Confidentiality and Privacy


Federal law and professional ethics protect the relationship between a client and a psychotherapist. Information about you or your work with me cannot be disclosed to any third party or entity without your prior written permission to do so.

There are important exceptions to these laws. They are:

  • I am required by law to report suspected or disclosed child, dependent adult, or elder abuse to the appropriate authorities immediately.
  • If a client is threatening serious bodily harm to another person or persons, I must notify the police and inform the intended victim(s) immediately.
  • If a client specifically discloses an intention to harm her or himself, I will make every effort to enlist their cooperation in insuring their safety. If they do not cooperate, I will take further measures without their permission that are provided me by law in order to ensure the client's safety.
  • If my clinical records are subpoenaed by a court of law in a legal action involving me or a client, I may be required by that court to disclose information about a client despite my prior agreement with that client to keep the information private and confidential.
  • I will never disclose contact, personal, or treatment information for any reason to any person, state entity, or organization without the express and specific prior permission of my client and without a mutually and clearly determined positive benefit to my client.