What you're agreeing to when we meet online.

Telehealth is the delivery of counseling services by secure video and, where appropriate, by phone. Video sessions use Doxy.me, a browser-based telehealth service built for healthcare: you join from the link Lizanne sends when she confirms your time, with no download and no account. Sessions are equivalent to in-person sessions in clinical content and in professional standards, but the setting and technology are different.

Lizanne Chisholm, LPC is licensed in the State of Michigan and can provide telehealth counseling only to clients physically located in Michigan at the time of each session. If you travel outside Michigan on a session day, let us know in advance so we can reschedule; we cannot see you across state lines under current licensing rules.

Telehealth is not appropriate for every situation. If at any point it is not a good fit for your clinical needs — for example during an acute crisis or when a higher level of care is indicated — we will discuss referrals and alternatives.

• Access to care without travel time or transportation barriers.
• Flexibility to meet from a private space you choose.
• Continuity of care across weather, illness, and reasonable scheduling changes.
• Reduced exposure to crowded waiting areas.

Telehealth has benefits, but there are also real limits you should understand and agree to:

• Technology can fail — audio drops, video freezes, internet outages. If this happens we will resume by phone or reschedule.
• Small non-verbal cues can be harder to read on camera, and the therapist has less ability to respond physically in an emergency.
• Privacy depends partly on your environment. Others in your home or workplace may overhear if the space is not private.
• No transmission system is perfectly secure. Doxy.me sessions are encrypted, but a very low residual risk of interception exists for any internet-based service.
• Telehealth is not a substitute for emergency services. If there is immediate risk to you or someone else, please call 988 or 911.

• A reliable internet connection and a device with a working camera and microphone.
• A private space where you can speak freely and not be overheard. Headphones can help.
• An up-to-date web browser such as Chrome, Safari, Edge or Firefox. There is no app to install and no account to create.
• A quiet location — sessions are not appropriate to hold while driving or in a public place.

If you are experiencing a mental health emergency during or outside a session, call or text 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline). If there is immediate danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department. If a safety concern arises during session, the therapist may contact your emergency contact or local emergency services.

Telehealth sessions are protected by the same confidentiality rules as in-person sessions and by HIPAA. The therapist will not share session content except as required or permitted by law — for example, mandated reporting of abuse, court orders, or situations involving imminent risk of harm. These exceptions are explained in detail in the HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices you receive at intake.

Sessions are not recorded by the therapist. You also agree not to record, screenshot, or screen-capture sessions without explicit written consent from the therapist. Recording without consent may end the therapeutic relationship.

For minors, consent is provided by a parent or legal guardian, with the minor's assent. Additional participants in a session (a partner, family member, or support person) are agreed to in advance.

You may withdraw consent to telehealth at any time and in writing. Withdrawing consent does not end your therapeutic relationship — we will discuss in-person alternatives or referrals. Withdrawing consent does not affect services already provided.

Lizanne goes over this consent with you before your first telehealth session, and you confirm it in writing: a signed copy, or an email reply stating that you have read and agree to it. A copy of your confirmation is kept in your clinical record and is available to you on request.

If anything here is unclear, please bring it up before or during your first session, or email contact@lizannechisholm.com. You can also reach the practice through the contact page.