I regard the information you share with me with the greatest respect, so I want us to be as clear as possible about how I will handle it. Generally, I will tell no one what you tell me. The privacy and confidentiality of our conversations and my records, is a privilege of yours and is protected by state and federal law and my profession's ethical principles in all but a few circumstances. There are two circumstances in which I cannot guarantee confidentiality legally and/or ethically: (1) When I believe you intend to harm yourself or another person, and (2) when I believe a child or elderly person has been or will be abused or neglected. In rare circumstances, Professional Counselors can be ordered by a Judge to release information. Otherwise, I will not tell anyone anything about your treatment, diagnosis, history, or even that you are a client, without your full knowledge and usually a signed Release of Information form.

Federal law and regulations protect the confidentiality of your record maintained by me. Violations of the Federal law and regulations by this service are a crime. Suspected violations may be reported to the United States Attorney in the district where the violation occurs. Federal law and regulations do not protect any information about suspected child abuse or neglect from being reported under State law to appropriate State and local authorities. (See 42 U.S.C. 290dd-3 and 42 U.S.C. 290ee-3 for federal laws and 42 CFR Part 2 for Federal regulations.)