Privacy Policy

Live Better Family Counseling Services, PLLC offers mental health counseling services in accordance with the Florida State Law. I will use the most effective and efficient evidence based therapeutic methods known for your issues in the shortest amount of time. I am here to serve you and will not do anything to jeopardize your success. I am bound by law to report any mention of child abuse, elder abuse, suicidal plans, and/or homicidal plans to the appropriate officials, such as the police or department of child and family services. My goal is to help you out of those thoughts before we need to call the authorities, if those thoughts occur.

Expanded information

Florida Law requires the therapeutic relationship to be both professional and confidential. This implies that what is said in therapy sessions is protected by legal, professional, and ethical standards with some exceptions. All information kept in your record is confidential and will not be released without your written consent, unless one of the following exceptions arises: there is a court order or you are of imminent danger to yourself or others. This includes and is not limited to, suicidal/homicidal plans and/or child/elder abuse. In these cases, it is my responsibility to comply with the law and inform appropriate parties to protect the health and well-being of you, those involved, and/or are in harm’s way. Florida Law mandates mental health counselors and the like to report suspected abuse whether current or past with allowance for some discretion of the clinician. Depending on the circumstances, an investigation may result that will determine whether or not legal action is warranted.

Family Counseling

I am willing to meet with the family and individual parties separately if both parties agree on meeting separately, then reconvening. I do not hold secrets from either party and will encourage honesty and assertiveness with therapeutic guidance. I will not be a court witness in a divorce case.

The HIPAA Privacy Rule

The HIPAA Privacy Rule establishes national standards to protect individuals' medical records and other individually identifiable health information (collectively defined as “protected health information”) and applies to health plans, health care clearinghouses, and those health care providers that conduct certain health care transactions electronically. The Rule requires appropriate safeguards to protect the privacy of protected health information and sets limits and conditions on the uses and disclosures that may be made of such information without an individual’s authorization. The Rule also gives individuals rights over their protected health.

Confidentiality Agreement

The information, including rights to examine and obtain a copy of their health records, to direct a covered entity to transmit to a third party an electronic copy of their protected health information in an electronic health record, and to request corrections.

The Privacy Rule is located at 45 CFR Part 160 and Subparts A and E of Part 164. Click here to view the combined regulation text of all HIPAA Administrative Simplification Regulations found at 45 CFR 160, 162, and 164. From the US Department of Health Services.