Policies
Confidentiality
Anything said in therapy is confidential and may not be revealedto a third party without written authorization, except for the following limitations:
Child Abuse
Child abuse and/or neglect, which include but are not limited to domestic violencein the presence of a child, child on child sexual acting out/abuse, physical abuse, etc. If youreveal information about child abuse or child neglect, the therapist is required by law to report this tothe appropriate authority.
Vulnerable Adult Abuse
Vulnerable adult abuse or neglect. If information is revealed aboutvulnerable adult or elder abuse, the therapist is required by law to report this to the appropriateauthority.
Self-Harm
Threats, plans or attempts to harm or kill oneself. Therapist is permitted to take steps toprotect the client’s safety, which may include disclosure of confidential information.
Harm to Others
Threats regarding harm to another person. If you threaten bodily harm ordeath to another person, the therapist is required by law to report this to the appropriate authority.
Court Order and Legal Subpoenas
If the therapist receives a subpoena for your records, they will contact you so you may take whatever steps you deem necessary to prevent the release of your confidential information. Therapist will contact you twice by phone. If the therapist cannot get in touch with you by phone, they will send you written correspondence. If a court of law issues a legitimate court order, the therapist is required by law to provide the information specifically described in the order.
Despite any attempts to contact you and keep your records confidential, the therapist is required to comply with a court order.
Law Enforcement and Public Health
A public health authority that is authorized by law to collect or receive such information for the purpose of preventing or controlling disease, injury, or disability; to a health oversight agency for oversight activities authorized by law, including audits; civil, administrative, or criminal investigations; inspections; licensure or disciplinary actions; civil, administrative, or criminal proceedings or action; limited information (such as name, address, DOB, dates of treatment, etc.) to a law enforcement official for the purpose of identifying or locating a suspect, fugitive, material witness, or missing person; and information that your clinician believes in good faith establishes that a crime has been committed on the premises.
Governmental Oversight
To an appropriate agency information directly relating to the
receipt of health care, claim for public benefits related to mental health, or qualification for, or receipt of, public benefits or services when your mental health is integral to the claim for benefits or services, or for specialized government functions such as fitness for military duties, eligibility for VA benefits, and national security and intelligence.
Upon Your Death
To a law enforcement official for the purpose of alerting of your death if there is a suspicion that such death may have resulted from criminal conduct, to a coroner or medical examiner for the purpose of identifying a deceased person, determining a cause of death, or other duties as authorized by law.
Victim of a Crime
Limited information, in response to a law enforcement officials request for information about you if you are suspected to be a victim of a crime; however, except in limited circumstances, we will attempt to get your permission to release information first.
Court Ordered Therapy
At this time, the therapist will not see any clients who are court ordered for therapy. As mentioned above, rarely, but on occasion, a court will order a therapist to testify, be deposed, or appear in court for a matter relating to your treatment or case. To protect your confidentiality, the therapist strongly suggests not being involved in the court. If the therapist gets called into court by you or your attorney, you will be charged a fee of $500 per hour to include travel time, court time, preparing documents, etc.
Written Request
Clients must sign a release of information form before any information may be sent to a third party. A summary of visits may be given in lieu of actual “psychotherapy/progress notes”, except if the third party is part of the medical team. If therapy sessions involve more than one person, each person over the age of 18 MUST sign the release of information before information is released.
Fee Disputes
In the case of a credit card dispute, the therapist reserves the right to provide the necessary documentation (i.e. your signature on the “Therapy Consent and Agreement”) that covers the cancellation policy to your bank or credit card company should a dispute of a charge occur. If there is a financial balance on account, a bill will be sent to the home address on the intake form unless otherwise noted.
Professional Relationships
The therapist and client relationship is strictly professional. To preserve this relationship, it is imperative that there is no relationship outside of the counseling relationship (i.e.: social, business, or friendship).
Dual Relationships and Public
If the therapist and the client run into each other in a public setting, the therapist will not acknowledge the client as this would jeopardize confidentiality. If you, as the client, were to acknowledge the therapist, your confidentiality could be at risk.
Social Media
Therapist does not accept friend requests or similar connections with current or former clients, their family members or friends on social media outlets (Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter, etc.). This is to protect your confidentiality and privacy. If you choose to like or comment on any of the therapist’s professional social media pages or posts, you do so at your own risk and may breach confidentiality. The therapist cannot be held liable if someone identifies you as a client. Posts and information on social media are meant to be educational and do not replace therapy. Please do not contact the therapist through any social media site or platform, especially in an emergency. They are not confidential, nor are they monitored, and may become part of your medical record. If you would like the therapist to review your (or your child’s) social media interactions as part of the therapeutic work, please print what you would like me to review and bring it with you to the next session. Even if your or your child’s social media accounts are public, the therapist will not examine them without your specific consent and direction.
Please note that any social media apps you use may seek to connect you with the therapist or with other visitors to this office, through a “people you may know” or similar feature. The therapist has no control over apps that may intrude on the privacy of your treatment in this way. If you would like to minimize the risk of others becoming aware of your connection to the therapist, please make use of the privacy controls available on your phone. Turning off a social media app’s ability to know your location, and refusing it access to your email account and the contacts and history in your phone, protects your privacy and confidentiality.
Electronic Communication
If you need to contact the therapist outside of our
sessions, please do so via phone or through the Simple Practice Client Portal.
Texting
Clients often use text or email as a convenient way to communicate in their personal lives. However, texting introduces unique challenges into the therapist–client relationship. Texting is not a substitute for sessions. Texting and communicating outside a secure portal is not confidential. Phones can be lost or stolen, emails can be intercepted.
DO NOT communicate sensitive information over text. The identity of the person texting is unknown as someone else may have possession of the client’s phone.
Emergencies
In the case of an emergency call 911, your local
emergency hotline or go to the nearest emergency room. Additionally, e-mail is not a substitute for sessions. If you need to be seen, please book an appointment.
Emailing
Do not communicate sensitive medical or mental health
information via email. Furthermore, if you send email from a work computer, your employer has the legal right to read it. E-mail is a part of your medical record.
Insurance
If you need to contact the therapist outside of our
sessions, please do so via phone or through the Simple Practice Client Portal.
Diagnosis
By using insurance, the therapist is required to give a mental health disorder diagnosis that goes in your medical record. The clinical diagnosis is based on your current symptoms, even though you may have been previously diagnosed. The therapist and client will discuss your diagnosis during the session. Your insurance company will know the times and dates of services
provided. They may request further information to authorize additional services regarding treatment.
IMPORTANT: Some psychiatric diagnoses are not eligible for reimbursement. In the event of non-coverage or denial of payment, you will be responsible to pay for services provided. Brandi Brittain, LCSW-S of Resiliency Road Clinical Services, PLLC reserves the right to seek payment of unpaid balances by a collection agency or legal recourse after reasonable notice to the client.
Pre-Authorization and Reduced Confidentiality
When visits are authorized, usually only a few sessions are granted at a time. When these sessions are complete, the therapist and client may need to justify the need for continued service, potentially causing a delay in treatment. If insurance is requesting information for continued services, confidentiality cannot be guaranteed. Sometimes, additional sessions are not authorized, leading to an end of the therapeutic relationship even if therapeutic goals are not met.
Potential Negative Impact of Diagnosis
Insurance companies require clinicians to give a mental health diagnosis (i.e., “major depression” or “obsessive-compulsive disorder”) for reimbursement. Psychiatric diagnoses may negatively impact you in the following ways:
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Denial of insurance when applying for disability or life insurance.
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Company (mis)control of information when claims are processed.
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Loss of confidentiality due to the increased number of persons handling claims.
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Loss of employment and/or repercussions of a diagnosis in situations where you may be required to reveal a mental health disorder diagnosis on your record. This includes but is not limited to applying for a job, financial aid, and/or concealed weapons permits.
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A psychiatric diagnosis can be brought into a court case (ie: divorce court, family law, criminal, etc.).