Policies

CONFIDENTIALITY & HIPAA



Confidentiality of your information is very important to us and is protected by the law. Although, your information is confidential there are some exceptions as it applies to Texas law. Please read the HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices below for full disclosure: https://www.hhs.texas.gov/regulations/legal-information/hipaa-privacy-laws

Limits of Confidentiality

Contents of all therapy sessions are considered to be confidential. Both verbal information and written records about a client cannot be shared with another party without the written consent of the client or the client’s legal guardian. Noted exceptions are as follows: 

Duty to Warn and Protect 

When a client discloses intentions or a plan to harm another person, the mental health professional is required to warn the intended victim and report this information to legal authorities. In cases in which the client discloses or implies a plan for suicide, the health care professional is required to notify legal authorities and make reasonable attempts to notify the family of the client.

Abuse of Children and Vulnerable Adults 

If a client states or suggests that he or she is abusing a child (or vulnerable adult) or has recently abused a child (or vulnerable adult), or a child (or vulnerable adult) is in danger of abuse, the mental health professional is required to report this information to the appropriate social service and/or legal authorities.

The statement below is now required by law to be posted effective January 1, 2022. This new law protects consumers from "surprise" bills from any health care provider which is great for all of us.

Notice to clients and prospective clients:

     Under the new law, health care providers need to give clients who do not have insurance, or who are not using insurance, an estimate of the expected charges for medical and mental health services.

     You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency healthcare services, including psychotherapy services. 

     You can ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule a service, or at any time during treatment.  

     If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill. Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate.  

     For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, or how to dispute a bill, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises. 

The purpose of informed consent in therapy is to uphold ethical and legal standards, protect the client's rights and well-being, promote transparency and collaboration, and ensure that therapy is a voluntary and informed choice made by the client. It is an essential component of the therapeutic process that helps build trust and establish clear expectations between the therapist and the client.

Your privacy is very important to me and I have developed this policy in order for you to understand how information is collected, used, communicated and disclosed. The following outlines my privacy policy for therapy clients only:

Before or at the time of collecting personal information, I will identify the purposes for which information is being collected and will only retain personal information as long as necessary for the fulfillment of those purposes. As a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate (LPC-Associate) I am required by the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council and Licensing Board to retain supervision (LPC-Supervisor) for the first 3,000 hours of my provisional license until I upgrade to full licensure as an LPC. My supervisors are Amanda Esquivel, LPC-S and Hilary Labac, LPC-S and there may be times during our confidential sessions that a client’s experiences and information may be shared in order for me to provide you with the best possible care. Amanda Esquivel, LPC-S and Hilary Labac, LPC-S are also legally and ethically bound to protect client confidentiality, which includes my clients.

I will collect and use personal information solely with the objective of fulfilling those purposes specified by me and for other compatible purposes, such as your request to collaborate with your physician, and only if you consent to share specific information or concerns or as required by law (see below). I will protect personal information by reasonable security safeguards, as well as unauthorized access, disclosure, copying, use or modification.

LEGAL DISCLAIMER

I reserve the right to disclose your personally identifiable information as required by law, when I believe that disclosure is necessary to protect your rights, protect another’s rights, and/or to comply with a judicial proceeding, court order, or other legal process. Even in these instances, the amount of information shared will be the absolute minimum that is being required by me from a court official.

WEBSITE DISCLAIMER

The information provided through this website is for informational purposes only. This information is not intended to and does not create a therapist-client relationship. You must complete intake forms including “Informed Consent” before a client-counselor relationship can be initiated.

CHANGES TO OUR POLICIES

Times change, as do privacy expectations. This document is considered a living document, and may be updated or modified periodically, without notice. As a result, I suggest periodic review of this policy. I may provide you additional forms of notice of modifications or updates as appropriate under the circumstances, as a courtesy only. Your continued use of this site and your client portal after any modification to this policy will constitute your acceptance of such modification.