Confidentiality & Privacy Policy

 Is professional counseling confidential?

In general, the law protects the confidentiality of all communications between you and your counselor.  No information is disclosed without prior written permission from you, the client.

However, there are some exceptions, as counselors are mandated reporters by law. Exceptions include:

• Suspected child abuse or dependant adult or elder abuse, for which I am required by law to report this to the appropriate authorities immediately.
• If a client is threatening serious bodily harm to another person/s, I must notify the police and inform the intended victim.
• If a client intends to harm himself or herself, I will make every effort to enlist their cooperation in insuring his/her safety. If there is no cooperation, I will take further measures that are provided to me by law in order to ensure the person's safety.

Any correspondance by me to another professional, famlily member or significant other, including thanking someone for a referral, will not done without a written release of information signed and dated by you.