Confidentiality and Privacy Policy
Confidentiality is of critical importance in the professional relationship between you and your psychotherapist. Psychological services are confidential, meaning that most of the information you share with your psychotherapist will be kept private. Effective psychotherapy requires the client’s trust that what is discussed in psychotherapy sessions, usually involving highly personal and sensitive topics, will not be shared outside of the psychotherapist’s office.
In order that you can feel free to talk frankly with me with your right to privacy protected, the law makes it my duty as a psychologist to keep your client information confidential. In general, this means that I cannot discuss your personal information and other information that you share with me in your psychotherapy sessions with anyone or convey to others information about you without your permission.
The law protects the relationship between a client and a psychotherapist, and information cannot be disclosed to others without the client’s written permission. However, if you ever want me to share information with someone else (such as your primary care physician), I will ask that you sign a written authorization form (Authorization to Release Confidential Information and Records) that meets certain legal requirements imposed by HIPAA and by Maryland law. You and I will review and discuss these forms before you sign them and give your consent.
There are other activities and situations related to your psychotherapy that require your provision of written consent in advance. With your signature on our Starting our Work Together Booklet: Psychotherapy Services Information and Contract, also known as a document of informed consent, you provide consent for those activities and situations, which include exceptions to confidentiality. These exceptions are as follows:
- When I believe that you are in immediate danger of harming or killing yourself, I am permitted to disclose information to others as necessary to prevent the danger or threat of danger.
- When I believe that you are going to harm or kill another person/s, I am required by law to take action to inform the intended victim/s and appropriate law enforcement authorities.
- When you reveal to me or when I have reasonable cause to suspect that any child has been abused or neglected—either currently or in the past—I am required by law to report this to the appropriate county agency and state authorities.
- When you reveal to me or when I have reasonable cause to suspect abuse, neglect, exploitation, or self-neglect of a vulnerable adult or legally incompetent person, I am required by law to report this to the appropriate county agency.
Other times/situations which are exceptions to confidentiality include the following:
- When I am ordered by a court of law to release information, I am required to provide that specific information to the court.
- When a court of law refers you to me for psychotherapy, the results of the treatment ordered may have to be revealed to the court.
- If you are or become involved in any kind of lawsuit or administrative procedure (for example, worker’s compensation), that includes consideration or investigation of your mental health, you may not be able to keep your records or psychotherapy private in court.
- If you participate in group psychotherapy which I facilitate, I ask that each member of the group to make a promise to keep confidential whatever occurs or is said in the group’s psychotherapy sessions. However, I cannot guarantee that other members of the group will keep their promise.
- With my intention to provide you the best treatment that I can, there will be occasions when I may request consultation with another licensed mental health professional. During such consultations, I will refrain from revealing your identity. The consultant is likewise bound by law to keep the information about you confidential, although the exceptions to confidentiality are also applicable to the consultant.
- During those times when I am away or unavailable to you, my psychotherapy practice will be covered for emergency situations by an appropriate, qualified professional. With your consent, I may inform the on-call professional who is providing this coverage about your situation to facilitate your attainment of appropriate support should you need it.