FATHER FIGURES: PRESENCE

Individuals experiencing severe and persistent mental illness are not eligible to participate in this program. Severe and Persistent Mental Illness (SPMI) which may include schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, schizoaffective disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and major depressive disorder. These are considered SPMI due to the profound effects they have on all aspects of life, such as employment, family relations, interpersonal relationships, and education over the course of a lifetime. Individuals expressing homicidal or suicidal ideation/intent or other forms of self-harm are also ineligible to participate in this program, as well as individuals who have been released from an inpatient psychiatric hospital within the last six months.

Psychotherapy, therapy, or counseling is generally not an inherently dangerous or risky undertaking. Generally, the risks or perils of therapy or counseling would seem remote to most consumers. Of course, there is the risk that therapy may not be “successful”, and the exploration of troublesome behaviors, beliefs, compulsions, thoughts, or emotions may produce discomfort.

Psychotherapy aims to improve an individual's well-being and mental health, to resolve or mitigate troublesome behaviors, beliefs, compulsions, thoughts, or emotions, to improve relationships and social skills, and to improve overall quality of life.

The participants will not receive monetary compensation.

Adults will complete a consent form prior to participation. For children 17 or younger: following the parent’s consent, the participation of each teenage participant in this program remains voluntary. Each teenager will also be asked to provide assent to participate and may refuse even if the parent has provided his or her consent. Each participant can also refuse to answer any questions and may withdraw from this program at any time without penalty.

Each participant may leave this program at any time. When withdrawing, the participant should let the Leadership Team know that he wishes to withdraw. A participant may provide the Leadership Team with the reason(s) for leaving the program but is not required to provide their reason.

Confidentiality refers to data that is collected in a way that it can be linked to an individual subject. For example, assigning subjects numbers, but then keeping a "key" that links the numbers to identifying information, is a procedure one might use in order to preserve confidentiality. Not identifying subjects by name or any other identifying information in reports and presentations also is a measure taken to preserve confidentiality. Client’s names and information will be kept confidential, even when representing data internally. Care is taken to protect subjects’ names and other details about them or their experiences that would allow them to be identified. Session details are kept confidential between the client and the provider. This confidentiality may only be broken if the client has expressed a want to harm themselves or others (including seniors), or mentioned that they are in immediate danger. Occasionally, it is important to the research to identify an individual who participated or subjects, but their names and other identifying information is protected.