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posted:: 10/9/2011
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RICHARDSON CONSULTING AND COUNSELING ASSOCIATES
15020 N. Hayden Road, Suite 204
Scottsdale, AZ 85260
602-230-8994

TO: Intensive Therapy Group

RE: Guidelines, Policies, Needs and Boundaries

As you begin this Group, we feel it is important to set out the guidelines,
policies, needs and boundaries for group. This is done so that you and the other
group members may feel safe and know what is expected in this group process.
Too many times we were all expected to know what was expected, but never
had it communicated and so we fell short over and over and our sense of
shame, failure and anger grew. We chose not to continue that practice and
instead tell you all that is expected in this group process. If at any time you
have noticed that we were expecting something from you that was not
communicated, we would hope that you would let us know so that we could talk
about it. This will help to continue the sense of safety and hopefully, love, within
the group. We are also open to any new ideas the group would have and would
gladly discuss them with you. This is your group, and we encourage you to take
ownership in that.

When and Where

Group will meet at 6:00 p.m. at our office located at 15020 N. Hayden Road,
Suite 204, Scottsdale, AZ 85260. We will not have group:

1. If a holiday falls on group night. If this happens we will discuss in group
whether to cancel group or not.
2. If we will be taking a vacation. You will be notified in group as to our
vacation dates.

If you are not sure if group will meet, it is your responsibility to contact us for
verification prior to that group.

Cost

1. Group is $40.00 per group paid at the time of group.
2. We will not be to carry any group members financially. If there is a
problem financially, please let us know as soon as possible.
3. You are “buying” your seat in group. The $40.00 per week will be
required regardless of your attendance in group. The only time the
$40.00 will not be charged will be if we are not conducting group
(vacation time, illness, etc.).
4. Payment is due at each group. We will not be able to take 3rd party
reimbursement (insurance, benefactor, etc.).
RICHARDSON CONSULTING AND COUNSELING ASSOCIATES
15020 N. Hayden Road, Suite 204
Scottsdale, AZ 85260
602-230-8994

5. If requested, we will provide a statement of charges on a quarterly
basis.
6. There will be a charge of $10.00 for NSF checks.
7. If an emergency phone session is required:

 A fee of $20.00 for each 15 minutes will be charged.
 You will be responsible for all long distance charges, if needed.
 You will need to remove all blocks on your phone prior to our call.
 Calls will be returned from Noon to 5 pm Monday through Friday.

Confidentiality

1. Richardson Consulting and Counseling Associates will keep confidential
all that is said and done within group except:

 Where federal and state regulations apply (which has to do with
any ongoing child abuse or potential suicide or homicide).
 Debriefing between Ken and Mary Richardson, if the need arose.
 Where written permission has been given.

2. You will agree to keep confidential outside of group:

 The identity of each group member.
 All personal information shared by group members.

General Information

1. If there is any important information, medically, emotionally, physically or
otherwise that Richardson Consulting and Counseling Associates would
need to know, you will give this information to us in writing and will
process the information within group. The information needs to contain
any specific needs you would have concerning the specific information.

Crisis

1. For all non-life threatening crisis, it is suggested that you call a
group member or a 12 Step sponsor first prior to calling Richardson
Consulting and Counseling Associates.
2. IF YOUR EMERGENCY IS A LIFE THREATENING CRISIS, PLEASE
CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY OR CALL THE CRISIS LINE AT 602/222-
9444.
RICHARDSON CONSULTING AND COUNSELING ASSOCIATES
15020 N. Hayden Road, Suite 204
Scottsdale, AZ 85260
602-230-8994

General Guidelines

1. Agree to honor and respect what individual group members say whether
you agree with it or not.

2. Group is to be a safe place where each member is supported and
encouraged within their recovery, where honesty to self and others can
take place, and where each member’s spirituality can grow and flourish.

3. Each group member needs to have an outside support system (such as a
12 Step recovery program or a spiritually based organization) that they
use. Group is a support to that support system. If group becomes your
only support system, then you will lose out on the gifts and growth
available through attending, working and experiencing that 12 Step
recovery program or other support system.

4. Risk openness to new ideas, tools, thoughts, feelings and behaviors.

5. All issues (past or present) are acceptable in this group and there are no
limitations on what issues can be brought into group.

6. Each week group will begin with a check-in process. Each group member
will talk no more than two to three minutes and request group time if
they are wanting to work or share on an issue.

Check-in consists of:
 Sharing how you are feeling. AND
 Sharing briefly any issues that have arisen. OR
 Sharing how your week has gone. OR
 Sharing your successes.

7. If an issue arises during the week and you would like to work on
that issue in group, please take some time during the week:

 To pray about the issue
 To journal about the issue
 To bring your journaling to group

There may not be enough time each week for each group member
to work. If that occurs, the members who were not able to work
will be able to work first in the following week’s group.
RICHARDSON CONSULTING AND COUNSELING ASSOCIATES
15020 N. Hayden Road, Suite 204
Scottsdale, AZ 85260
602-230-8994

Guidelines for Confrontation of group members or therapist:

1. Use confrontation as a tool to confront your feelings about another’s
behavior or words. Confrontation is not about judgment, blame or
advice giving. It is about self-honesty and accountability for your
thoughts and feelings.

2. Use “I” statements. Say, “I feel angry” instead of “You make me angry.”

3. Express your feelings and thoughts directly and honestly, being
responsible and accountable for your own feelings.

4. Use feeling words when expressing feelings such as “I feel…” or “I see
you are feeling…:”

 Pain
 Sad
 Anger
 Fear
 Lonely
 Shame
 Guilt
 Joy
 Happy

5. Refrain from using judgmental or critical statements or descriptions
when you are describing an individual’s behaviors or words.

6. Make eye contact.

7. Allow facial expression and tone of voice to match your feelings.

8. Speak and be “assertive” (using “I” statements with your strong response
addressing your feelings about the other person’s behavior or words)
rather than “aggressive” (attacking, blaming or judgmental reactive
statements).

9. Be spontaneous and honest - it is more helpful to be revealing than
right.
RICHARDSON CONSULTING AND COUNSELING ASSOCIATES
15020 N. Hayden Road, Suite 204
Scottsdale, AZ 85260
602-230-8994

Guidelines for Sharing Feedback

1. Sharing feedback is done after a group member has completed their work
on an issue. You are expected to share during the feedback portion of
group (even if it is simply to say that you have no feedback for the
speaker).
2. Listen carefully to the speaker and:
 Reflect on what you heard them say or do,
 Share your observations,
 Share how you felt,
 Share how you saw their behavior,
 Keep good eye contact during your sharing and,
 Keep your sharing to less than 2 minutes.
3. Use this feedback example:
 “I heard you say (or I saw you do)…and I felt…and I can
relate to….”
4. Be direct and specific.
5. Feedback is not about advice giving, blame, judgment, or
criticalness of the speaker or the person or the situation the
speaker is talking about.

Guidelines for Responding to Feedback

1. Response to feedback is simply, “Thank You”.
2. Take what fits from the feedback and disregard the rest.

Commitment

1. Each group member will:
 commit to attending the group for six months.
 attend each week unless there is an emergency.
 agrees to contact me prior to group if you are not able to
attend.
2. If you are considering leaving group, you will agree to:
 process the leaving in group
 attend three additional groups. This helps you identify if
you are reacting out of fear or other feelings and thoughts
and leaving the group too soon.
 have closure with the group during your group meeting.
Closure allows the entire group an opportunity to
experience a healthy closure instead of a reactive
abandonment.
RICHARDSON CONSULTING AND COUNSELING ASSOCIATES
15020 N. Hayden Road, Suite 204
Scottsdale, AZ 85260
602-230-8994

GROUP MEMBER INFORMATION

NAME:
________________________________________________________________________

ADDRESS:

________________________________________________________________________

PHONE/CELL PHONE:

EMAIL:

______________________________________________________________________________

As a group member, I agree to the Group Guidelines/Policies/Needs/Boundaries
handout that was given to me by Richardson Consulting and Counseling
Associates. I acknowledge that I have received____or declined_____a copy of
RCCA “Notice of Privacy Practices” (HIPPA Guidelines). This notice describes how
RCCA may use and disclose my protected health information and rights I may
have regarding my protected health information.

____________________________________________________ ____________________
CLIENT SIGNATURE DATE