Ethics
TL;DR- Ethical Code of RLC, LLC
Do well at doing good in a way that allows all to be well. Have fun during it.
Be yourself in the most radically authentic, helpful way. Don’t suck, and when inevitably you sort of suck, make up for it, well and quickly, with a secure heart.
Bring it up, we can talk it out. If we can’t talk it out, we can part ways and that’s okay.
What is a Code of Ethics?
As a non-license helping practitioner, operating in a non-licensed field, there are no specific legal requirements Maritza works under. Further, there is no governing body to which Maritza is accountable.
Because of this, Maritza has written their own Curanderismo Code of Ethics to hold themself accountable to and for clients to reference as needed.
A Code of Ethics is a written document that outlines the values, boundaries, and professional conduct one commits to. It covers how one handles client relationships, privacy, informed consent, communication, practice and evolution of business standards, and other key areas of practice.
While written and available, a COE does not serve as legal contract, because it’s not imposed by a governing body nor is it enforceable through punitive measures (i.e. a licensing board enforces rules through leveraging continued licensure). Instead, this tool is meant to define how the RLC business works and what clients can expect.
What’s the difference between a professional and personal Code of Ethics?
In licensed healthcare and helping professions, practitioners are required to follow something called a standard of care, as well as a professional ethical code usually imposed by their licensing board.
This refers to the legally recognized, condition-specific protocols that licensed professionals must follow—for example, prescribing antibiotics for giving 3 referrals to a client terminating care. These are legal and professional agreements, and failing to follow the standard of care or professional code of ethics can lead to professional, legal, and financial liability.
But curanderismo does not have these same structures. As a non-licensed practitioner, the legal concepts do not apply in the same way. There’s no state-issued guideline for how to support someone practicing curanderismo, sobaderismo, tarot, or other modalities through RLC.
That is why it is so important to Maritza to have accessible, clearly articulated, codes ethics and practices (consultation agreement) available to current and prospective clients.
RLC Ethical Code
Key Values and Principles
TL:DR – Do well at doing good in a way that allows all to be well. Have fun during it.
Maritza operates as a person with deep respect for intuitive senses and communication from the natural wisdom of the universe. Their personal value system prizes integrity, kindness, wisdom, and fun as key concepts in everyday experiences. They take justice for granted as a necessary element of anything good.
As a professional in the deeply intimate, experiential work of curanderismo, Maritza matches these personal values with their commitment to decolonization and rewilding of the self through exploration of the mental, emotional, and physical ailments clients come in with.
Maritza practices business integrity that is equally concerned with humanity as with professionality, working through the application of science-backed, trauma-informed, and nurturing ancestral practices, as well as divestment from hierarchy into loving, relational anarchy.
Other key values and guiding principles of Maritza’s work are accountability, adaptability, authenticity, compassion, creativity, consent, fidelity to the client-helper relationship, grace and justice, and respect for client privacy.
Through contractually-established boundaries, patient check-ins, and non-violent communication standards, Maritza seeks to embody and model these and other values, through all of their work, in ways that best guide and nourish the working relationship toward its greatest good.
Standards of Behavior
TL;DR – Be yourself in the most radically authentic, helpful way. Don’t suck, and when inevitably you sort of suck, make up for it, well and quickly, with a secure heart.
Maritza commits to a human-first mode of highly-attuned professional engagement. This will often feel like connecting with a care-giver who likes you and also is good at being in charge. (Think: oldest daughter. Think: Virgo Sun.)
Maritza also commits to authenticity as an AuDHD human with dyslexia and complex health issues. This will often be invisible to the client but will at times come across through communication about differences. Maritza will often bring up issues in ways that are less sanitized and more esoteric than would be expected in traditional psychotherapy (Think: Chaotic good. Think: Scorpio moon.)
Maritza holds a standard of arriving promptly, not perfectly, whenever possible and is sure to communicate about start and ending times whenever they deviate from the standard norms. Maritza acknowledges their neurodivergence and limitations with respect to dyslexia (typos, mis-reading of calendars, etc) and AuDHD (difficulty with auditory processing, need for sensory peace in work, etc) as well as their own health issues and treats these differences with dignity and respect for themself just as they would for a client or community member. As a professional, Maritza commits to accommodating their needs outside of session whenever possible, or making up the time at end of session when a need must be addressed during session.
Being human-first means that Maritza will of course sometimes have pressing human needs (such as the need to pause to grab a migraine ice pack, or to take a short break when a sudden bathroom need comes up). These needs should not ever be at the expense of the client, and any time lost to them will be made up at the end of session by “going long,” at least the amount of time take by the break.
It also means Maritza will consider their humanity before their “business,” although in such intimate and sacred work, the two are hardly distinct and separate. Whenever there is seeming conflict, Maritza will default to what best allows them to show up to session with a warm, available, and caring energy and presentation, giving unconditional positive regard while offering insights consistent with their values and labeling biases as much as possible. In other words, Maritza commits to the ongoing work of whatever is necessary to show up excellently for the long term.
Maritza will hold themself to standards consistent with caregiving professionals: centering the client and their needs during session time, considering the client in all communication, practicing and holding boundaries that allow for the most clear, flourishing client-helper relationship, etc.
Consequences of Ethical, Professional, or Relational Violations
TL;DR – Bring it up, we can talk it out. If we can’t talk it out, we can part ways and that’s okay.
As there is no governing body sanctioning Maritza’s practice, all client-helper conflicts must be brought up between the client and Maritza personally in order to work toward resolution.
If however the client is no longer interested in communicating or working with Maritza, they are free at any time to cancel all further sessions through the online portal and simply leaving the therapeutic relationship.
Maritza would ask that all concerns be brought up in clear, authentic, language and is open to having one-off or ongoing discussions about any perceived ethical, professional, or relational violation as concerns come up, at no charge to the client.
If these free-of-charge conversations become too burdensome or intense, Maritza will ask that the client book a time (and pay the associated fee) for Maritza to guide the client and relationship back to health in an equitable and structured setting.
If the client ever decides to leave during a session where they believe Maritza has not shown up both humanely and excellently, or decided after a session but before their next one that they did not get value from the session, they may request a refund.
For all other agreements or expectations, see Consultation Agreement below.
Consultation Agreement:
TL;DR-
We’ll spend time together in agreed upon ways.
You will be charged for it in agreed upon ways.
You’ll get service in agreed upon ways.
Policies are about how you expect things to be from most helping businesses these days.
Below is a contract listing the responsibilities of you (client) and Maritza (curandera/sobadera/executive coach/tarot reader), hereafter referred to as Maritza or “consultant.” In order to receive any services, including initial consultation, you will have to fill out and sign this agreement via the Vagaro online system. If you have questions about the information below, feel free to call or email Maritza Valle prior to completing this form.
Consultant and Client Responsibilities
Attendance –
TL;DR-
Show up when you’re supposed to,
Where you’re supposed to,
How you’re supposed to.
Communicate about when you can’t do the above.
Maritza will do the same.
All appointments will be scheduled in advance, with limited availability for day-of sessions at Maritza’s discretion. Retainer clients will have recurring appointments pre-scheduled.
Consultant will attend all scheduled meetings via agreed upon online meeting application/software.
Client is responsible for showing up on time, ready and with any items needed for session. If clients are unable to arrive on time, session may begin late but will end at 45 minutes after the scheduled start time. Clients are responsible for communicating if they will be late. If clients have neither arrived nor communicated by 15 minutes passed scheduled start time, the session will be forfeit at full cost.
Occasionally, consultant will not be able to begin sessions until a few minutes after the scheduled start time. In these cases, the session will last a full 45 minutes from the time both client and consultant have logged on. To that end, clients should expect to have time available for the full hour of appointment time.
Cancellations –
TL;DR-
Cancel on time or be charged.
Say it’s an emergency when canceling late, or be charged.
Yes, the whole amount.
No, it can’t be refunded unless it was an emergency and you said so.
If you don’t show up you’ll have already been charged that morning, but Maritza will check on you.
(There is an unofficial reschedule policy you can ask about).
All appointments have a 48-hour cancellation policy(excepting those on holiday weeks, discussed later), wherein giving less than 48 hours notice will result in the full appointment fee being charged.
Appointments scheduled on “holiday weeks” and need to be cancelled are expected to give notice by Friday 5 PM CST before the beginning of the “holiday week”. “Holiday weeks” refer to the weeks during which corporations operating by capitalistic standards still give employees holiday time off. Examples: Labor Day, New Year, etc.
Consultant will do due diligence to give the most possible warning should they need to reschedule due to illness or emergency. Consultant will also send a list of available appointments for reschedule as soon as they are able.
In the case that client is prevented from attending session due to emergency, no cancellation fee is charged. Client is responsible for noting the nature of the cancellation. Cancellations requested without an “emergency” noted will be charged per policies above.
“Emergency” is defined by client and need not be explained or proved to consultant.
In the event that the client does not attend session and is not responsive to check-ins by consultant, client’s card-on-file will have been batch-charged the full fee for the missed session that morning. If client is kept from session by an emergency and later informs consultant, consultant will refund the session fee.
Rates:
TL:DR
$220/45 minutes unless we agree other wise and have a current sliding scale contract on file.
Rates and fee policies are set in line with respect for the practitioner and the individual needs of the client. All fees are transparent, flat-rates. No taxes, tips, or add-ons to worry about.
Below, you’ll find both the standard session fees and sliding scale options (subject to approval and availability).
SESSION FEES-
*$220 per 45 minute session
*$440 per 90 minute session
Sliding Scale-
When available, clients may enroll in a quarter-long sliding scale agreement with consultant. Sliding scale sessions must occur regularly (at least once per 4 weeks, pre-scheduled on the calendar) and will be charged a fee ranging from a $165 minimum to the full $220 standard fee.
A more reduced rate of $125 and may be available for POC clients, in respect of income disparities.
If a client is absent from sessions for greater than 4 weeks, their next session(s) will be at the full rate until or unless they return to a 4-week-or-less recurrence schedule.
Emotional Labor:
TL;DR –
No one is entitled to be an unrepentant turd.
Resources available upon request if you need help not-turd-ing or un-turd-ing.
Clients who are violent toward Maritza during the session will get an opportunity to redirect or be fired with unrepentant ass-handing-to-them. (This is the FAFO notice.)
Consultant will use their skills, expertise, and education to bring informed, compassionate care and engagement to all clients. They will take notes as necessary and helpful, and share resources mentioned in session or found outside of session.
Much of our work will involve uncomfortable emotions and client is invited to emote and express in fullness, with Consultant providing the “emotional container,” or providing reflections, care, and helpful boundaries.
Consultant is committed to, and client is expected to adhere to, non-violent communication. NVC includes but is not limited to honest, authentic communication, asking questions in good faith, speaking to be understood and listening to understand.
Should client or consultant seek to terminate the consultation relationship, they will give adequate notice and maintain integrity with applicable payments and refunds.
Using Marshall Rosenberg’s NVC model (from his book, Non-Violent Communication) as well as resources such as Decolonizing Non-Violent Communication, (Co-conspirator Press, 2023) both Client and Consultant commit to
-speaking to be understood and
-listening to understand.
When disagreements, confusions, or hurt feelings occur, all parties will seek to
-communicate unmet needs, and
-make specific requests for going forward.
Violent and abusive communication will not be tolerated and Maritza reserves the right to terminate the relationship at any time, for any reason, if the interactions cannot remain respectful and mutually beneficial.
While it is encouraged that clients emote honestly and miscommunications can occur in any circumstance, it is specifically the acting, speaking, or emoting with intent to hurt, harm, or control that we are committing to avoid. Communication of any kind that is not in good faith is grounds for ending a session in the moment without refund for any reclaimed time.