Informed Consent, CANCELLATION, PAYMENT & REFUND POLICY
Shawn McBride, MA, LCPC #LC15835
Federal Tax ID # 86-2615979
The Couples Counseling & Coaching Center, LLC
Shawn McBride Therapy, LLC

I. SERVICE CATEGORIES
To ensure clarity, services are divided into three categories:

1. Clinical Therapy (Licensed Mental Health Services)
Provided by Shawn McBride, MA, LCPC under state licensure.
Includes individual therapy, couples therapy, premarital counseling, and clinical assessments.
These services are healthcare services governed by professional ethics and state law.
2. Pastoral Counseling (Faith-Based Guidance)
Spiritual guidance rooted in Christian principles.
This is not medical or mental health treatment unless explicitly stated.
3. Coaching (Non-Clinical Services)
Relationship coaching, personal development, accountability, and growth focused services.
Coaching does not diagnose, treat, or provide mental health care.

II. Description of Practice
Shawn McBride, MA, LCPC is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in the State of Maryland (License ##LC15835). Services are provided through The Couples Counseling & Coaching Center, LLC and Shawn McBride Therapy, LLC.
Services may include, but are not limited to:
• Individual counseling
• Couples counseling
• Premarital counseling
• Relationship intensives
• Pastoral counseling
• Coaching services
• Structured therapeutic and educational programs
• Assessments and evaluations
Shawn McBride, MA, LCPC is solely responsible for all psychotherapy services delivered under this practice.

1A. Scope of Services & Provider Designation (Team Members)
Shawn McBride, MA, LCPC is the only licensed clinical provider rendering psychotherapy services under this practice.
Any services provided by team members, associates, facilitators, coaches, pastoral counselors, or staff members other than Shawn McBride, MA, LCPC are not psychotherapy and are provided exclusively under a coaching and/or pastoral counseling framework.
This applies to all services delivered:
• In-state or out-of-state
• Virtually or in person
• Individually or in group settings
Clients acknowledge and understand that:
• Coaching and pastoral counseling services are not clinical psychotherapy
• These services do not involve diagnosis or treatment of mental health disorders
• Coaching and pastoral counseling are educational, relational, spiritual, and growth-oriented in nature
• Different confidentiality, documentation, and professional standards may apply than those governing psychotherapy
Participation in services with any provider other than Shawn McBride, MA, LCPC constitutes informed consent to receive coaching and/or pastoral counseling services, regardless of client location.

2A. Client Rights & Responsibilities
Clients have the right to:
• Ask questions about therapeutic, coaching, or pastoral approaches • Decline any technique or intervention
• Receive respectful, ethical, and professional care
• Request referrals if services are no longer appropriate
• Review records in accordance with applicable laws
• Right to Discontinue Services
Clients may choose to discontinue therapy or coaching at any time. However, discontinuation does not alter financial responsibility for services already rendered or for time, clinical capacity, and resources reserved under a program or package agreement. Please see refund policy for further explanation.

3A. Nature of Therapy, Coaching, & Pastoral Counseling
Therapy, coaching, and pastoral counseling are collaborative processes that may involve emotional discomfort, increased self-awareness, exploration of relational patterns, and temporary increases in stress or conflict.
No specific outcome or result is guaranteed.
Clients receiving services from team members other than Shawn McBride, MA, LCPC acknowledge that such services fall under coaching or pastoral counseling, not psychotherapy, regardless of
geographic location.

4A. Appointments & Session Structure
• Standard sessions are 55 minutes
• Sessions may be weekly, bi-weekly, or program-based
• Sessions begin and end on time
Arriving more than 15 minutes late constitutes a missed session and is charged in full.

5A. Confidentiality & Legal Limits
All services are confidential within the limits of the law, including but not limited to:
• Risk of harm to self or others
• Abuse or neglect of a child, elderly adult, or vulnerable person • Court orders or other legal mandates

6A. Communication Policy
Text and email are used for scheduling and administrative purposes only. Therapy, coaching, or pastoral counseling is not conducted via text, email, or social media.

7A. Informed Consent/Refund Policy Acknowledgment
By scheduling an appointment, enrolling in a program, or submitting payment, you acknowledge that you have read, understand, and agree to all terms outlined in this Informed Consent & Refund Policy.

8A. General Refund Policy – No Refunds
All counseling, therapy, coaching, pastoral counseling services, packages, programs, intensives, and assessments are non-refundable. Once payment is
submitted and services are scheduled or a program is initiated, clients are financially responsible for the full fee associated with the service or program. No refunds or partial refunds will be issued under any circumstances, except where required by law or cancellation of services by Shawn McBride, MA, LCPC.

9A. Programs, Packages, & Multi-Month Services
Programs and packages—including multi-session and 6-month programs—are time-based professional commitments, not pay-per-session arrangements.
By enrolling, clients understand and agree that:
• Program fees are earned upon enrollment
• Clinical and program capacity is reserved in advance
• Treatment planning, scheduling priority, and administrative resources are allocated at enrollment
• Missed, unused, or forfeited sessions do not result in refunds or credits
• Early termination by the client does not relieve financial responsibility
Clients who choose not to complete a program remain responsible for the full program fee.

10A. Individual Sessions
Individual sessions are non-refundable once scheduled.
Failure to attend a scheduled session, late arrival, or cancellation outside of the required notice period does not result in a refund or credit.

11A. Assessments & Professional Review Services
All assessments, evaluations, scoring, reports, and professional reviews are non-refundable.
These services require dedicated professional time, analysis, preparation, and clinical judgment. Once initiated, the time and expertise invested cannot be recovered or reassigned.

12A. Dissatisfaction, Discomfort, or Outcomes
Refunds will not be issued due to:
• Emotional discomfort or distress related to the therapeutic or coaching process
• Dissatisfaction with pace, structure, or approach
• Relationship outcomes or decisions made during services
• Changes in motivation, readiness, or commitment
• External life circumstances or scheduling challenges
Therapy and coaching involve effort, accountability, and emotional engagement. Outcomes cannot be guaranteed.

13A. Client-Initiated Termination
Clients may discontinue services at any time. However, discontinuation does not alter financial responsibility for services rendered or for time, clinical capacity, and resources reserved under a program or package agreement.
No refunds are issued for client-initiated termination.

14A. Therapist-Initiated Termination
If services are terminated by the therapist due to clinical, ethical, or safety concerns, reasonable efforts will be made to provide referrals or transition support.
In such cases, unused sessions may be credited at the sole discretion of the practice; however, refunds are not guaranteed and are not standard practice.

15A. Transferability of Services
Unused sessions, packages, or program components are non-transferable unless explicitly approved in writing by the practice. Approval is rare and granted solely at the discretion of the practice.

16A. Chargebacks & Payment Disputes
Clients agree not to initiate chargebacks or payment disputes for services rendered or programs enrolled in.
Initiating a chargeback may result in:
• Immediate termination of services
• Documentation submitted to the payment processor
• Referral to collections for unpaid balances

17A. Acknowledgment & Acceptance
By scheduling an appointment, enrolling in a program, or submitting payment, clients acknowledge that they have read, understand, and agree to this Refund Policy in full.
This policy is enforced uniformly to ensure fairness, clarity, and sustainability of services.

Comprehensive Couples Assessment – Non-Refundable
The Comprehensive Couples Assessment ($330) is non-refundable. If services are canceled, the $330 cost of the assessment will be deducted from any refund due.

This assessment requires a minimum of 24 hours of professional time to evaluate, score, and prepare. It involves extensive review, analysis, and focus from the therapist in order to deliver accurate and meaningful results. Because the assessment process is already completed once it has been initiated, the time and expertise invested cannot be recovered or repurposed, which is why it is non-refundable.

18A. Clinical Documentation & Follow-Up Work
Time spent outside of sessions on clinically necessary tasks — such as reviewing records, preparing summaries, writing reports, responding to clinical emails, or completing treatment documentation — may be billed at the same hourly rate as therapy sessions. These activities require professional expertise, time, and clinical judgment, and are considered part of the therapeutic service provided. This ensures accurate, ethical, and high-quality care for every client.

19A. CLIENT ACKNOWLEDGMENT
By scheduling an appointment, enrolling in a program, or submitting payment, clients acknowledge that they have read, understand, and agree to this policy. This is agreed to by checking acknowledgment on the scheduling page before payment is submitted.