Notice of privacy practices

Your information is used for three ordinary purposes: treatment, meaning my own notes and planning for our work; payment, meaning the invoices and superbills you use for reimbursement; and practice operations, meaning the basic scheduling and recordkeeping that let this practice run.

In California, psychotherapy records carry protection beyond the federal baseline. They are generally not released to anyone without your written authorization, and that authorization names who receives what.

There are a few situations where the law requires me to act, and I would rather you know them at the start than discover them later:

• When there is a serious risk of harm to you or to another person, and acting is needed to keep someone safe.
• When there is reasonable suspicion of abuse or neglect of a child, an elder, or a dependent adult.
• When a court orders the release of information.

These are narrow. In practice, most of what happens in a session stays between us, and if one of these situations ever comes up I will talk with you about it wherever I can.

• To inspect your record and request a copy of it.
• To ask that something in it be corrected.
• To request that I contact you a particular way — a specific number, or no voicemail.
• To request restrictions on how your information is used or disclosed.
• To receive an accounting of disclosures that have been made.

Sessions are held on a HIPAA-compliant video platform. Ordinary email and text messages are not secure, which is why I ask you to use them only for scheduling and brief logistics. Anything clinical belongs in a session, where it is protected.

If you think your privacy has not been respected, tell me first — text or call (831) 477-7007, or email lauriechristysessions@gmail.com — and I will take it seriously. You may also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Nothing about your care will change because you raised a concern; there is no retaliation for doing so.