BIBLICAL COUNSELING INFORMED CONSENT AND SERVICES AGREEMENT

Ozarks Biblical Counseling Services LLC

This agreement explains the nature and scope of the biblical counseling services offered by Ozarks Biblical Counseling Services LLC, the responsibilities of the counselee and the practice, and the policies governing participation in biblical counseling. Please read the entire agreement carefully before signing.

1. NATURE, PURPOSE, AND SCOPE OF BIBLICAL COUNSELING

Ozarks Biblical Counseling Services LLC provides faith-based biblical counseling from an explicitly Christian perspective.

Biblical counseling is a form of spiritual instruction, encouragement, discipleship, and practical guidance based upon the Bible and historic Christian beliefs. Counseling sessions may include prayer, the study and application of Scripture, discussion of personal beliefs and conduct, spiritual encouragement, and practical steps intended to help the counselee respond to life’s difficulties in a manner consistent with biblical principles.

The counselee understands and agrees that Cody Shores provides biblical counseling and is not providing licensed professional counseling, psychotherapy, psychological treatment, psychiatric treatment, medical treatment, or any other licensed healthcare service.

Cody Shores is not licensed by the State of Missouri as a professional counselor, psychologist, clinical social worker, psychiatrist, medical doctor, marriage and family therapist, or other mental-health or healthcare professional. Biblical counseling services are not represented or offered as a substitute for services provided by appropriately licensed medical or mental-health professionals.

No mental-health or medical diagnosis will be made through these services. The biblical counselor does not prescribe medication, advise the counselee to begin, discontinue, or alter medication, or provide medical advice. Questions concerning medication, diagnosis, medical treatment, or licensed mental-health treatment should be addressed to a qualified and appropriately licensed professional.

The counselee is voluntarily seeking counseling that is distinctly biblical and Christian in its nature. The counselee understands that the biblical counselor’s guidance, observations, and recommendations will be shaped by the biblical counselor’s understanding of Scripture and Christian doctrine, even when the counselee does not personally agree with every belief or recommendation discussed.

Biblical counseling may supplement appropriate pastoral, medical, psychiatric, psychological, or other professional care, but it should not be understood as replacing such care. When a matter appears to be outside the biblical counselor’s training, experience, competence, or appropriate scope of service, the biblical counselor may recommend, request, or require that the counselee obtain an evaluation or assistance from another qualified provider as a condition of continuing biblical counseling.

The counselee understands that participation is voluntary and that the counselee may ask questions about the counseling process, decline a particular recommendation, seek another opinion, obtain licensed professional services, or discontinue biblical counseling at any time, subject to the financial and cancellation policies contained in this agreement.

By signing below, the counselee acknowledges that the nature, religious foundation, limitations, and scope of the services have been clearly explained and understood.

Counselee’s initials: __________

2. PRIVACY, CONFIDENTIALITY, AND LIMITS OF CONFIDENTIALITY

Ozarks Biblical Counseling Services LLC considers the privacy of each counselee important. Information disclosed during biblical counseling will ordinarily be treated as private and will not be intentionally disclosed to another person without the counselee’s written authorization, except as described in this agreement or as otherwise permitted or required by law.

Because Cody Shores is not a licensed mental-health professional, the counselee should not assume that communications or records created during biblical counseling are protected by the same legal privileges that may apply to communications with certain licensed healthcare or mental-health professionals. Questions concerning whether a particular communication is legally privileged should be directed to a qualified attorney.

Confidentiality cannot be guaranteed in every circumstance. Information may be disclosed when Cody Shores, acting in good faith, believes that disclosure is reasonably necessary or appropriate for particular reasons, including:

Suspected abuse or neglect of a child;

Suspected abuse, neglect, exploitation, or danger involving an elderly, disabled, eligible, or otherwise vulnerable adult;

A serious or reasonably foreseeable threat of physical harm to the counselee or another person;

A medical, psychiatric, or other emergency;

A court order, subpoena, legal proceeding, governmental investigation, or other legal requirement;

The defense of Ozarks Biblical Counseling Services LLC or Cody Shores against a complaint, claim, lawsuit, charge, or other allegation;

Consultation with an attorney, insurance representative, professional consultant, ministry adviser, or other person assisting with legal, ethical, safety, or risk-management concerns;

Collection of unpaid fees or enforcement of the terms of this agreement; or

Another circumstance in which disclosure is authorized or required by applicable law.

When reasonably possible, only the information believed necessary for those particular reasons will be disclosed. However, Ozarks Biblical Counseling Services LLC cannot guarantee that a court, government agency, law-enforcement authority, insurer, payment processor, technology provider, or other third party will maintain information in confidence after it has been lawfully disclosed.

Information will not ordinarily be shared with the counselee’s pastor, church leaders, family members, friends, medical providers, licensed mental-health providers, employer, school, or other third parties without the counselee’s written authorization. The counselee’s participation in biblical counseling does not, by itself, authorize such disclosures.

The counselee may be asked to sign a separate authorization identifying the person or organization with whom information may be shared, the information that may be disclosed, the purpose of the disclosure, and the period during which the authorization will remain effective.

If counseling involves a couple, family, minor, group, church referral, or another person participating in or paying for services, additional confidentiality rules may apply. Those rules will be addressed in a separate agreement or supplemental consent form when applicable.

The counselee understands that Ozarks Biblical Counseling Services LLC cannot control or guarantee the confidentiality of information that the counselee personally shares with others or that another participant independently discloses.

By signing the complete Biblical Counseling Informed Consent and Services Agreement, the counselee acknowledges having read and understood both the general commitment to privacy and the circumstances in which confidentiality may be limited.

Counselee’s initials: __________

3. EMERGENCIES, CRISES, AND SAFETY CONCERNS

Ozarks Biblical Counseling Services LLC is not an emergency service, crisis-response service, medical facility, psychiatric facility, or provider of emergency mental-health treatment. Cody Shores does not provide twenty-four-hour availability, emergency intervention, crisis stabilization, or continuous monitoring of telephone calls, voicemail, email, text messages, or other communications.

The counselee should not use voicemail, email, text messaging, online scheduling, or other routine communication methods to seek immediate assistance during an emergency or crisis. Messages may not be received or reviewed promptly, including during evenings, weekends, holidays, vacations, illness, appointments, or other periods of unavailability.

If the counselee believes that the counselee or another person is in immediate danger, may attempt suicide or serious self-harm, may seriously harm another person, is experiencing a medical emergency, or otherwise requires immediate assistance, the counselee should:

Call 911;

Go to the nearest hospital emergency department;

Call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988; or

Contact another appropriate emergency, medical, crisis-response, or law-enforcement service.

The counselee remains responsible for seeking appropriate emergency, medical, psychiatric, or licensed mental-health assistance when needed. Scheduling or participating in biblical counseling does not create an agreement that Ozarks Biblical Counseling Services LLC or Cody Shores will provide emergency services, crisis supervision, or continuous assessment of the counselee’s safety.

If Cody Shores becomes aware of information that reasonably suggests an immediate or serious risk of harm to the counselee or another person, he may take actions that he believes in good faith are reasonably necessary for safety. These actions may include contacting emergency services, law enforcement, an emergency contact, a parent or legal guardian, a medical or mental-health provider, or another person who may be able to assist.

When reasonably possible, only information believed necessary for those particular reasons will be disclosed. The counselee understands, however, that emergency circumstances may require action without the counselee’s prior knowledge, permission, or participation.

The counselee agrees to provide accurate and current contact information, an emergency contact, and, when receiving services remotely, the physical location from which the counselee is participating. The counselee agrees to notify Ozarks Biblical Counseling Services LLC when this information changes.

Ozarks Biblical Counseling Services LLC may postpone, interrupt, or discontinue a biblical counseling session when Cody Shores believes that the counselee requires emergency, medical, psychiatric, licensed mental-health, substance-use, or other specialized assistance beyond the scope of biblical counseling. Continued biblical counseling may be conditioned upon the counselee obtaining an appropriate evaluation, treatment, safety plan, or other professional assistance.

Nothing in this section guarantees that Ozarks Biblical Counseling Services LLC or Cody Shores will identify, prevent, or successfully respond to every emergency, crisis, act of self-harm, suicide attempt, violent act, medical event, or other dangerous situation.

By signing the complete Biblical Counseling Informed Consent and Services Agreement, the counselee acknowledges having read and understood the limitations of the services offered and the procedures to follow during an emergency or crisis.

Counselee’s initials: __________

4. FEES, PAYMENT, CANCELLATIONS, AND REFUNDS

The counselee agrees to pay the fees established by Ozarks Biblical Counseling Services LLC for all scheduled biblical counseling services. Current fees will be disclosed before services begin and may also be displayed through the practice’s website, scheduling platform, payment portal, or other written materials.

Payment is due at the time specified during scheduling and ordinarily no later than the beginning of each counseling session, unless another written arrangement has been approved in advance. The counselee remains responsible for all applicable fees regardless of whether another person, church, ministry, employer, family member, or organization has agreed or offered to provide payment.

Ozarks Biblical Counseling Services LLC does not bill health insurance and does not represent its services as medical care, psychotherapy, or licensed mental-health treatment. The practice does not guarantee that any insurance company, employer, flexible spending account, health savings account, church, ministry, or other third party will reimburse the counselee for biblical counseling services.

Appointments are reserved specifically for the counselee. The counselee agrees to provide at least _____ hours’ notice when canceling or rescheduling an appointment.

Appointments canceled or rescheduled with less than the required notice may be charged a late-cancellation fee of $__________ or up to the full scheduled session fee, except when Ozarks Biblical Counseling Services LLC determines that an exception is appropriate because of an emergency or other unusual circumstance.

A counselee who does not attend a scheduled appointment and does not provide advance notice may be charged the full scheduled session fee. Arriving late does not ordinarily extend the scheduled ending time, and the full session fee may still apply.

Ozarks Biblical Counseling Services LLC may require advance payment, a valid payment method on file, or payment of an outstanding balance before scheduling or continuing services. The counselee authorizes only those charges specifically permitted by this agreement or by a separate payment authorization.

The counselee agrees to notify Ozarks Biblical Counseling Services LLC promptly of any payment error or disputed charge. A payment dispute does not automatically suspend the counselee’s responsibility for fees that are properly owed under this agreement.

Fees already earned for completed sessions are nonrefundable. Advance payments for services that have not yet been provided will be handled according to the specific offer, package terms, written payment arrangement, and applicable law.

If Ozarks Biblical Counseling Services LLC cancels a session, the counselee will not be charged for that session. Any advance payment made specifically for a session canceled by the practice will be credited toward a future session or refunded, as appropriate.

Fees may be changed in the future. Reasonable advance notice will ordinarily be provided before a new fee applies to an existing counselee. The counselee may decide whether to continue services after receiving notice of a fee change.

If an unpaid balance remains, Ozarks Biblical Counseling Services LLC may suspend scheduling, discontinue services, use lawful payment-collection methods, or disclose limited information reasonably necessary to obtain payment. Whenever reasonably possible, only information believed necessary for those particular reasons will be disclosed.

Financial hardship does not automatically eliminate an amount already owed. However, the counselee may ask whether a payment arrangement, reduced-fee option, scholarship, church assistance, or referral to another resource is available. No reduced fee or alternative arrangement is effective unless confirmed in writing.

By signing the complete Biblical Counseling Informed Consent and Services Agreement, the counselee acknowledges having read, understood, and agreed to the fees, payment requirements, cancellation policy, and refund terms.

Counselee’s initials: __________

5. TELEPHONE, EMAIL, TEXT MESSAGING, AND ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS

Ozarks Biblical Counseling Services LLC may communicate with the counselee by telephone, voicemail, email, text message, scheduling platform, payment portal, video-conferencing platform, or another communication method selected by the practice.

These communication methods may be used for purposes such as scheduling, appointment reminders, cancellations, payment matters, administrative questions, resource delivery, homework assignments, and limited follow-up between sessions.

Email, ordinary text messaging, voicemail, and similar communication methods may not be completely private or secure. Messages may be viewed, intercepted, forwarded, misdirected, stored, backed up, or accessed by other individuals, service providers, employers, family members, or persons who have access to the counselee’s device, telephone number, email account, or communication service.

Although Ozarks Biblical Counseling Services LLC will use reasonable care when communicating electronically, complete confidentiality and security cannot be guaranteed. The counselee accepts the privacy risks associated with the communication methods the counselee chooses to use.

The counselee agrees to provide accurate contact information and to notify Ozarks Biblical Counseling Services LLC promptly when a telephone number, email address, mailing address, emergency contact, or other relevant contact information changes.

Email and text messaging should ordinarily be limited to brief administrative communications, scheduling matters, resources, and limited follow-up. They are not intended to serve as a substitute for a scheduled biblical counseling session or as a means of receiving extensive counseling.

Cody Shores is not continuously available and does not continuously monitor voicemail, email, text messages, scheduling-platform messages, or other communications. The counselee should not use these methods to communicate an emergency, crisis, imminent threat, or urgent safety concern.

Messages may not be reviewed or answered immediately, including during counseling sessions, evenings, weekends, holidays, vacations, illness, travel, or other periods of unavailability. The counselee should follow the emergency procedures stated in Section 3 whenever immediate assistance may be needed.

The counselee understands that sending sensitive or personal information by email, text message, voicemail, or another electronic method may increase the possibility of unintended disclosure. The counselee should limit the amount of sensitive information included in such communications whenever practical.

Ozarks Biblical Counseling Services LLC may retain communications that relate to the counselee, the services provided, scheduling, payment, safety concerns, or other business matters as part of its records.

The counselee should not record, reproduce, photograph, livestream, distribute, publish, or permit another person or automated service to record a counseling session without Cody Shores’s prior written permission. Any authorized recording will be addressed through a separate written agreement.

Ozarks Biblical Counseling Services LLC will not intentionally communicate through the counselee’s personal social-media account or accept social-media friend, follow, or connection requests for the purpose of providing biblical counseling. Messages sent through social-media platforms may not be reviewed or answered.

The counselee may withdraw or revise these communication permissions by providing written notice to Ozarks Biblical Counseling Services LLC. A change will apply to future communications after the practice has had a reasonable opportunity to process the request.

By signing the complete Biblical Counseling Informed Consent and Services Agreement, the counselee acknowledges having read and understood the permitted uses, limitations, response expectations, and privacy risks associated with electronic and telephone communications.

Counselee’s initials: __________

6. REMOTE AND ONLINE BIBLICAL COUNSELING

Ozarks Biblical Counseling Services LLC may provide biblical counseling through video conferencing, telephone, or another approved remote communication method. Remote biblical counseling allows the counselee and Cody Shores to participate from different physical locations.

Remote biblical counseling remains faith-based biblical counseling and does not become licensed professional counseling, psychotherapy, telehealth, medical treatment, or another licensed healthcare service merely because it is provided through electronic communication.

Remote services may involve risks and limitations that are different from in-person meetings. These may include interrupted or failed internet connections, poor audio or video quality, equipment failure, unauthorized access, accidental disclosure, interruptions by other individuals, and limitations in Cody Shores’s ability to observe the counselee’s surroundings, behavior, physical condition, or immediate safety.

Ozarks Biblical Counseling Services LLC will use reasonable measures intended to protect privacy during remote sessions. However, complete privacy, confidentiality, uninterrupted access, and security cannot be guaranteed.

The counselee agrees to participate from a location that is reasonably private, safe, and appropriate for discussing personal matters. The counselee is responsible for determining whether another person can hear, observe, record, or otherwise access the session from the counselee’s location.

At the beginning of each remote session, the counselee may be asked to confirm:

The counselee’s current physical location;

A telephone number at which the counselee can be reached;

Whether another person is present or able to hear the session; and

Whether the counselee’s emergency contact information remains current.

The counselee agrees not to participate in a remote session while driving, operating machinery, engaging in another unsafe activity, or from a location where meaningful privacy and attention cannot reasonably be maintained.

Neither the counselee nor another person may record, photograph, reproduce, livestream, transcribe, distribute, or publish any portion of a remote counseling session without Cody Shores’s prior written permission. This prohibition includes the use of automated transcription, artificial-intelligence note-taking, or recording services unless separately authorized in writing.

If the video or telephone connection is interrupted, Cody Shores may attempt to reconnect using the same method, contact the counselee by telephone, or reschedule the session. A temporary technology failure does not guarantee that the session will be extended beyond its scheduled ending time.

If the connection fails during an emergency or serious safety concern, Cody Shores may contact the counselee by telephone, contact the counselee’s emergency contact, request assistance from emergency services or law enforcement in the counselee’s location, or take another action believed in good faith to be reasonably necessary for safety.

The counselee understands that emergency assistance may be delayed or limited if the counselee provides an inaccurate location, participates from an undisclosed location, or fails to maintain current contact and emergency information.

The counselee remains responsible for seeking immediate emergency, medical, psychiatric, or licensed mental-health assistance when needed. Remote biblical counseling is not appropriate for emergencies and does not provide continuous observation, monitoring, or crisis-response services.

Ozarks Biblical Counseling Services LLC may determine that remote biblical counseling is not appropriate for a particular person, concern, location, or circumstance. The practice may require in-person services, an evaluation by a qualified professional, additional support, or referral to another provider before remote biblical counseling begins or continues.

The availability of remote biblical counseling may depend upon the counselee’s physical location and any laws, regulations, insurance requirements, or other restrictions that may apply. The counselee agrees to disclose the state and country from which the counselee will participate and to notify Ozarks Biblical Counseling Services LLC before participating from a different jurisdiction.

By signing the complete Biblical Counseling Informed Consent and Services Agreement, the counselee acknowledges having read and understood the nature, risks, limitations, privacy concerns, emergency procedures, and technological requirements associated with remote biblical counseling.

Counselee’s initials: __________

7. COUNSELEE RECORDS, DOCUMENTATION, STORAGE, AND RETENTION

Ozarks Biblical Counseling Services LLC may create and maintain records relating to the counselee and the biblical counseling services provided. These records may include intake information, signed agreements, contact information, scheduling and payment records, communications, counseling notes, assignments, resources provided, safety concerns, referrals, authorizations, and other information reasonably related to the services or operation of the practice.

Counseling notes are intended to provide a concise record of matters relevant to the counseling process, recommendations made, actions taken, and significant concerns. They are not intended to be a complete transcript or word-for-word account of each session.

Records may be created, stored, transmitted, or backed up in paper or electronic form. Electronic records may be maintained through computers, mobile devices, cloud-storage services, scheduling platforms, payment processors, email providers, video-conferencing services, or other technology providers used by Ozarks Biblical Counseling Services LLC.

Ozarks Biblical Counseling Services LLC will use reasonable administrative, physical, and technological measures intended to protect counselee information from unauthorized access, loss, misuse, or disclosure. However, no paper or electronic recordkeeping system can be guaranteed to be completely secure, private, error-free, or immune from equipment failure, cyberattack, theft, accidental disclosure, or other loss.

Access to counselee records will ordinarily be limited to Cody Shores and persons who reasonably require access for administrative, legal, financial, technological, insurance, consultation, safety, or business purposes. When reasonably possible, only the information believed necessary for those particular reasons will be disclosed.

The counselee understands that third-party service providers may process or store limited information in connection with scheduling, payment, communication, document signing, data storage, technical support, or other business functions. Ozarks Biblical Counseling Services LLC cannot guarantee the privacy or security practices of every third-party provider.

Records may be retained for the period Ozarks Biblical Counseling Services LLC considers reasonably appropriate for counseling, legal, insurance, tax, business, safety, and risk-management purposes, subject to applicable law. Records may later be securely destroyed, deleted, anonymized, or otherwise disposed of when they are no longer considered necessary.

The counselee may submit a written request to review or obtain a copy of certain records maintained by Ozarks Biblical Counseling Services LLC. A request does not guarantee access to every document, internal note, consultation record, third-party communication, legally protected material, or information that could reasonably create a safety, privacy, or legal concern.

Before releasing records, Ozarks Biblical Counseling Services LLC may require verification of identity, a written authorization, payment of a reasonable copying or administrative fee, and sufficient time to review and prepare the requested information.

Records involving couples, families, groups, minors, or information concerning another person may contain overlapping privacy interests. Such records may not be released without appropriate authorization, legal authority, redaction, or other safeguards.

The counselee agrees not to alter, misrepresent, publish, distribute, or use counseling records in a misleading manner. Providing a copy of a record does not transfer ownership of the original business record maintained by Ozarks Biblical Counseling Services LLC.

A counselee who believes that information in a record is materially inaccurate may submit a written statement identifying the disputed information and the correction requested. Ozarks Biblical Counseling Services LLC may correct the record or place the counselee’s written statement with the existing record but is not required to remove an accurate record of information received, observations made, or actions taken.

Nothing in this section promises that counseling records are protected by the same legal privilege, privacy laws, or access rules that may apply to records maintained by a licensed medical or mental-health provider.

By signing the complete Biblical Counseling Informed Consent and Services Agreement, the counselee acknowledges having read and understood how records may be created, maintained, stored, accessed, retained, released, and destroyed.

Counselee’s initials: __________

8. ADDITIONAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS

8.1 Referrals, Outside Care, and Coordination with Other Providers

Biblical counseling may be provided alongside pastoral, medical, psychiatric, psychological, or other professional services. The counselee agrees to inform Cody Shores of outside care when that information is reasonably relevant to the safety or appropriateness of biblical counseling.

Ozarks Biblical Counseling Services LLC may recommend that the counselee seek evaluation, treatment, or assistance from a medical doctor, psychiatrist, licensed mental-health professional, emergency service, substance-use provider, attorney, pastor, or another qualified person. Continued biblical counseling may be conditioned upon the counselee obtaining appropriate outside assistance.

A referral or recommendation does not guarantee the availability, quality, cost, suitability, or outcome of services provided by another person or organization. The counselee remains responsible for selecting and evaluating outside providers.

Information will not ordinarily be shared with an outside provider without the counselee’s written authorization, except as otherwise permitted or required by law or described in this agreement.

8.2 Potential Benefits, Risks, and No Guarantee of Results

Biblical counseling may help the counselee better understand personal concerns, apply biblical principles, develop practical responses, strengthen relationships, and pursue spiritual growth. However, counseling may also involve discussing painful, distressing, embarrassing, or difficult matters and may temporarily increase emotional discomfort or disagreement.

No particular result, improvement, resolution, healing, relationship outcome, spiritual outcome, or length of counseling is promised or guaranteed. The effectiveness of biblical counseling may depend upon many factors, including the counselee’s participation, circumstances, decisions, outside support, and willingness to consider and apply recommendations.

The counselee remains responsible for personal decisions and actions. Guidance offered through biblical counseling should not be understood as legal, financial, medical, psychiatric, or other licensed professional advice.

8.3 Attendance, Conduct, Safety, and Appropriate Boundaries

The counselee agrees to participate respectfully and not to engage in threatening, abusive, harassing, sexually inappropriate, destructive, unlawful, or unsafe behavior.

Weapons, illegal substances, and participation while materially impaired by alcohol or drugs are not permitted during in-person or remote sessions. Ozarks Biblical Counseling Services LLC may immediately end or suspend a session when safety, appropriate conduct, meaningful participation, or professional boundaries cannot reasonably be maintained.

The existence of a counseling relationship does not create a personal friendship, pastoral office, medical relationship, fiduciary relationship, employment relationship, or promise of availability outside the services described in this agreement.

8.4 Suspension, Termination, and Discontinuation of Services

Either the counselee or Ozarks Biblical Counseling Services LLC may end biblical counseling. The counselee may discontinue voluntarily, subject to payment and cancellation obligations already incurred.

Ozarks Biblical Counseling Services LLC may suspend, decline, or discontinue services for reasons including:

The counselee’s needs appear to be outside the appropriate scope of biblical counseling;

Emergency, medical, psychiatric, legal, substance-use, or other specialized assistance appears necessary;

Continued services may be unsafe, ineffective, inappropriate, or beyond Cody Shores’s training or competence;

The counselee repeatedly fails to attend, pay applicable fees, follow practice policies, or maintain appropriate conduct;

A conflict of interest, boundary concern, legal concern, or breakdown in the counseling relationship arises; or

Cody Shores becomes unavailable or determines that services should not continue for another legitimate reason.

When reasonably appropriate, the counselee may be informed of the decision and provided with general recommendations or referral options. Ozarks Biblical Counseling Services LLC does not guarantee that another provider will accept the counselee or be immediately available.

8.5 Complaints, Legal Requests, and Disputes

A counselee who has a concern about the services or administration of the practice is encouraged to communicate the concern directly to Ozarks Biblical Counseling Services LLC so that a reasonable effort may be made to address it.

If Ozarks Biblical Counseling Services LLC or Cody Shores receives a subpoena, court order, governmental request, complaint, insurance claim, threatened claim, or other legal demand relating to the counselee, the practice may consult with legal counsel and respond as permitted or required by law.

The counselee understands that participation in a lawsuit, deposition, hearing, custody dispute, disability claim, employment dispute, church proceeding, or other legal or administrative matter is not included within ordinary counseling fees. If Cody Shores is required or agrees to prepare records, provide testimony, attend proceedings, respond to extensive legal requests, or perform other extraordinary services, reasonable additional fees may be charged when permitted by law and disclosed to the counselee.

Ozarks Biblical Counseling Services LLC does not provide custody evaluations, forensic assessments, disability determinations, expert-witness opinions, or recommendations concerning legal rights, parenting time, or custody.

8.6 Policy Changes, Governing Law, and Complete Agreement

Ozarks Biblical Counseling Services LLC may reasonably revise its administrative policies, fees, communication practices, technology platforms, or service procedures. Material changes affecting an existing counselee will ordinarily be communicated before they apply.

This Biblical Counseling Informed Consent and Services Agreement, together with any applicable supplemental forms or written authorizations, expresses the understanding between the counselee and Ozarks Biblical Counseling Services LLC concerning the services provided.

If any provision of this agreement is determined to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions are intended to remain effective to the fullest extent permitted by law.

This agreement is governed by the laws of the State of Missouri. Nothing in this agreement is intended to waive a legal right that cannot lawfully be waived or to excuse conduct for which liability cannot legally be limited.

8.7 Final Acknowledgment and Voluntary Consent

By signing below, the counselee acknowledges and agrees that:

The counselee has read and understood the complete agreement;

The counselee has had an opportunity to ask questions before signing;

The counselee understands that Cody Shores is not a licensed mental-health or healthcare professional;

The counselee voluntarily chooses to receive distinctly Christian biblical counseling;

The counselee understands the scope, limitations, confidentiality provisions, emergency procedures, fees, communication risks, remote-session terms, and recordkeeping practices described in this agreement;

No particular result or outcome has been promised; and

The counselee agrees to comply with the policies contained in this agreement.