Individual Policy Confidentiality is one of the most important components between a client and therapist. Successful therapy requires a high degree of trust with highly sensitive subject matter. For the most part, I cannot speak to anyone about you or your treatment without written authorization from you in a release of information form that I will provide you. It is your choice if you would like me to have permission to speak with anyone. It is also up to you to decide the limits of information which I can discuss with an outside party. I may recommend a release to include an emergency contact and/or physician, but ultimately the decision is yours. See below for Limits to Confidentiality.
Couples and Families Policy My policy for couples and families is identical to my policy for individual clients regarding disclosing information outside of sessions but we will also need to discuss how privacy is handled within the couple or family in the first session.
Under 18 Policy If you are under the age of 18 your parents have to give you legal consent for you to receive services and may have legal rights to obtain your records. However, we can meet together with your family and agree upon a privacy policy before therapy is initiated. I encourage families to agree to keep what is said in individual sessions between you (minor) and me private except where limits to confidentiality are applicable.
Limits to Confidentiality There are a few rare instances where I am legally and ethically obligated to break our confidentiality.
If you are a danger to yourself or others
If you tell me about current abuse by you or someone else against a child, elderly, dependent, or disabled person.
If I am subpoenaed and ordered by a judge to divulge records/session content.
In the rare event that any of these situations arise, I will make every effort to discuss them with you during our session before taking any action.
Informed Consent Authorization to Disclose Information Form - If you would like me to coordinate care with another provider (for example, your psychiatrist, primary care physician, etc.), complete this form to authorize release of psychotherapy information (see form below).
* Forms will be updated and reposted March 11-15, 2019. Please check back for the current most up to date forms available.