Rabbi-Client Understanding

Communication 

This agreement outlines the context for your spiritual exploration, support, and/or guidance with Rabbi Natan Fenner.  Please read the entire agreement, contact me before completing it if you have any questions, then complete and return it if you are in agreement and wish to proceed.

You, as a client, are the reason and focus for our interaction.  You deserve warm, comforting, caring and skilled professional attention.  Your questions, goals, challenges, needs, or wants – to the extent they can be named and shared – will shape our time together.  During our spiritual support conversation, you are at all times encouraged – and free – to ask for, respond, or disclose (or not) in whatever way feels helpful or of interest to you.  You may at any time choose not to answer a question; you may choose to clarify or correct something Rabbi Fenner may have missed; you may choose to change topics or go in a different direction, or to end a session altogether.  It is hoped that our communication will be as honest, authentic, relevant, and beneficial as possible.

It is understood that our interaction will take place via telephone or video.  We may communicate via email, phone, or voicemail for scheduling purposes; there is no expectation of in-person support or communication through text/SMS. 

Clients acknowledge that Rabbi Fenner offers his services on a part-time basis and does not check or respond to messages every day.  Please allow two business days for Rabbi Fenner to respond to messages.  Unless Rabbi Fenner makes a specific commitment to a client, there is no expectation that he is available for supportive communication or spiritual care outside of scheduled appointments, or beyond the conclusion of a counseling relationship.

There may be reason for Rabbi Fenner to initiate unscheduled contact with a client, for instance to convey a relevant resource, or to check in after a missed appointment.  Clients consent to receiving phone and email messages from Rabbi Fenner through any of the contact addresses or phone numbers a client has given.  It is the client’s responsibility to notify Rabbi Fenner if they wish to limit that consent.

Privacy and Confidentiality

It is Rabbi Fenner’s policy and professional obligation to hold information received from or about clients in strict professional confidence.  Beyond the exceptions listed in this section, Rabbi Fenner does not divulge the names, identities, contact information, or personal information of his clients.  Client confidentiality is legally protected in all instances except those involving child abuse or neglect, elder abuse or neglect, homicidal threats against others, and/or instances of extreme danger to oneself. 

If someone refers a client to Rabbi Fenner’s practice, he may acknowledge the referral.  The client’s consent for this acknowledgment is presumed unless the client states otherwise. 

Rabbi Fenner may disclose confidential client information when a client gives explicit permission.

Additionally, Rabbi Fenner may seek professional consultation in a discreet manner which protects a client’s identity.

Rabbi Fenner uses Square (square.com, squareup.com) as a payment processing platform for U.S.-based credit card transactions and bank (ACH) transfers.  Rabbi Fenner sends invoices or links for clients to be able to enter their own card or bank information through Square; Rabbi Fenner does not receive or retain clients’ personal account information.  If an issue arises with a payment, Rabbi Fenner may need to share a client’s name, contact information, category of service, invoice or transaction date, and payment amount with Square in order to identify or resolve the issue in accordance with Square’s Terms and Conditions.

Scheduling, Cancellation

Depending on the needs and interests of a new client, Rabbi Fenner normally schedules between one and three initial appointments.  During the initial session(s), we will discuss what you (the client) are seeking and what Rabbi Fenner can offer in your situation.  If desired, subsequent sessions can be scheduled according to mutual availability.  At any point the client may request to discuss whether or how to continue or conclude the relationship.

If you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment, please call or email Rabbi Fenner at least one full business day in advance.  Because Rabbi Fenner prepares for and blocks out exclusive time for each scheduled client appointment, he reserves the right to invoice a client for 50% of the session fee for cancellations with less than 24 hours advance notice, for 100% of the session fee for a cancellation with less than 1 hour advance notice, and likewise 100% for a missed appointment with no advance communication from the client.  

Urgent concerns, Emergencies

Rabbi Fenner is available for scheduled appointments on a part-time basis; his practice is not set up to provide urgent or emergency response.  If a client anticipates needs for more timely response or urgent care, the client agrees to discuss their concerns and review potential support resources with Rabbi Fenner in advance during a scheduled appointment.  In case of emergency or urgent need, including suicidal feelings, clients are advised and agree to seek help from a warm line, hotline, 9-1-1, primary care physician, psychiatrist, therapist, or other sources with more immediate response capacity. 

Payment

Rabbi Fenner’s fee for individual support ranges from $180 to $250 per regular phone or video session, taking into account factors such as frequency of appointments and geographic variation in cost of living.  Rabbi Fenner has limited sliding scale availability beyond that range, based on a client’s financial capacity.  The amount is normally determined in advance by mutual agreement, typically when arranging for the initial appointment(s).  If a client’s circumstances or needs change, the fee can be adjusted upon mutual agreement in advance of the next appointment.  Check-ins or brief consultations may be requested and are billed in 15-minute increments based on Rabbi Fenner’s hourly rate.

Payment is due at the time services are rendered (or at the time of a missed or cancelled appointment).  For clients with U.S. accounts, an invoice from Square is normally furnished via email shortly after an appointment, to facilitate credit card payments or bank (ACH) transfers.  You will automatically receive a receipt from Square when your payment has been processed.  For clients with Canadian accounts, Rabbi Fenner accepts payments through Interac.

You as the client must be the legal account holder, or a named authorized user, of the credit card or bank account whose information you submit to Square or Interac for payment purposes.

Payments rendered to Rabbi Fenner for individual support are non-refundable.

Rabbi Fenner does not bill insurance for his services.

Acknowledgement

In completing the form below, Rabbi Fenner and client indicate that they understand and agree to uphold all aspects of this agreement.