Setting the Frame

Sowing seeds for deep connection through
our processes and documentation.

Acknowledging a need for support, reaching out to make an appointment, and showing up for a first session is so vulnerable.

Most folks have worked through so many barriers
— internal and external, conscious and unconscious —
by the time they show up across the room or screen from us.

They often show up ready, afraid, ambivalent, guarded, about to blow, or all of the above.

The way we navigate the entry threshold sets a tone for the relationship we are inviting them to.

As therapists, these entry thresholds can feel a bit precarious.
All professional pretense aside, we are about to commit to an intimate relationship with a stranger for an indefinitely amount of time. It’s a bit odd if you really think about it.

And, amid the curiosity, earnestness, and awkwardness we’re also holding a checklist in our minds of all the things we need to say and do to make sure our a%$ is covered.

It can feel pretty daunting.

It can also feel so incongruent with the tender, sacred work we do — a boring paperwork, legalese buzzkill.

Invest in your foundation

Shoring up your clinical documentation and processes creates a
secure base for you as you seek to offer one to your clients.

Our cooperative model allows us to offer this resource (valued at over $2,000) for $275

Seattle School Alumni rate — $225
Shelterwood Member rate — $175

If you’re eligible for a discounted rate email connect@shelterwoodcollective.com for your code!

Clinical paperwork has an heirloom quality to it.

Disclosure forms and intake questionnaires are passed down from generation to generation — supervisor to supervisee , colleague to colleague. They are like quilts —this section is a piece of fabric from my supervisor, this section is an old t-shirt I borrowed from my friend’s website. There is something truly heartwarming about this process, but are these documents aligned with current regulations and even more importantly — do we feel connected to the why behind the words and empowered in our processes?

Confession: My cozy quilt had some holes in it.

I created my initial versions in my ethics class in grad school, revised with my first supervisor, re-revised every time I changed supervisors, and honed whenever I took an ethics CEU. Now and then I borrowed inspiration from a disclosure or form that resonated with me from a colleague’s website. When I started supervising I did a full clinical documentation audit so I could confidently approach paperwork and processes with these new therapists. I felt pretty good about things.

The pandemic has impacted our field tremendously and with so many new regulations and changes to existing protocols, I decided to work with an attorney that I trust to review all my clinical documentation and forms. To be totally honest, I was expecting a few edits, a pat on the back, and a small bill.

Nope! I received a proposal for a full documentation overhaul. It was difficult to swallow (my pride and the cost), but not only was it a valuable learning experience, it was an investment in the foundation of my practice. I didn’t expect to feel sturdier and more embodied in my processes, but I did!

Feel empowered.

Yes, we are required by law to have particular documentation on file for all clients, which requires consulting WACs, RCWs, and ever-changing federal regulations. It’s a lot to keep up with.

When I dig into the policies behind these regulations, the core intent of most is protecting our clients and preserving the integrity of our profession.

Having a clear sense of what these disclosures mean and why they are required can offer meaning to the mundane.

When we are empower our capacity to offer clarity and consistency deepens. From this posture we shift from checking boxes and compliance to container and trust building.

We’ve create a resource to support you in solidifying your paperwork and processes with attorney-vetted, easy-to-use templates designed to meet clinical documentation requirements in Washington state.

  • Disclosures

    Informed Consent & Disclosure for Clinical Services*

    Notice of Privacy Practices

    Technology Assisted Counseling Disclosure & Consent Addendum

    Audio-Only Billing Consent Addendum

    COVID Protocol Disclosure & Consent Addendum

    *Reflects No Surprises Act updates

  • Forms

    Intake Questionnaire

    Good Faith Estimate Template

    Release of Information

    BONUS: Consent to Record

    BONUS: Progress Notes Template

  • Email Templates & Processes

    New Client Onboarding Checklist & Welcome Email

    New Year Review & Update Ritual

    Returning Client Update Email

    No Surprises Act & Good Faith Estimates Checklist & Email

  • Education

    Live virtual workshop to orient you to all of these documents with time for Q&A.

    Real-time walk through of how to update existing templates and create new ones in Simple Practice.

    Access to training videos for future reference and support.

Invest in your foundation

If you’d like to purchase access to Setting the Frame,
follow the link below to our make a secure purchase online.

Access will be granted within 2 business days following payment processing.

You’re welcome to reach out to connect@shelterwoodcollective.com
if you have any questions!