Confidentiality

    Everything we discuss is confidential, and can be shared with no one else unless you request me to do so.  There may, however, be several exceptions to this, which include:  1) when it may be in the best interest of your overall health care that there be open and ongoing communication between myself and your other health care providers, such as the physician who referred you to me, or your psychotherapist if you are seeing someone else for this, or in emergency situations (let me know if you have any concerns about this);  2) with family members (with your knowledge) if there is an emergency situation or they are actively involved with your treatment, usually in situations of serious illness;  3) if there is a serious emergency situation where you have become an immediate and significant danger to yourself or others;  4) if I learn that you or others are engaging in behaviors that may constitute legal child abuse;  5) if I am court-ordered by a judge to provide information about my treatment of you;  6) if your ability to drive becomes an obvious serious concern (the state requires that this be reported);  and 7) in dealing with a few managed care companies if your insurance is of this type (see below).

Managed Care Insurance and Confidentiality: 

  This is a topic of concern to me, and may be to you as well if your insurance is of the “managed care” type.  Some (but not all) managed care insurers require that before they will agree to let you use your insurance for your treatment, they must be told information about your problems and treatment.  While in most instances only very minimal information is requested, occasionally there will be a request for significant personal information.  Some insurers also require periodic updates from me about your situation and treatment before they will continue to pay for further ongoing treatment.  Managed care companies are bound by law and policy to keep this data confidential, but their procedures do potentially represent an intrusion by unknown individuals into your personal life.  If your insurance is with one of the companies that ask for such information, you generally have two choices of how to deal with this.  If you wish to get the maximum level of reimbursement from your insurance, you generally have to agree to allow your insurer to have access to this information.  If such sharing of information is unacceptable to you, you can ask me to not do this and I will not.  However, you may then get insurance reimbursement at a lower level and have higher out-of-pocket costs for treatment.  I encourage you to discuss this topic further with me if you have questions or concerns here.