INTAKE Michael Oakes Registered Clinical Counsellor in B.C. Canada

MICHAEL OAKES, M.A., R.C.C. and BCACC Member #19822
Counselling and Psychotherapy Services ~ 250-319-3660

I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) with the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC Member #19822), providing clinical counselling and psychotherapy services in private practice. I have a master’s degree in counselling and psychology from Yorkville University. As a practicing clinical counsellor, I am required to provide professional disclosure and obtain informed consent to treatment from the client.

I provide clinical services to individuals, couples, families and groups concerning many types of issues. My work can include a focus on personal growth, self-esteem, depression, anxiety, grief/loss, trauma, stress, anger management, relationship issues, life transitions, substance use, as well as other issues related to life’s challenges.

I have been trained and certified to apply interventions from several therapeutic modalities, which I have used in several clinical settings as a counsellor. I see therapy as a collaborative process that can introduce specific interventions and integrative counselling skills to help in achieving your therapeutic goals. I may introduce Solution-Focused, Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive-Behavioural, Attachment-based, Humanistic, or Psychodynamic based principles as options for our work. My treatment plan and therapeutic options are proposed in a process that is agreed-upon mutually.

As the client, you have the right to refuse or discontinue treatment, either when it is proposed or when it is in action. This is a voluntary process in which you have the control to slow down, detour or stop as you need. Our initial meeting consists of several questions to get a clear picture of what brings you to counselling, some history and a well rounded view of your functioning in several areas of your life. During the first meeting I will describe or propose different ways we could focus our work and negotiate a mutually agreed upon treatment plan.

This will become the early conceptualization that we will draw from, develop and build upon through our work. The initial meeting is not a therapy session, it is an opportunity for me to learn what brings you to therapy and for you to gain an understanding of how I work. This meeting provides both of us some information to base our decision if there is a good match to begin our therapeutic work together.

I am required by the BCACC to keep progress notes of our sessions as part of best practice standards as a professional counsellor. These notes are protected and kept in secure storage. It is my policy to retain closed clinical files for seven years. After seven years, closed clinical files will be destroyed.

What we discuss in our work is private and confidential. Confidentiality is assured with the following exceptions, or limits of confidentiality:

Any suspected neglect, abuse or assault of a vulnerable person, such as a child, senior or person with developmental disabilities requires reporting to the appropriate authorities.
The plan to cause harm to yourself or another individual requires reporting to the appropriate authorities, and if another individual is in clear and significant danger, the individual may need to be warned to prevent harm.
If I receive a subpoena from the courts directing me to release confidential information, it must be shared with whoever the subpoena names.
If I were the subject of an ethics investigation by my professional association, I would be required to share any information directed by the Inquiry Committee to investigate it.

My posted rate is currently $135 per clinical hour. A clinical hour lasts 45-50 minutes in session and the remaining time is used for managing case notes and other administrative tasks. My fee is subject to increases in time, and you will be notified if my rate is going to rise before we agree to continue at the new rate. I request payment at the time of booking a session to secure a spot in my schedule. It is expected that clients show up to their appointments on time.

For phone appointments I expect you (the client) to call me at the arranged time, just as you would show up to an in-person appointment. I reserve the right to call you if you have not shown up to an appointment at the agreed upon time, but I do not make it a policy to do this for every absence. It is my policy to give a 15 minute grace period for clients who are late to their appointment; after 15 minutes from the appointment time It is considered a “no-show” unless otherwise agreed upon. I require two business days notice (48 hours between Monday to Friday) of cancellation of an appointment in order to receive full credit back for the canceled session. This allows me a reasonable amount of time to offer the time to another client who may need it. If 48 hours notice prior to the scheduled session is not provided, it is my policy to charge for the missed session unless explicitly agreed otherwise.

Outstanding or unpaid invoices for my services are subject to an additional fee of 15% per month, and may go to collections if not received.

My role in this work is to be there, alongside you as we explore what is important to you. I will not make decisions for you, but I will provide a safe place to assist you in assessing options, decisions and outcomes. I see this work as largely exploring options to find alternatives in areas that feel difficult to navigate. I look forward to working with you if that is what you decide.

If you would like to proceed, I am asking you to:

Participate in counseling and or psychotherapy through my service and...
Provide me with permission to discuss your treatment in consultation with professional colleagues to seek supervision regarding your case without divulging your personal information or name so as to maintain anonymity and confidentiality.

If you agree now, and later wish to withdraw permission; you may do so by notifying me.

In order to protect your identity, this form will be kept only in your secure file.
MICHAEL OAKES, M.A., R.C.C. and BCACC Member #19822, Counselling and Psychotherapy Services

Michael Oakes M.A., R.C.C.

Client Intake Information

Professional Disclosure and Consent to Treatment

Michael Oakes M.A., R.C.C.​

​Client Intake Information

Professional Disclosure and Consent to Treatment

Michael Oakes M.A., R.C.C.

Client Intake Information