Since I only see people online (video telehealth) at this time, I work with teens (15+) and adults (18+) who live in Washington state.

I work best with individuals who will spend time outside of our therapy sessions thinking about how to integrate what we discuss in session into their daily lives.

Whether you’ve been to therapy before or are just starting out, the first session can make people nervous. Typically, we go over the informed consent, limitations of confidentiality, and I get to know more about you and your general history.

This entirely depends on you and your goals.

To start, I think it is good practice to meet once a week for at least 6 weeks to give you the opportunity to get used to the process. I will check in with you periodically to assess how the frequency feels for you. Eventually some people like to move to meeting bi-weekly, then shift to once a month, or even an as-needed basis.

I consider all my clients to be clients for life. That means you are always welcome to return no matter how much time has passed since our last session.

If you are curious about Washington State’s Good Faith Estimate, please let me know.

This notice describes how healthcare information about you may be used and disclosed, and how you can get access to this information.

Please read this Notice carefully.

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) mandates the protection and confidential handling of protected healthcare information. This Notice informs you of your rights regarding your healthcare information under HIPAA. Your health information includes any information that I record or receive about your past, present, and future healthcare. HIPAA regulations require that I maintain this privacy and provide you a copy of this Notice.

RECORD KEEPING PRACTICES

Standard practice requires me to keep a record of your treatment. This includes relevant data about dates of service, payments for service, and relevant treatment information. This record of treatment is your protected health care information or “PHI”. I may use or disclose your PHI for treatment, payment, and healthcare operation purposes.

USES AND DISCLOSURES FOR TREATMENT, PAYMENT AND HEALTHCARE OPERATIONS

TREATMENT:

I may use or disclose your PHI to coordinate or manage your treatment. An example of treatment would be when I consult with another healthcare provider or therapist.

PAYMENT:

I will disclose your health care information if you require that I bill a third party. An example of payment is when I disclose your PHI to the payee of the invoice, if the payee is a parent or partner. Another example being if, without prior written agreement, no payment for services has been received after 90 days, the account name and amount may be submitted to a collection agency.

HEALTHCARE OPERATIONS:

I may disclose your PHI during activities that relate to the performance and operation of my practice. Examples of healthcare operations are quality assessment activities, case management, legal, audits, and administrative services.

USES AND DISCLOSURES THAT DO NOT REQUIRE YOUR AUTHORIZATION OR AN OPPORTUNITY TO OBJECT REQUIRED BY LAW.

I may use or disclose your PHI to the extent that the use of disclosure is required by law, made in compliance with the law, and limited to the relevant requirements of the law. Examples are public health reports, law enforcement reports, abuse and neglect reports, and reports to coroners and medical examiner in connection with death. I also must make disclosures to the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services for the purpose of investigating or determining my compliance with the requirement of the Privacy Rule.

HEALTH OVERSIGHT:

I may disclose your healthcare information to a health oversight agency for activities authorized by law, such as my professional licensure. Oversight agencies also include government agencies and organizations that provide financial assistance to me, such as third-party payers.

CHILD ABUSE OR NEGLECT:

If I have reasonable cause to believe that a child (under the age of 18 years) has suffered abuse or neglect, I am required by law to report it to the proper authorities.

VULNERABLE ADULT ABUSE:

If I have reasonable cause to believe that abandonment, sexual or physical abuse, financial exploitation, or neglect of a vulnerable adult has occurred, I must report the abuse to the proper authorities.

THREAT TO HEALTH OR SAFETY:

I may disclose your PHI for purposes of safety if I have good reason to believe that disclosure will avoid or minimize an imminent danger to the health or safety of you or another individual, although there is no obligation on my part to disclose.

IN RESPONSE TO CHARGES AGAINST ME:

I will be required to disclose your PHI if you waive the privileges by bringing charges against me.

CRIMINAL ACTIVITY:

I may disclose your healthcare information to law enforcement officials if you have committed a crime on my premises or against me.

BUSINESS ASSOCIATES:

I may disclose your healthcare information with business associates that I contract with to administer billing and/or legal services. My contract with them requires them to safeguard the privacy of your information.

COMPULSORY PROCESS:

I may be required to disclose your PHI if a court of competent jurisdiction issues an appropriate order. I will comply with this order if (a) you and I have each been notified in writing at least fourteen days in advance of the subpoena or other legal demand, (b) no protective order has been obtained, and (c) I have satisfactory assurances that you have received notice of an opportunity to have limited or quashed the discover demand.

USES AND DISCLOSURES OF HEALTHCARE INFORMATION WITH YOUR WRITTEN AUTHORIZATION

I will make other uses and disclosures of your PHI only when your appropriate authorization is obtained. An “authorization” is written permission that permits specific disclosures. You may revoke this authorization in writing at any time, unless I have taken an action in reliance on the authorization of the use or disclosure you permitted, such as providing you with healthcare services for which I must submit subsequent claims for payment.

YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING YOUR PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION

1. You have the right to inspect and copy your PHI, which may be restricted in certain limited circumstances, for as long as I am legally obligated to maintain it. I will charge you a reasonable cost-based fee for copies.

2. You have the right to ask that I amend your record if you feel that the PHI is incorrect or incomplete. I am not required to amend it, however you have the right to file a statement of disagreement with me, to which I am allowed to prepare a rebuttal and it will all go into your record.

3. You have the right to request the required accounting of disclosures that I make regarding your PHI. This documents any non-routine disclosures made for purposes other than your treatment, as well as disclosures made pertaining to your treatment for purposes of quality of care.

4. You have the right to request a restriction or limitation on the use of your PHI for treatment, payment, or operations of my practice. I am not required to agree to your request, and in instances where I believe it is in the best interest of quality care I may not honor your request.

5. You have the right to request confidential communication with me. An example of this might be to send your mail to another address or not call you at home. I will accommodate reasonable requests and will not ask why you are making the request.

6. You have the right to have a paper copy of this Notice.

7. If you believe I have violated your privacy rights you have the right to file a complaint in writing with me, my clinical supervisor and/or the Secretary of Health and Human Services. I will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.

THERAPIST'S DUTIES

This Notice describes your rights regarding how you may gain access to and control your PHI and how I may use and disclose it. I am required by law to abide by the terms of this Notice of Privacy Practices and reserve the right to change the terms of this Notice at any time. Any new Notice of Privacy Practices will be effective for all PHI that I maintain, whether or not you are still in treatment with me. You may request a copy of my revised Notice of Privacy Practices at your appointment time, or by leaving a request on my voicemail to receive a copy through the mail. My revised Notice of Privacy Practices will be available in my office.

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