Terms and Conditions

Jessica Lu, LCSW, state of California, provides individual therapy sessions in-person and via teletherapy. It is the policy of Jessica Lu, LCSW to provide therapy to clients requesting services or to refer the client to another resource that could provide comparable services. All clients will be assessed for appropriateness of treatment, and continuation of treatment is contingent upon client cooperation. Services will be rendered in a professional manner consistent with ethical standards.Insurance Reimbursement & Diagnosis

As a requirement of the ‘No Surprises Act’ which came into effect January 2022, Jessica Lu, LCSW is required to provide all clients with a ‘Good Faith Estimate’ that provides an estimated length of treatment and a diagnosis. This form will become part of your client chart but will not be released to anyone without your written consent unless Jessica Lu receives a court-ordered subpoena. The law as it is written requires therapists to provide the ‘Good Faith Estimate’, including a diagnosis, before the first session. This requirement is counter to the ethics of the profession of counseling and as such diagnosis will be listed as ‘Not Applicable.’

Privacy Policy

All information shared in session is confidential, with these few exceptions: (1) For case consultation purposes, Jessica Lu, LCSW may consult with other therapists, who are required to keep client information confidential. (2) As a mandated reporter Jessica Lu, LCSW is required to report suspected abuse or neglect of a child, elder, dependent adult, or developmentally disabled person. (3) The State Law of California (in which Jessica Lu, LCSW is licensed) also requires that others be informed if a client threatens suicide or harm to herself/himself, or others. If that threat is clear and imminent danger, the proper individuals and law enforcement must be contacted. The person against whom the threat has been made may also be contacted to prevent harm. (4) Should Jessica Lu, LCSW be presented with a court order, Jessica Lu, LCSW may be required to disclose information in the presence of a judge; however, Jessica Lu, LCSW will first assert legal privilege in an effort to protect your confidentiality. (5) Information which may jeopardize the safety of Jessica Lu, LCSW will not be kept confidential. (6) In the event of a medical emergency on your part, emergency personnel may have to be provided with some of your information. (7) If you bring a complaint against Jessica Lu, LCSW with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, information pertaining to the complaint may be released to the investigating board. Social Media and Telecommunication

Due to the importance of your confidentiality and the importance of minimizing dual relationships, I do not accept friend or contact requests from current or former clients on any social networking site (Facebook, LinkedIn, etc). I believe that adding clients as friends or contacts on these sites can compromise your confidentiality and our respective privacy. It may also blur the boundaries of our therapeutic relationship. If you have questions about this, please bring them up when we meet and we can talk more about it.

Electronic Communication

I cannot ensure the confidentiality of any form of communication through electronic media or text messages. If you prefer to communicate via text or email for issues regarding scheduling or cancellations, I will do so. While I may try to return messages in a timely manner, I cannot guarantee immediate response and request that you do not use these methods of communication to discuss therapeutic content and/or request assistance for emergencies. Services by electronic means, including but not limited to telephone communication, the Internet, facsimile machines, and e-mail is considered telemedicine 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. If you and your therapist chose to use information technology for some or all of your treatment, you need to understand that: (1)You retain the option to withhold or withdraw consent at any time without affecting the right to future care or treatment or risking the loss or withdrawal of any program benefits to which you would otherwise be entitled. (2)All existing confidentiality protections are equally applicable. (3)Your access to all medical information transmitted during a telemedicine consultation is guaranteed, and copies of this information are available for a reasonable fee. (4)Dissemination of any of your identifiable images or information from the telemedicine interaction to researchers or other entities shall not occur without your consent. (5) There are potential risks, consequences, and benefits of telemedicine. Potential benefits include, but are not limited to improved communication capabilities, providing convenient access to up-to-date information, consultations, support, reduced costs, improved quality, change in the conditions of practice, improved access to therapy, better continuity of care, and reduction of lost work time and travel costs. Effective therapy is often facilitated when the therapist gathers within a session or a series of sessions, a multitude of observations, information, and experiences about the client. Therapists may make clinical assessments, diagnosis, and interventions based not only on direct verbal or auditory communications, written reports, and third person consultations, but also from direct visual and olfactory observations, information, and experiences. 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 deformities, apparent height and weight, body type, gait and motor coordination, posture, work speed, any noteworthy mannerism or gestures, physical or medical conditions including bruises or injuries, basic grooming and hygiene including appropriateness of dress, eye contact (including any changes in the previously listed issues), sex, 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 to the therapist.