Terms of Use

Rebecca Gilbert, MSW, Licensed Clinical Social Worker · California License No. LCSW 129798
Effective date: September 9, 2026

Legal pages tend to be written to protect the writer. This one is written mostly so that you know exactly what this website is, what it is not, and what you can expect of the practice behind it.

This Website Is Not Therapy

Everything on this site is general educational information about trauma, the nervous system, and how this practice works. It is not therapy, not psychotherapy, not medical or psychological advice, and not a clinical opinion about you or anyone else. It cannot account for your particular history, circumstances, or needs, and it is not a substitute for care from a qualified professional who knows you.

Please do not delay seeking care, or disregard advice you have received from a professional, because of something you read here. If you are currently working with a therapist or physician, their guidance is grounded in knowing you; this website is not.

No Therapist-Client Relationship Is Created

Reading this site, emailing, texting, calling, or leaving a voicemail does not create a therapist-client relationship, and it does not obligate either of us to begin one. A professional relationship begins only after we have spoken, I have confirmed that this practice is an appropriate fit for what you need, we have completed informed consent and any required agreements together, and we have both agreed to proceed. Until then, no confidentiality obligation attaches to what you send me beyond the ordinary care I take with any inquiry.

Licensure, Scope, and Jurisdiction

Rebecca Gilbert, MSW, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the State of California, License No. LCSW 129798, licensed and regulated by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. License status can be verified through the Board's license verification tool at bbs.ca.gov.

Some specifics about the boundaries of this practice:

• Services are provided to adults only.
• Services may be provided only to clients who are physically located in California at the time of the session, including telehealth sessions. This is a legal limit on where a California license permits practice, not a preference.
• As a clinical social worker, I do not prescribe or manage medication, and I do not conduct psychological or neuropsychological testing.
• This practice does not provide forensic services - no custody evaluations, disability or fitness-for-duty determinations, court-ordered evaluations, or expert witness testimony.
• This practice does not provide emergency, crisis, inpatient, or after-hours care.
• Training and credentials are described on this site as accurately as I can state them, including where training is still in progress. Somatic Experiencing® is a registered trademark of Somatic Experiencing International; describing my work as informed by that approach is not a claim of certification as a Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner. Likewise, EMDR-informed practice is not a claim of EMDR certification.

No Guaranteed Outcomes

Therapy is a collaboration between two people, and it unfolds differently for everyone. Nothing on this site is a promise or guarantee of any particular result, symptom relief, diagnosis, or timeline. Descriptions of approaches and research reflect the general literature and my own clinical judgment, not an assurance of how the work will go for you. What I can commit to is honest effort, regular check-ins about whether this is helping, and a referral elsewhere if it is not.

Fees and Billing

Current session fees are posted on the Rates section of this site and are subject to change with advance notice to current clients. This is a private pay practice; I do not bill insurance directly. Superbills are available on request for potential out-of-network reimbursement, but reimbursement is determined entirely by your plan and is never guaranteed. Under the federal No Surprises Act you are entitled to a written Good Faith Estimate of expected costs before services begin, and you may request an updated one at any time.

Communication

Email, text message, and voicemail are convenient but not secure or confidential. Please use them for brief scheduling and logistics only, and never for crisis situations. If you would prefer I not use a particular channel to reach you, tell me and I will honor that.

Third-Party Links

This site links to a small number of outside resources - crisis lines, government agencies, and the licensing board - because they are genuinely useful. I do not control those sites, am not responsible for their content or privacy practices, and a link is not an endorsement of anything beyond the specific resource named.

Accessibility

Care that is hard to reach is not really care. I want this site to be usable by everyone, including people who use screen readers, keyboard navigation, magnification, or other assistive technology, and I have built it toward the WCAG 2.2 Level AA standard. That is a commitment I hold as ongoing rather than finished.

If any part of this site creates a barrier for you, or you need information from it in a different format - large print, plain text, or read to you over the phone - please call (707) 385-9904 or email Rgilbertmsw@gmail.com and I will get it to you directly. Please also tell me about the barrier itself if you have the energy to; I would like to fix it.

Nondiscrimination

All people are welcome in this practice, without exception - regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, immigration status, religion, disability, age, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital or family status, body size, veteran status, or income. If a need falls outside my competence, I will say so plainly and help you find someone better suited rather than take you on anyway.

Intellectual Property

The writing, design, and images on this site are the property of Rebecca Gilbert unless otherwise noted, and are not licensed for reuse. You are of course welcome to share a link with anyone you think it might help.

Concerns and Complaints

If something in our work together does not sit right with you, I hope you will tell me. That conversation is welcome, I will not be defensive about it, and I will not take it personally. You also always have the right to end our work or seek care elsewhere.

Independently of me, the California Board of Behavioral Sciences receives and responds to complaints regarding services provided within the scope of practice of a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. You may contact the Board online at bbs.ca.gov or by calling (916) 574-7830. Complaints regarding the privacy of your health information may also be filed with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights, as described in the Notice of Privacy Practices.

Governing Law and Changes

These terms are governed by the laws of the State of California. They may be updated from time to time; the effective date at the top of this page will always reflect the current version. Continuing to use this site after a change means the updated terms apply to your use of it. Nothing in these terms limits any right you hold under California or federal law, or alters any of my professional, ethical, or legal obligations to you as a client.

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