If you are increasing your fees, where should this be communicated?

Communicating fee increases through informed consent is vital to maintaining transparency and ethical guidelines in practice. Informed consent is a comprehensive mechanism that ensures clients are fully aware of the terms of their treatment, including fees. This approach not only protects the client's right to make informed choices about their care but also fosters trust between the client and the practitioner.

Including the date of implementation within the informed consent helps clients understand when the new fees will take effect, allowing them to prepare accordingly. This is particularly important in a therapeutic relationship, where clients may have varying financial situations and may need to plan for changes in their expenses.

While verbal communication during sessions, public notices, or follow-up emails may convey information about fee increases, they lack the formal, detailed context needed for informed consent. The latter ensures clients are not only aware of the changes but also agree to them, in compliance with ethical and legal standards in social work practice.