"There is no other accomplishment that I treasure more than helping one person at a time....to achieve their dreams and passions...in the shortest possible time...with a minimum amount of fuss....in a manner compatible with their highest values and integrity".  

                          More About Marriage and Family Therapy

I. Payments

All sessions are pre-paid or paid for at the beginning of the session. Melissa accepts personal checks and payments from your bank or your credit card through PAYPAL.

How to Pay for Psychotherapy Sessions with a PAYPAL payment. 

II. Notice of Schedule Change 

Please communicate any schedule changes 24 or more hours in advance of the scheduled appointment by telephone, or 48 or more hours by email.

III. Confidentiality

Please be assured that your talks with me are strictly CONFIDENTIAL. You are protected under ethical guidelines and legal statutes, which prohibit the sharing of any information you may tell me, without your written consent.
However, there are some limitations to strict confidentiality that protect your welfare and that of the public. These limitations provide for a partial breach in confidentiality under the MOST SERIOUS OF CIRCUMSTANCES:
*  If you threaten grave bodily harm to another person (or yourself), I am required to notify the intended victim and an appropriate law enforcement agency. I am under legal duties to warn and protect.
*  In the case of child abuse or neglect, I am required to notify the Children’s Protective services of the county. I also must report any abuse of handicapped persons or persons over 65 years old.
*  If a court of law issues a legitimate subpoena, your file must be handed over.
*  Other exceptions exist if you make your mental status a court issue.

IV. Ethical Standards

I abide by the ethical standards of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT), the accrediting, standard bearing association for Marriage and Family Therapists throughout the U.S. and Canada. They have a strictly enforced, tough Code of Ethics and Conduct: AAMFT Code of Ethics