NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES

Unapologetically U Counseling & Consulting PLLC

Effective Date: March 2026

THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW YOUR HEALTH INFORMATION MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN ACCESS THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.

Protecting your privacy is extremely important. This notice explains how your health information may be used and shared and outlines your rights regarding your protected health information (PHI). This practice is required by law to maintain the privacy of your health information and provide you with this notice of privacy practices.

1. MY PLEDGE REGARDING YOUR HEALTH INFORMATION

Your health information is personal and confidential. I am committed to protecting your privacy and maintaining the confidentiality of your records.

I create a record of the care and services you receive from this practice. This record is necessary in order to:

• Provide quality mental health care
• Document treatment and clinical decisions
• Comply with legal and ethical obligations

This notice applies to all records created or maintained by this practice.

By law I am required to:

• Maintain the privacy of your protected health information (PHI)
• Provide you with this notice of privacy practices
• Follow the terms of the notice currently in effect

I reserve the right to change the terms of this notice at any time. Updated versions will be available upon request, in the office, and on the practice website.

2. HOW YOUR HEALTH INFORMATION MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED

Federal privacy regulations allow mental health providers to use and disclose your protected health information for certain purposes without written authorization.

Treatment

Your information may be used to provide therapy and coordinate your care.

Examples include:

• Consulting with another licensed healthcare provider
• Referring you to another provider
• Coordinating care with another clinician involved in your treatment

Only information necessary for treatment will be shared.

Payment

If you choose to use insurance or another payer, information may be shared for billing purposes.

However, Unapologetically U Counseling & Consulting primarily operates as a private-pay practice, and disclosures for payment may be limited depending on your method of payment.

Healthcare Operations

Your health information may be used for activities necessary to run the practice, including:

• Quality improvement
• Licensing or accreditation requirements
• Professional consultation
• Business operations

3.USES AND DISCLOSURES THAT REQUIRE YOUR WRITTEN AUTHORIZATION

Certain disclosures require your written permission.

Psychotherapy Notes

Psychotherapy notes receive special protection under federal law.

Psychotherapy notes are notes recorded by a mental health professional documenting or analyzing the contents of a counseling session. These notes are kept separate from your medical record.

They cannot be used or disclosed without your written authorization except in limited circumstances such as:

• For treatment by the therapist
• For supervision or training
• To defend against legal action brought by the client
• When required by law

Marketing

Your protected health information will never be used for marketing purposes without your written authorization.

Sale of Health Information

Your protected health information will never be sold.

4. USES AND DISCLOSURES THAT DO NOT REQUIRE AUTHORIZATION

Under certain circumstances, your information may be disclosed without written permission when required or permitted by law.

These situations include:

Abuse or Neglect Reporting

If there is suspected child abuse, elder abuse, or abuse of a vulnerable adult, I am legally required to report it.

Threat of Harm

If there is a serious threat to your safety or the safety of another person.

Court Orders

If a court orders disclosure of records.

Health Oversight

For licensing boards, audits, or investigations.

Law Enforcement

When required by law.

Workers Compensation

When required by workers compensation claims.

Only the minimum necessary information will be disclosed.

5. ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION AND TELEHEALTH

This practice may communicate with clients through electronic means including:

• Email
• Text messaging
• Client portals
• Telehealth platforms
• Electronic scheduling systems

While reasonable safeguards are used, electronic communication carries some risk to confidentiality.

By choosing to communicate electronically, you acknowledge and accept these potential risks.

You may request alternative communication methods at any time.

6. APPOINTMENT REMINDERS

This practice may contact you to remind you of appointments through:

• Phone calls
• Voicemail
• Email
• Text message
• Client portal messages

7. DISCLOSURES TO FAMILY MEMBERS OR OTHERS

With your permission, relevant information may be shared with individuals involved in your care such as:

• Family members
• Spouses or partners
• Caregivers
• Individuals responsible for payment

You may restrict or revoke this permission at any time.

8. MINORS

When providing therapy to minors, parents or legal guardians generally have the right to access treatment information.

However, in some cases information may be limited in order to protect the therapeutic relationship or when permitted by law.

9. YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING YOUR HEALTH INFORMATION

You have several rights regarding your protected health information.

Right to Access Your Records

You have the right to inspect or obtain copies of your records, excluding psychotherapy notes.

Requests must be submitted in writing.

Records will typically be provided within 30 days.

A reasonable administrative fee may apply.

Right to Request Corrections

If you believe your record contains incorrect information, you may request that it be corrected.

Requests must be made in writing.

Right to Request Restrictions

You may request limits on how your information is used or disclosed.

While requests will be considered, the practice is not required to agree if it would interfere with treatment.

Right to Confidential Communication

You may request that communication occur through specific methods or at specific locations.

Reasonable requests will be honored.

Right to an Accounting of Disclosures

You may request a list of disclosures made outside of treatment, payment, or healthcare operations within the past six years.

10. BREACH NOTIFICATION

If a breach occurs involving your protected health information that compromises its privacy or security, you will be notified in accordance with federal and state law.