Privacy Policy

HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices 

1. This notice describes how medical information about you may be used and disclosed electronically and how you can get access to this information. Please review it carefully. 

2. Established therapist has a legal duty to safeguard your protected health information (PHI) when it is transmitted electronically. 

Established therapist is legally required to protect the privacy of your PHI, which includes information that can be used to identify you that we have created or received about your past, present, or future health or condition, the provision of health care to you, or the payment of this health care. Established therapist must provide you with this Notice about our privacy practices, and such Notice must explain how, when and why we will “use” and “disclose” your PHI. A “use” of PHI occurs when established therapist shares, examines, utilizes, applies, or analyzes such information within this practice; PHI is “disclosed when it is released, transferred, has been given to, or is otherwise divulged to a third party outside of our practice. With some exceptions, established therapist may not use or disclose any more of your PHI than is necessary to accomplish the purpose for which the use or disclosure is made. Established therapist is legally required to follow the privacy practices described in this Notice. 

However, established therapist reserve the right to change the terms of this Notice and our privacy policies at any time. Any changes will apply to PHI on file with us already. Before established therapist is to make any important changes in our policies, we will promptly edit this Notice and you will be provided a new copy. You can also request a copy of this Notice from us at any time. 

WHAT THIS MEANS: This only applies to you if you agree that established therapist can contact you via email or other electronic means, as we cannot guarantee confidentiality through those means. We are bound by law and ethical standards to maintain your confidentiality. Since established therapist cannot guarantee confidentiality through email, HIPAA laws take effect and you control how your private information gets transmitted to you. Established therapist will email or text schedule times and appointment confirmations only if you give your consent to do so. 

Exceptions include:

• Suspected child abuse or dependent adult or elder abuse, for which I am required by law to report this to the appropriate authorities immediately.

• If a client is threatening serious bodily harm to another person/s, I must notify the police and inform the intended victim.

• If a client intends to harm himself or herself, I will make every effort to enlist their cooperation in ensuring their safety. If they do not cooperate, I will take further measures without their permission that are provided to me by law in order to ensure their safety.

Informed Consent 

CONFIDENTIALITY 

What is revealed within therapy sessions is protected by professional and ethical standards. All material is confidential and not released without the client’s or client’s parent or guardian’s (where appropriate) written consent except information related to child abuse, elder abuse, threatened homicide or suicide, or threatened or real fatal harm to self or harm to others. Information regarding diagnosis, treatment, and progress will be provided for the purposes of ensuring continuation and payment of services for clients that are using insurance for the means of session payment. 

CONSENT FOR TELEHEALTH SESSIONS 

Due to the concerns for the spread of the COVID-19 virus, and in accordance with the state of emergency declared by the Governor of the state of CA on 12 March 2020, and in agreement with the directive distributed by the Department of Developmental Services on 18 March 2020, the client will receive distance therapy sessions by established therapist through appropriate and available electronic means. The client, and/or parents and guardians, agree to have these sessions take the place of in-person, direct services until such time that the state of emergency and shelter in place orders are removed and the State Agencies declare such remote services are no longer needed. 

CONSENT FOR EMAIL/TEXT COMMUNICATION 

If the client and/or parents/guardians choose to correspond with the Therapist using email or text, please be advised that although responsible precautions to ensure confidentiality through email or text have been taken, secure electronic transmissions arising from the use of email or text or any attachments cannot be guaranteed. 

CANCELLATION POLICY 

Client agrees to cancelling all therapy sessions with established therapist within 48 hours of the scheduled appointment. If client does not cancel session with therapist the therapist will charge for the full session fee that was agreed upon between client and therapist. 

THERAPUETIC PROCESS 

Therapy services are a partnership between the therapist, the client, and the client’s natural supports. Progress depends on many factors that include motivation, effort, and a willingness to participate and cooperate. Clients and parents/guardians have a right to agree or disagree with the therapist and ask questions about the process. During therapy there is a possibility that challenging behaviors may become more intense before they get better. Additionally, there is a possibility that through the therapy process, intense and challenging emotions may be experienced. The benefits of therapy can include the ability to better cope with changes in the environment, manage social situations effectively, have more meaningful relationships, increase in independence and self-awareness, further personal growth, and achieve personal goals. Therapy can bring resolution of the presenting problem or can bring unwanted and unexpected changes. The established therapist is able to bring expertise and knowledge to help clients and clients’ parents and/or caregivers make healthy and appropriate decisions and choices for themselves. 

CONSENT TO TREAT 

Client agrees to participate in therapy sessions with established therapist and collaborate with therapist in the integrative process of treatment and development of their treatment plan. Client gives established therapist permission to begin and continue therapy services until therapy services are no longer needed.