Confidentiality and Informed Consent

          The contents of an Intake session, Assessment session and Counseling session are considered to be highly confidential. As per the ethics of the American Counseling Association and the American Psychological Association, both verbal and written records about a client cannot be shared with another party without the written consent of the Client. It is the policy of this therapist not to release any information about a client without a signed release of information. The noted exceptions, demanded by law include:

         (1)  When a Client discloses intention or a plan to harm another person, the therapist is required by law 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 therapist is required to notify legal authorities and make a reasonable attempt to notify the family of the Client;

(2)  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 therapist is required to report this information to the appropriate social service and/or legal authorities;

(3)   Therapists are required by law to release records of clients when a court order has been placed;

(4)  In the event of a Client’s death, the spouse or parents of a deceased Client have a right to access their spouse’s or child’s records.