The Anchor Biblical Counseling

The law protects the privacy of all communications between a client and a counselor. In most situations I can only release information about you to others if you sign a written Authorization form (Authorization for Release of Information / Records) that meets certain legal requirements.

There are, however, some situations where I am permitted, or required by law, to disclose information without your consent or authorization. These are:

1. Child Abuse: If in my professional capacity a minor child under age 18 is counseled by me, or becomes known to me, or the parent, guardian, custodian, or other reliable person comes before me in my professional capacity and states from personal knowledge facts, conditions or circumstances which give me reasonable cause to believe a child is abused or maltreated, then I must legally file a report of alleged abuse or maltreatment with the appropriate child protective services hotline or agency.
2. Elder or Disabled Person Abuse: Similarly, if an elder person or disabled person is believed to be abused or neglected, I may be required by law or professional ethics to report suspected abuse to the appropriate authority.
3. Serious and Immanent Physical Threat to Health and Safety: I may need to disclose confidential information about you to protect you or others from serious or life-threatening harm by you. If I believe you have a clear intent to harm yourself, or other persons, or society, and that you likely have the capacity to carry out this act and that you intend to do so, then I am required by law to take protective action. This can and does normally require that I disclose confidential information to the potential victim, or in seeking to protect you, release information to an appropriate family member, friend, pastor and/or the police in seeking to protect you, or to health care professionals in seeking hospitalization. If such a situation arises, I will make every effort to discuss it with you before taking any action and I will limit my disclosure to what is minimally necessary. It is a very rare case that I would need to take this kind of action. Normally we would try to discuss and address these issues before such action or disclosure is needed.
4. Public Health Authorities: On rare occasion I may be required to release protected health information about you to public health authorities to control disease, injury or disability to others. These concerns would be discussed with you as part of this disclosure.
5. Worker's Compensation Claim: If you file a worker's compensation claim, and I am counseling you around issues related to that claim, then I may be required to furnish records to the Worker's Compensation Board regarding your condition and your treatment in counseling.
6. Programs Providing Government Benefits: Certain government programs providing government benefits, or for the enrollment in certain government benefit programs, if the sharing of PHI is required or expressly authorized by statute or regulation, then PHI information may be released. In my experience you are usually the initiator of these requests, and a release of information accompanies these requests by the government program.
7. Judicial Proceedings: If you are involved in a court proceeding and a request is made for information about the counseling services I have provided you, and any records about treatment, such information is privileged under state law and I will not release this information without your written authorization, or a court order in accord with Massachusetts State law.
   I will inform you of this type of request or the receipt of an order or subpoena, unless this is prohibited by law, as soon as I receive a request. If you are involved in or contemplating litigation, you should discuss this with your attorney to determine whether a court would likely order me to disclose information.
8. Client Lawsuit: If a client files a lawsuit against me, I may disclose relevant information regarding that client to defend myself.
9. Health Insurers: If you are receiving reimbursement from your carrier for counseling services, I may be required to provide information about your treatment to that carrier. I will notify you of any request for information made.
10. Informal Permission: You may give me informal permission to disclose personal health information to family members, close personal friends, or other persons you identify, such information being limited directly to such person's involvement. Such disclosure does not require an Authorization to release PHI.

Minors and Parents

Learn how counseling for minors balances adolescent privacy with parental involvement, ensuring a supportive, collaborative approach that respects both legal rights and family relationships.

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Client Rights

Explore your HIPAA rights as a client, including access to your records, requesting amendments, limiting disclosures, and how to file a complaint—all designed to protect your privacy and empower your care.

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