Confidentiality & Privacy Policy
Federal laws, including HIPAA, protects the relationship between a client and a psychotherapist; confidential and protected information cannot be disclosed without written permission by the client.
Exceptions include:
- Suspected child abuse, dependent adult or elder abuse, for which a clinician is required by law to report to the appropriate authorities immediately.
- If a client is threatening serious bodily harm to another person/s, a clinician must notify the police and inform the intended victim.
- If a client intends to harm themselves, the clinician will make every effort to enlist the client’s cooperation in ensuring their safety. However a clinician is legally empowered by the law to take further measures without the client’s permission, in order to ensure their safety, should they not cooperate.