Privacy Policy
We understand that health information about you and your health care is personal. We are committed to protecting health information about you. We are committed to making sure that protected health information (“PHI”) that identifies you is kept private.
For Treatment Payment, or Health Care Operations: Federal privacy rules (regulations) allow health care providers who have direct treatment relationship with the patient/client to use or disclose the patient/client’s personal health information without the patient’s written authorization, to carry out the health care provider’s own treatment, payment or health care operations. We may also disclose your protected health information for the treatment activities of any health care provider. This too can be done without your written authorization. For example, if a clinician were to consult with another licensed health care provider about your condition, we would be permitted to use and disclose your personal health information, which is otherwise confidential, in order to assist the clinician in diagnosis and treatment of your mental health condition.
CERTAIN USES AND DISCLOSURES REQUIRE YOUR AUTHORIZATION:
1. Psychotherapy Notes. I do keep “psychotherapy notes” as that term is defined in 45 CFR § 164.501, and any use or disclosure of such notes requires your Authorization unless the use or disclosure is:
a. For my use in treating you.
b. For my use in training or supervising mental health practitioners to help them improve their skills in group, joint, family, or individual counseling or therapy.
c. For my use in defending myself in legal proceedings instituted by you.
d. For use by the Secretary of Health and Human Services to investigate my compliance with HIPAA.
e. Required by law and the use or disclosure is limited to the requirements of such law.
f. Required by law for certain health oversight activities pertaining to the originator of the psychotherapy notes.
g. Required by a coroner who is performing duties authorized by law.
h. Required to help avert a serious threat to the health and safety of others.
2. Marketing Purposes. As a psychotherapist, I will not use or disclose your PHI for marketing purposes.
3. Sale of PHI. As a psychotherapist, I will not sell your PHI in the regular course of my business.
SOCIAL MEDIA AND TELECOMMUNICATION
Due to the importance of confidentiality and minimizing dual relationships, we do not accept friend or contact requests from current or former clients on any social networking sites (Facebook, LinkedIn, etc). We believe that adding clients as friends or contacts can compromise confidentiality and our respective privacy. It may also blur the boundaries of our therapeutic relationship. If you have questions about this, please contact us.
ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION
We cannot ensure the confidentiality of any form of communication through electronic media, including text messages. If you prefer to communicate via email or text messaging for issues regarding scheduling or cancellations, we will do so. While we try to return messages in a timely manner, we cannot guarantee immediate response and request that you do not use these methods of communication to discuss urgent therapeutic content and/or request assistance for emergencies.
MINORS
If you are a minor, your parents may be legally entitled to information about your therapy. We will discuss with you and your parents what appropriate information is appropriate for them to be discussed or to be kept confidential.
YOU HAVE THE FOLLOWING RIGHTS WITH RESPECT TO YOUR PHI (Personal Health Information):
1. The right to request limits on uses and disclosures of your PHI.
2. The right to request restrictions for out-of-pocket expenses paid for In full.
3. The right to choose how we send PHI to you.
4. The right to see and get copies of your PHI.
5. The right to get a list of the disclosures we have made.
6. The right to correct or update your PHI.
7. The right to get a paper or electronic copy of this notice.