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Privacy & Confidentiality Policy
For anyone starting therapy it is important to know a little bit of what to expect when it comes to your privacy and your safety. In addition to abiding by the HIPAA Notice below, I abide by all Texas state laws as well as the ACA Code of Ethics for Counseling Professionals. This means that what you share with me is considered confidential and your records are kept protected behind a locked system. Except for the reasons listed below (and a few others listed on the HIPAA form), confidentiality will not be broken without a signed release from you allowing me to disclose information to the specific individual you choose.
Summary of common exceptions to confidentiality include:
(1) You (the client) authorize me to release information via a signed release (ROI).
(2) I as the counselor am required by law to inform the proper authorities or persons/entities for the following reasons:
(a) when therapist suspects the client may be, or is, presenting a physical danger or threat to the healthy and safety of self or others. (examples of such include, but is not limited to: domestic violence, disease, or medication reactions)
(b) when child abuse/neglect or abuse/neglect of a vulnerable persons, such as the elderly, is suspected or is disclosed
(c) when I am ordered by a state or federal court to release information due to a subpoena or other legal means.
(d) when the client is a minor and the legal guardian requests access to their child’s records, unless the child is emancipated.*
*This is discussed more in detail in the first session with the minor and legal guardian present (if applicable).
(3) In the case of a Licensed Professional Counselor Associates, whom engage in clinical supervision, supervisors will maintain the clients’ confidentiality in the same manner as stated above as well.
More details of possible other allowed exceptions (not reported here), under the law, are detailed in our HIPAA and Notice of Privacy Policy Form which you will receive along with intake paperwork should you choose to work with us.