Privacy & Confidentiality
Know Your Rights and What Keeps You Protected
Therapy is a confidential space, and protecting your privacy is an important part of the therapeutic process. Information shared during sessions is generally kept private and will not be disclosed without your written consent except in specific situations required by law or ethical standards.
Exceptions to confidentiality may include situations involving:
concerns related to imminent risk of harm to yourself or others
suspected abuse or neglect of a child, dependent adult, or vulnerable individual
court orders or legal requirements
situations otherwise required by law
For adult clients, therapy records and session content remain confidential within these legal and ethical limits.
For clients who are legally considered minors, confidentiality is also applied; however, parents or legal guardians may have legal rights to certain information related to treatment. For minors, confidentiality is respected whenever possible. However, if significant concerns related to safety arise, parents or guardians may need to be informed in order to support the minor’s well-being and safety. Whenever appropriate, I aim to first approach these conversations collaboratively with the client while maintaining a supportive therapeutic environment.
If you choose to use insurance benefits, insurance companies may require access to certain information such as diagnoses, treatment dates, or documentation necessary for claims processing and reimbursement. Clients choosing private pay without insurance involvement may maintain a greater degree of privacy regarding their treatment records.
Understanding Confidentiality
Security In Sessions
Telehealth sessions are conducted through secure, HIPAA-compliant platforms designed to protect privacy and confidentiality. While every effort is made to maintain security, no electronic communication system used by any clinician or company can guarantee absolute confidentiality.
Client Rights
All clients have the right to receive informed and respectful care, to ask questions about treatment and therapeutic approaches, to participate collaboratively in treatment planning, to access information regarding privacy and confidentiality, to request access to records when legally appropriate, to discontinue therapy at any time, and to voice concerns or file complaints without retaliation.
You have the right to opt out of using insurance
If you choose to use insurance benefits, insurance companies may require access to certain information, such as having a diagnosis, treatment dates, or documentation necessary for claims processing and reimbursement. Clients choosing private pay without insurance involvement may maintain a greater degree of privacy regarding their treatment records.
You are entitled to receive a good faith estimate
You are entitled to receive this “Good Faith Estimate” of what the charges could be for psychotherapy services provided to you. While it is not possible for a psychotherapist to know, in advance, how many psychotherapy sessions may be necessary or appropriate for a given person, this form provides an estimate of the cost of services provided for 52 weeks or a full year of weekly sessions. Your total cost of services will depend upon the number of psychotherapy sessions you attend, your individual circumstances, and the type and amount of services that are provided to you. This estimate is NOT a contract and does NOT obligate you to obtain any services from the provider(s) listed, nor does it include any services rendered to you that are not identified here. This Good Faith Estimate is not intended to serve as a recommendation for treatment or a prediction that you may need to attend a specified number of psychotherapy visits. The number of visits that are appropriate in your case, and the estimated cost for those services, depends on your needs and what you agree to in consultation with your therapist. You are entitled to disagree with any recommendations made to you concerning your treatment, and you may discontinue treatment at any time.
Privacy
Embody Therapy is legally required to protect the privacy of your health information, follow current confidentiality and privacy laws, and provide notice of any significant changes to privacy policies or practices. Protecting client privacy and confidentiality is an important part of the therapeutic relationship. I am committed to maintaining a safe, respectful, and confidential space where clients can speak openly about their experiences, thoughts, emotions, and concerns. Confidentiality is upheld in accordance with specific legal, ethical, and professional standards, with limited exceptions related to safety concerns or situations otherwise required by law.
If you have questions, concerns, or believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may contact Embody Therapy directly for additional support or information. Clients also have the right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services without fear of retaliation.
No Surprises Act
Under the No Surprises Act, clients who are uninsured or not using insurance benefits have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate outlining the expected cost of therapy services.
You have the right to receive an estimate of the total expected cost of non-emergency healthcare services, including psychotherapy services. If you receive a bill that is substantially higher than your Good Faith Estimate, you may have the right to dispute the bill.
Additional information about your rights under the No Surprises Act can be found through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Click Here for a link to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
If you’re considering therapy together, the next step is a consultation where we can meet, discuss what’s bringing you in, and explore whether this feels like the right fit for your goals.
Therapy is available statewide through HIPAA-compliant online sessions, including for individuals located in Virginia
Moving Forward With Healing
Here for you when you feel ready