Privacy Policies
It is our job and duty to maintain each patient’s safety and security in accordance with ethical and legal mandates. We want you to be informed about how the Center for Psychology & Wellness maintains your right to privacy and confidentiality throughout the treatment process.
- Privacy Policies are also discussed at the first appointment -
There are ethical and legal rules in place to protect a each patient’s privacy in order to create a safe space in which patients can feel comfortable speaking openly and honestly with the therapist. Confidentiality is part of the psychology ethics code and allows patients to talk about information without worrying that it will be discussed outside of the therapy office. However, please note that there are limits to confidentiality and the therapist is a mandated reporter. This means there are certain situations in which a psychologist must share information without the patient's written consent. Limits to confidentiality include information that suggests significant imminent safety risk or harm to self or others. More specifically, the psychologist must legally report the following information to the appropriate authorities:
Suspected abuse or neglect of a child, dependent adult, or elderly person
Threats of serious bodily harm to another person(s)
Ongoing domestic violence
Intent or plans to attempt suicide
Serious threats to health and safety
Laws are in place to protect your privacy as a patient. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) protects a patient’s medical records, mental health records, and other personal health information. These are nationally established rules, although there are variations based on state requirements. Court orders also warrant the disclosure of certain information.
Notably, psychologists share certain information about the patient's mental health treatment with the program paying for the patient's treatment (e.g. health insurance company) in order to receive authorization for treatment. The patient has the right to pay out of pocket for services and refrain from any disclosure of personal health information to other companies, such as the health insurance company. If a patient chooses to pay out of pocket for services, the insurance may not know the patient is seeing a psychologist or other mental health provider.
When providing services to a child or adolescent, some information will be shared with the legal guardian. The extent of what is discussed about a child or adolescent's treatment will be discussed at the beginning of the treatment process so that all parties are aware of the rules and so that the child or adolescent can comfortably proceed to share personal information with the psychologist without uncertainty about how it will be used or shared.
Obtain privacy policies from the American Psychology Association
Review or complete the forms that will be provided at the first session
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