Hold Me Tight Let Me Go Family Relationship Education Program

1. 1. This is an educational program that does not replace the need for professional help and medications. Participants need to continue their current treatment during the course.  Even though the facilitators are trained and licensed mental health professionals, they are not acting as an individual therapist in their role as course facilitator.  The course materials are presented from a scientific perspective.
   2. Participants need to be stable, able to commit the time required, concentrate, absorb the key concepts, complete the basic exercises, and not be at risk to themselves or others so that a safe and productive learning environment can be maintained. The facilitators will ask participants who need additional help to consult their helping professionals. Participants who are not suitable for the course will be provided with a refund less administrative charge of $20.
   3. Most participants will benefit from listening to the course content several times to improve comprehension and retention.
   4. Attendance of all the online sessions, engaging with the audio-visual and written course material for each session, and participation in the in class discussions, sharing, self-reflection and skill building exercises are required for maximum benefit and growth.
   5. For optimal learning, participants are encouraged to review each lesson.
   6. Participants will keep the personal sharing and discussion confidential to protect each other’s privacy.
   7. Participants who are absent for emergencies, illness and other reasons beyond their control are expected to notify the facilitator as soon as possible and complete the work for the session that they have missed to the best of their ability.
   8. I acknowledge that my personal and relational growth is my own responsibility and am willing to take this responsibility by facing myself, engaging and renewing my way of thinking, beliefs, attitudes, values, behaviour and experience without avoiding/blaming myself or others. I understand that I am fully and solely responsible for the results and decisions that I make regarding my use of this course. I release the facilitator, the program developer, and all related institutions and organizations from any and all liability and accept full responsibility for my involvement in this course and the use of any related materials.
   9. Participants can support each other through mutual acceptance, understanding, validation, empathy and encouragement.
   10. Participants are also required to complete self-assessments before and after the course to gauge their progress and encourage self-awareness and self-reflection, which is the first step in personal and relational growth.
   11. In emergency situations or times when the participant is at imminent risk of hurting him/herself or others, then he or she needs to go to the closest emergency department or call 911 for immediate assistance.
   12. Participants may be involved in photographs, testimonies, and the production of short audio-visual clips for the purpose of promotion and helping other course participants.
   13. Participants understand the Risks of using electronic communication and that Grace Health Centre (GHC) Team will use reasonable means to protect the security and confidentiality of information sent and received using email and/or text messages. However, because of the risks outlined below, the GHC Team cannot guarantee the security and confidentiality of electronic communications.

• • • Use of electronic communications to discuss sensitive information can increase the risk of such information being disclosed to third parties.
    • Despite reasonable efforts to protect the privacy and security of electronic communication, it is not possible to completely secure the information.
    • Employers and online services may have a legal right to inspect and keep electronic communications that pass through their system.
    • Electronic communications can introduce malware into a computer system and potentially damage or disrupt the computer, networks, and security settings.
    • Electronic communications can be forwarded, intercepted, circulated, stored, or even changed without the knowledge or permission of the GHC Team or the patient.
    • Even after the sender and recipient have deleted copies of electronic communication, back-up copies may exist on a computer system.
    • Electronic communications may be disclosed in accordance with a duty to report or a court order.
    • Videoconferencing using services may be more open to interception than other forms of videoconferencing.

Participants acknowledge and understand that despite recommendations that encryption software be used as a security mechanism for electronic communications, it is possible that communications with the GHC Team using the Services may not be encrypted. Despite this, I agree to communicate using video conferencing, email and/or text messages with a full understanding of the risk.