Much of the information below has been adapted from Dawn’s Ethical Model and her work on Relational Charting.

• In an effort to provide trauma-informed and ethically sound care, I aim to align with her recommendations for relational charting and informed consent.

• Dawn McBride/Dawn Psychological Services (DPS) 2025. https://www.dawn-mcbride.com/

Going to a therapist is nerve-racking for many people. Before you consider seeing me as a therapist, I want to make sure you know what your rights are and how I would work to protect you throughout this process.

It’s important that during the therapeutic process, you take the lead. That means that at any time within our time together, you know you can change your mind (consent is continuous), and you can leave or say any of the following:

• Yes OR No

• Skip OR Pass

• Stop OR Pause

• I don’t know OR I can’t remember

As a client, you have rights to see your file, know what’s in it, how it’s stored, and what happens to the information if you or I die. To learn more, see below in section on “Your File.”

In therapy, we don’t always need to know everything that’s happened in order to bring about healing. To heal, we need to be able to protect ourselves. This process should begin within the therapist’s office.

The most important part of therapy is liking your therapist.

If at any point in your journey that you or I decide it’s not a good fit, I can refer you to another therapist. This is also why we start with a free 15-minute consultation to make sure it seems like a good fit.

Before you share any information about yourself, it’s important that you know how I will collect and store your information and the limits to your privacy. This information is listed in the consent forms and will be brought up throughout our work together!

I can only have one role with you as your health care professional. This means I can’t be your friend, business partner, or client.

If we end up in the same social circles or we know similar people, to maintain professional boundaries, I will refer you to another mental health therapist and/or dietitian.

Your privacy and safety are important to me. I will not tell people you are my client or share information about you unless I have your permission. There are some exceptions to this. It is my responsibility to reduce the risk of harm to yourself and others.

• I may need to share some information about you to access help to reduce this danger (e.g., calling 911, contacting your emergency person)

Exceptions to your privacy

• If I am very worried you: If I feel you cannot keep yourself safe from harm and/or learn there is a risk to your safety or to the safety of person(s)/animal(s).

• Judge (Subpoena) or Legal Issues: If a judge or the law requires me to disclose information about you, or if we become involved in a legal dispute over the care I provided and my lawyer needs access to my files.

• Health insurance: If health insurance (e.g., blue cross) requires information to process your claim.

• Consultation: I need to consult with other professionals for their expertise to ensure ethical care.

• Supervision: I am required to undergo supervision to ensure that the care I provide you is ethical. Supervisor: Chelsey Stang.

• Next of kin: If you die, executors can order counselling notes be released to your next of kin, unless this is specified in your personal will.

• Death & closure of company: If I die, am unable to work, or close my company, your file may be transferred to/held by another registered professional of the same regulatory body (e.g., nutrition notes with a dietitian; psychotherapy notes with a psychologist).

• If I sell my practice, the person who buys it will have access to your files.

If I see you in public, to ensure your privacy and safety, I will try to:

• not acknowledge you unless you initiate.

• if asked by people I am with, say you are an acquaintance from work.

Please note that it can be natural to smile and wave to someone you know.

• If my instincts kick in and I smile, I will aim to keep our interaction brief and carry on. 

This information was adapted from the work of Dawn McBride/Dawn Psychological Services (DPS) 2025.

There are a variety of ways to support your mental health in addition to or instead of psychotherapy.

• support groups (e.g., grief groups, AA)

• movement and sport (e.g., pilates classes, gym, recreation league)

• Religion, spirituality, and energy work (e.g., prayer, reiki)

• allied health professions (e.g., occupational therapy, naturopathy, acupuncture)

• health workshops: There are a number of workshops from the Primary Care Network (PCN) that aim to tackle topics like mental health, happiness, and chronic pain from a variety of disciplines.

  • Alberta PCN Workshops: https://albertafindadoctor.ca/workshops/home

  • Red Deer PCN Workshops: https://reddeerpcn.com/workshops/

Yes, our mental health can be affected by a medical issue (e.g., low iron, hormones, etc). If you are noticing a change in your mental health, make an appointment with your doctor to get a physical assessment with a full panel of blood work done.

If you don’t have a family doctor and are residing in Alberta, check out the link below:

• Alberta Find a Doctor: https://albertafindadoctor.ca/