someone who is infected, you will immediately let your therapist or administrative staff know.
    • If a resident of your home tests positive for the infection, you will immediately let your therapist or administrative staff know and we will resume services via telehealth.
    • We encourage everyone to be vaccinated regularly to prevent the spread of common illnesses. CST does NOT require proof of vaccination to attend in-person services. We understand that there are immunocompromised individuals who may be impacted by this decision, and we encourage you to use good judgment to ensure the safety of the community. We also recognize that there are, in rare cases, significant risks associated with receiving a medication or vaccination, and we cannot offer medical guidance outside the scope of our practice.

    The practice has taken steps to reduce the risk of spreading infections within the office, which include disinfecting art materials, wiping down surfaces, cleaning regularly, and limiting access to the physical space. We encourage good hygiene practices, frequent handwashing, and regular cleaning and disinfection of the office and all materials. Please contact your therapist with any questions.

    You understand that we are committed to keeping you and our extended community safe from the spread of infectious diseases. If you arrive for an appointment and appear physically unwell, including symptoms of a fever, we will immediately discontinue the session. We can follow up with services by telehealth as appropriate.

    If any member of our team tests positive for COVID-19 and you have been in contact with them, we will notify you so that you can take appropriate precautions.

    If you have tested positive for the coronavirus, the office may be required to notify local health authorities that you have been in the office. If required to report this, only the minimum amount of information necessary for their data collection will be shared. This will not include any details about your treatment or other information related to sessions. You understand that CST may share this limited information without an additional signed release.

    THERAPIST EMERGENCY OR INCAPACITATION
    Your therapist will make every effort to contact you if they expect to miss a session or need to alter the schedule. In some cases, your therapist may be unable to communicate this information to you before the time of your appointment. In the event that your therapist is unable to attend a session, absent without notice, or cannot fulfill their role as a provider, Curious Space Therapy LLC administrative staff or the Clinical Director will reach out to you regarding coverage and/or future plans for treatment. Clinical/administrative staff may access your file in order to coordinate care.

  • By committing to coming to therapy sessions, you agree to follow standards of behavior that promote safety for everyone in the office space. Therapy is private and confidential, but other areas such as the waiting room, hallways, restrooms, kitchen, stairwells, parking areas, and other areas outside of the office itself are considered public or semi-private. Please respect the space of others you encounter and refrain from loud conversations, offensive language, and any behavior that can compromise the privacy of yourself and others.

    Therapy can elicit strong responses in thoughts, feelings, and behavior. As a trained clinician, your therapist can determine if your conduct is the result of therapeutic intervention or is considered inappropriate for personal safety. If you engage in threats, harassment, or intimidation towards Curious Space Therapy LLC staff, therapists, or others in the office, we may immediately terminate your services. In the case that therapy is terminated, you are responsible for paying all outstanding fees and balances. You also grant permission for CST staff to share necessary information about any threatening behavior with law enforcement and/or others to protect the safety of everyone involved. Weapons of any kind are strictly prohibited in CST offices, public spaces, and parking areas.

    USE OF COMMUNAL OFFICE SPACE
    While we want everyone who enters the office to feel safe and welcome to be themselves, please be aware that public and semi-private areas of the building such as the waiting room, hallways, restrooms, kitchen, stairwells, and parking areas are not guaranteed the same level of privacy as inside the office. Please be respectful of others and adhere to the standards of conduct outlined in the section above. We use sound machines to muffle sessions but ambient noise from other rooms may be distracting or disturbing during a session. Please do not leave children unsupervised or allow them to engage in loud or unruly behavior. If you or your therapist become disrupted during the session, CST staff may briefly step out of session to give a reminder about the communal office space policy. Visitors who are not attending a session or escorting someone to a session are not allowed inside the office spaces.

  • Therapists at Curious Space Therapy LLC may write letters to obtain Emotional Support Animals (ESA). The ability to write such letters is based on therapist discretion, and we reserve the right to refuse to provide an official letter if we feel we do not have enough information to effectively make this recommendation. While it is outside the scope of our practice to state officially that an animal qualifies as an ESA, if you are seeking paperwork to register an animal as an ESA, we may provide the following information through written release:

    1. Your name and current diagnosis

    2. Length of time in treatment and number of sessions you have attended

    3. Brief summary of prognosis (i.e. progress toward meeting treatment goals)

    4. Potential risks and benefits of the client having access to ESA services

    Providing the above information is NOT an endorsement or recommendation to register a specific animal as an ESA. The information is provided to serve as a record of a client engaging in mental health treatment and the therapist’s perceived benefit to the client. Your therapist is not an expert in animal behavior or training and cannot offer information outside the scope of practice.

    We also follow these guidelines as therapists:

    1. Must be licensed in the same location where you, the client, are located

    2. Provide our license information, including number and issue date

    3. Must have a clinical relationship established with a client for at least 30 days

    4. Complete a clinical evaluation of the person regarding the need for an ESA

    5. Provide notice to the person that misrepresenting the animal as a service animal is a crime

    Animals other than officially trained service animals are not allowed in the office. Please refer to www.ada.gov for service animal requirements.

  • Ending relationships can be difficult, so the termination process is just as important as building a relationship with your therapist. Summarizing your course of treatment and providing closure are the two primary goals for termination. The appropriate length of terminating therapy depends on the individual therapy goals and course of action of each client. Your therapist will not terminate the therapeutic relationship without first discussing the reasons and purpose for termination. Upon request, your clinician will provide you with a list of qualified art therapists or psychotherapists to continue therapy. You may also choose someone on your own or from another referral source.

    Your therapist may terminate treatment after your therapy goals have been met, if therapy is not being used effectively, if we are not the best fit for working together, or if you are in default on payment. Consistent participation results in the best therapy outcomes and is of greatest benefit to you. Should you stop scheduling appointments or cancel sessions consecutively, without specific plans for continued attendance, for legal and ethical reasons CST may consider the therapy relationship ended.

    Please refer to the following guidelines related to the termination policy. The therapy relationship may be considered terminated under the following circumstances:

    Weekly clients: after missing four consecutive weeks

    Bi-weekly (twice a month) clients: after missing three consecutive sessions

    Monthly clients: after missing two consecutive sessions

    Your therapist will initiate a conversation with you about cancellations and explore scheduling alternatives, if needed. If you are unable to participate in sessions, your therapist will notify you in writing of attempts to reach out and process termination.

  • CST may list items or products for sale on the website and posted to social media. Requiring clients to purchase goods directly from us can be unethical. We will not ask you to purchase any products from us directly; if you are interested in purchasing something from the website, you are welcome to do so on your own. You may also let your therapist know if you are interested in purchasing from the website.

    We may reference specific products, such as books or stress-relief tools, during a session. Sharing these materials does not obligate you to purchase any of these materials from us or others. When necessary, we may provide some materials created by us for free, such as self-care cards or worksheets.