Informed Consent for Treatment
Last Updated: April 2026
Informed Consent for Couples Counseling
Before beginning treatment at Pasadena Clinical Group, all clients are asked to review and sign an informed consent document. This page provides an overview of what the informed consent process covers. The formal consent document will be provided during your intake process.
Nature and Purpose of Treatment
Couples counseling is a form of psychotherapy that focuses on improving relationship functioning between partners. Treatment may include discussion of relationship dynamics, communication skill-building, exploration of emotional patterns, and development of strategies for resolving conflict. The specific approach will be tailored to your needs and discussed with you before treatment begins.
Risks and Benefits
Potential Benefits: Improved communication, greater emotional understanding, stronger relationship satisfaction, better conflict resolution skills, and enhanced individual well-being.
Potential Risks: Therapy may involve discussing difficult or painful experiences. Some individuals may temporarily feel worse before feeling better. In rare cases, therapy may lead to changes in the relationship, including the decision to separate. There is no guarantee of specific outcomes.
Confidentiality
All information shared in therapy is confidential and protected by law, with specific exceptions required by California law, including:
- Suspected child abuse or neglect
- Suspected elder or dependent adult abuse
- When a client presents a serious danger of violence to another person
- When a client is at imminent risk of harming themselves
- When required by court order
Confidentiality in Couples Therapy
In couples therapy, our policy is that we do not keep secrets between partners that are relevant to the therapy. If one partner shares information in an individual communication (phone call, email, or individual session) that the therapist determines is relevant to couples treatment, the therapist will encourage the disclosing partner to share this information in session.
Your Rights as a Client
- You have the right to ask questions about any aspect of treatment at any time
- You have the right to refuse any recommended treatment
- You have the right to terminate treatment at any time
- You have the right to request a referral to another provider
- You have the right to access your treatment records
- You have the right to file a complaint with the California Board of Psychology or Board of Behavioral Sciences
Emergency Contact
If you are experiencing a mental health emergency, please call 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline), call 911, or go to your nearest emergency room. Our office is not equipped to handle emergencies outside of business hours.
Contact
Pasadena Clinical Group
301 N. Lake Ave, STE 600
Pasadena, CA 91101
Phone: 626-354-6440
Fax: 323-801-8264