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Confidentiality Exceptions

This notice describes how information about you may be used and disclosed and how you get access to this information. Please review it carefully. This document may be updated without notice, so please review it each time you visit us. A copy of this statement is always available upon request. Information shared during your sessions will be held in strictest of confidence. All information revealed by you in a counseling or therapy session and most information placed in your counseling/therapy file (all medical records or other individually identifiable health information held or disclosed in any form [electronic, paper, or oral]) is considered "protected health information" by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). As such, your protected health information cannot be distributed to anyone else without your expressed informed and voluntary written consent or authorization. The exceptions to this are defined below. Should you wish me to confer with your physician, clergy, attorney, etc. you will be asked to sign a Release of Information form.

Use or disclosure of the following protected health information does not require your consent or authorization:

1. Uses and disclosures required by law- like files subpoenaed by a Judge.

2. Uses and disclosures about victims of abuse, neglect or domestic violence- like the duties to warn when someone is likely to endanger the lives of themselves or others, child sexual or physical abuse, elder abuse, etc.

3. Uses and disclosure for judicial and administrative proceedings- like a case when you are claiming malpractice or breech of ethics.

4. Uses and disclosures for health and oversight activities- like correcting records or correcting records already disclosed.

5. Uses and disclosures for law enforcement purposes when subpoenaed by a judge-like when you claim mental health issues as a defense in a civil or criminal case.

6. Uses and disclosures for research purposes-like using client information in research; always maintaining confidentiality.

7. Uses and disclosures to avert a serious threat to health or safety-like calling Probate Court for a commitment hearing.

8. Uses and disclosures for Worker’s Compensation-like the basic information obtained in therapy/counseling as a result of your Worker’s Compensation claim.