PRACTITIONER CONTACT INFORMATION:
Danya Epstein Gass (DBA "Danya River")
777 Poplar Ave, #777
Boulder, CO 80304
(720) 309 5904
danya@danyariver.com
www.danyariver.com
CREDENTIALS:
- Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner (SEP)
- Life Coach
- Psychic Intuitive
- Unlicensed Psychotherapist with the State of Colorado* (Registration Number: NLC.0109055)
Please note that as a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner, I am required to register with the State of Colorado as an "Unlicensed Psychotherapist." I am not a licensed mental health professional with a degree in behavioral health. Please see the definition of an Unlicensed Psychotherapist directly below and view the end of this consent form for my training and education.
REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS APPLICABLE TO MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS:
*An Unlicensed Psychotherapist is registered with the State Board of Unlicensed Psychotherapists, is not licensed or certified, and no degree, training or experience is required. A Licensed Clinical Social Worker, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, and a Licensed Professional Counselor must hold a masters degree in their profession and have two years of post-masters supervision. A Licensed Psychologist must hold a doctorate degree in psychology and have one year of post-doctoral supervision. A Licensed Social Worker must hold a masters degree in social work. A Psychologist Candidate, a Marriage and Family Therapist Candidate, and a Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate must hold the necessary licensing degree and be in the process of completing the required supervision for licensure. A Certified Addiction Counselor I (CAC I) must be a high school graduate, and complete required training hours and 1000 hours of supervised experience. A CAC II must complete additional required training hours and 2,000 hours of supervised experience. A CAC III must have a bachelors degree in behavioral health, and complete additional required training hours and 2,000 hours of supervised experience. A Licensed Addiction Counselor must have a clinical masters degree and meet the CAC III requirements.
The Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies has the general responsibility of regulating the practice of unlicensed psychotherapists, licensed psychologists, licensed social workers, licensed professional counselors, licensed marriage and family therapists and licensed school psychologist practicing outside the school setting.
All questions and/or complaints should be addressed to:
Department of Regulatory Agencies
State Board of Unlicensed Psychotherapists
1560 Broadway, Suite 1350
Denver, CO 80202
Phone: 303-894-7800 | Fax: 303-894-7764 | Email: dora_mentalhealthboard@state.co.us
CLIENT RIGHTS, CONFIDENTIALITY & IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
- Generally speaking, the information provided by and to you as the client during your sessions is legally confidential. Since the information is legally confidential, I cannot be forced to disclose any of your information without your consent. Information disclosed to me is privileged communication and cannot be disclosed in any court of competent jurisdiction in the State of Colorado without the consent of the person to whom the testimony sought relates.
- There are exceptions to the general rule of legal confidentiality. These exceptions are listed in the Colorado statutes (C.R.S. 12-43-218). You should be aware that provisions concerning disclosure of confidential communications shall not apply to any delinquency or criminal proceedings, except as provided in section 13-90-107 C.R.S. Confidentiality may also be waived in the event of physical abuse and/or neglect of a child, including any past or present sexual contact with a minor. All therapists are required by law to report such instances to the Denver Dept of Social Services.
- Additionally, in the event of imminent danger to yourself or another person, I am required by law, to protect you, which may result in you being hospitalized, and I have a duty to warn anyone who may be in imminent danger as a result of your threats or frame of mind.
- You are entitled to receive information from me about my methods of therapy, the techniques I use, the duration of your therapy (if I can determine it) and my fee structure. Please ask if you would like to receive this information.
- In a professional relationship such as ours, sexual intimacy between a therapist and a client is never appropriate and should be reported to the board that licenses, registers, or certifies the licensee, registrant or certificate holder.
- You may seek a second opinion from another therapist/practitioner or terminate therapy at any time.
- You have the right to refuse touch, SE techniques, or any other modality I may propose or employ.
ABOUT SOMATIC EXPERIENCING
- Somatic Experiencing® (SE™) is a mind/body approach to the resolution of trauma and stress-related conditions developed by Dr. Peter A. Levine, resulting from his multidisciplinary study of stress physiology, psychology, ethology, biology, neuroscience, indigenous healing practices, and medical biophysics, together with over 45 years of successful clinical application.
- SE is based upon the observation that wild prey animals, though threatened routinely, are rarely traumatized. Animals in the wild utilize innate mechanisms to regulate and discharge the high levels of energy arousal associated with defensive survival behaviors. These mechanisms provide animals with a built-in “immunity’’ to trauma that enables them to return to normal in the aftermath of highly “charged’’ life-threatening experiences.
- SE employs mindful awareness of body sensation to help clients connect to their innate healing wisdom and enabling them to "renegotiate,” discharge and complete stuck survival based impulses of fight, flight, freeze and collapse from the body.
- SE's guidance of the bodily "felt sense," allows the highly aroused survival energies to be safely experienced and gradually discharged while minimizing overwhelm and reenactment.
- SE “titrates” experience (breaks down into small, incremental steps), rather than evoking catharsis - which can overwhelm the regulatory mechanisms of the organism.
- SE may employ gentle touch in support of the renegotiation process.
USE OF TOUCH FOR IN-PERSON SESSIONS:
Somatic Experiencing is not "bodywork," in that there is no tissue or joint manipulation involved. Touch may or may not be provided depending on what feels comfortable and helpful to you. I always aim for "enthusiastic consent" for any physical contact and boundaries are always respected. You may request that (non-sexual) physical contact be initiated, adjusted or ceased at any time during your session. Depending on what is comfortable for you, you may be seated, laying on a couch or on a massage table fully clothed.
A few ways touch may be involved:
- Using my hands to offer counter resistance for your hands, legs or other body parts to push against to help you feel successful in a gesture of self protection.
- Using my hands to put pressure on your feet, knees, shoulders, head or other body parts while you are seated to help you feel more supported, grounded and connected to your body.
- Gently holding the sides of your shoulders, torso, hips, back, belly, feet, etc. while on a massage table to help you feel more sense of containment while your body processes challenging sensations or emotions.
- Providing support for the neck or head and helping these vulnerable areas feel safer while moving through various gestures or while resting.
- Sometimes touch can be used to gently stimulate old activation patterns in the body and so that we can help you rework the intensity in a new, safe and confident way.
- Simply holding your hand to help you feel cared for and supported for in a moment of challenge.
PAYMENT:
Payment is due at or before the time of service. Unless otherwise arranged, I request cash payment for in-person sessions. For remote sessions you may use fee-free bank-to-bank transfer (Zelle), Venmo or PayPal "Friends & Family." Credit cards not accepted unless you are otherwise unable to work together and special arrangements are made in which you agree to cover any associated credit card fees. Payments are to be made in USD and client agrees to pay for any international transfer fees.
If payment is in arrears more than 90 days and a fee payment schedule cannot be agreed upon, your account will be turned over to a collection agency, an attorney, or small claims court.
MISSED APPOINTMENTS & CANCELLATIONS:
If you are unable to keep an appointment, please notify me as soon as possible. I appreciate at least 48-hours notice (ideally more) so I can schedule other clients. If you cancel or miss an appointment with less than 24-hour notice, you will be billed full-rate for the session.
- *True emergencies* or *serious* illness (which leaves you unable to engage in the session) will be exempt from the 24-hour cancellation fee. However, if you are not feeling well the day before the session and think you may need to miss, please notify me asap.
- Minor illness, wellbeing, childcare or work-related issues are not considered emergencies and will be charged full-rate with less than 24-hours notice.
- In any of these cases, I will attempt to reschedule for the same week if I have a space in my calendar that works for you. If rescheduled for the same week, the cancellation fee for the missed session will be waived. If we are not able to find a time the same week, full payment will be due for non-emergency cancellations.
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY:
In case of an emergency please call 911 or go to the nearest available emergency room.
Health Information Privacy Notice (HIPAA):
By signing this disclosure you acknowledge receipt of the HIPAA policies for your review. Once you have reviewed these policies, please return a signed copy to me. You are not required to sign this notice to receive treatment. Please verbally inform me if you elect to not sign the notice. If you have any questions or would like additional information, please feel free to ask me.
TRAINING & EDUCATION:
- Somatic Experiencing Professional Training
- Co-Active Professional Coach Training (with Co-Active Coaching Institute [CTI])
- Life Coach Training (with Judith Ansara)
- Internal Family Systems (IFS) Online Circle (6-month training)
- SE Master Class: Advanced Work with Complex Syndromes” (with Dr. Peter A. Levine)
- Touch Skills Training for Trauma Therapists: Modules I & II (with Kathy Kain)
- Attachment Mastery (with Diane Poole Heller)
- “Musing from the Womb” (pre- and perinatal trauma workshop with Ariel Giarretto)
- Reiki Practitioner Training: Levels I and II
- Psychic Training (with Psychic Horizons and with Simple Spirit)
- Barbara Brennan Hands of Light Introductory Training (with Carolyn Eberle)
- Landmark Education: Curriculum for Living, Introduction Leaders Program, and 3-year Wisdom course series
- Wesleyan University (CT) - Undergraduate studies in Pre-Med & Music