Client Rights
As a therapy client, you have rights:
You may ask questions and receive answers about treatment.
You may ask about the therapy approaches I use, and the approaches we are using in our sessions.
You may ask about the cost of your services.
You can make decisions about your own life.
You can end therapy or go see another clinician.
A final therapy sessions to complete the treatment is highly suggested to help solidify the work we have done together.
Confidentiality
You have the right to confidentiality and I will always do my best to protect your information. With that being said with services being provided online or through telephone contact there is a higher risk that someone could access that information than when you meet with someone face to face. I will be using a HIPA compliant web based telehealth service to ensure to the best of my ability that you privacy is protected while participating with telehealth (video conferencing) services. In addition, there are some exceptions to the rules around confidentiality. I want to ensure you are aware of these limits to your confidentiality :
1. If you bring a guest to one of our sessions, they will see, hear, and take part in our discussion. You may let me know if there are portions of our work you do not want shared in front of the guest. This includes other people in your home while we are talking or people that you choose to join the session.
2. If you ask me to share information with someone outside of our sessions. I will ask you to sign and return the "Release and Receipt of Information" form. This will tell me who you want me to share information with, and what type to share. Examples of this are communicating with your doctor's office, a school, social services, etc.
3. If you need me to write a brief letter document to share with your school, employer, or other group/person. (You are asked to complete the "Release and Receipt of Information" form for this, too. In addition, there is a brief letter document fee of $20 that applies to any letter that is one page of less. Longer letters have a higher fee.)
4. If I suspect the abuse or neglect of children under of the age of 18, of those who have disabilities, or the elderly, then I am required by law to contact the Department of Social Services to share my concerns.
6. If you are seriously contemplating harming yourself or someone else.
***** For additional information regarding client rights and HIPPA policies you can utilize the link below:
http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/issues/privacy-rights
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