HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices

*Last Updated: July 2026*

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This Notice describes how medical and mental health information about you may be used and disclosed and how you can access this information. Please review it carefully.

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Stand Counseling & Coaching PLLC is committed to protecting the privacy of your health information. This Notice explains how your protected health information may be used and disclosed, your rights regarding your health information, and our legal responsibilities.

Our Legal Duties

Stand Counseling & Coaching PLLC is required by law to:

• Maintain the privacy and security of your protected health information.

• Provide you with this Notice of our legal duties and privacy practices.

• Follow the terms of the Notice currently in effect.

• Notify you if a breach occurs that may have compromised the privacy or security of your information.

How We May Use and Disclose Your Information

Treatment

We may use and share your health information to provide, coordinate, or manage your care. For example, information may be used for assessment, treatment planning, progress notes, referrals, coordination with other providers, or consultation when clinically appropriate.

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Payment

We may use and share your health information to bill and receive payment for services. This may include sharing necessary information with insurance companies, billing platforms, payment processors, or claims administrators.

Health Care Operations

We may use and share your health information for practice operations, such as quality improvement, documentation, scheduling, compliance, audits, credentialing, business administration, and other activities necessary to operate the practice.

When We May Share Information Without Your Written Authorization

We may use or disclose your information when permitted or required by law, including:

• To prevent or reduce a serious and imminent threat to your safety or the safety of another person.

• To report suspected abuse, neglect, or domestic violence as required or permitted by law.

• To comply with court orders, subpoenas, legal proceedings, or other lawful requests.

• For public health, health oversight, or law enforcement purposes when required or permitted by law.

• To comply with workers’ compensation or similar programs when applicable.

• To respond to government or regulatory agencies as required by law.

When Your Written Authorization Is Required

In most situations, we will need your written permission before using or disclosing your health information for purposes other than treatment, payment, health care operations, or as otherwise allowed by law.

Your written authorization is generally required for:

• Sharing information with family members, friends, attorneys, schools, employers, churches, or other third parties.

• Releasing records to another provider when not otherwise permitted for treatment purposes.

• Most uses and disclosures of psychotherapy notes, if such notes are maintained separately.

• Marketing purposes, except in limited situations allowed by law.

• Sale of protected health information.

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*You may revoke your written authorization at any time in writing, except to the extent that action has already been taken based on your authorization.

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Psychotherapy Notes

Psychotherapy notes, if maintained, are kept separate from the clinical record and receive special protection under HIPAA. These notes are not the same as progress notes, diagnosis, treatment plans, symptoms, medications, session times, or billing information. Most uses and disclosures of psychotherapy notes require your written authorization, except in limited circumstances permitted by law.

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Your Rights Regarding Your Health Information

You have the right to:

• Request a copy of your health record.

• Ask us to correct information you believe is incorrect or incomplete.

• Request confidential communication, such as asking us to contact you in a specific way or at a specific location.

• Ask us to limit the information we use or share.

• Request a list of certain disclosures we have made of your health information.

• Receive a paper copy of this Notice upon request.

• File a complaint if you believe your privacy rights have been violated.

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*We may deny certain requests as permitted by law, but we will explain the reason in writing when required.

Your Right to Request Restrictions

You may ask us not to use or share certain health information for treatment, payment, or health care operations. We are not required to agree to every request, but we will consider your request carefully.

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If you pay for a service in full out of pocket and request that we not submit information about that service to your health plan, we will honor that request unless disclosure is required by law. Please note that if you request to use insurance benefits, have a claim submitted, or apply the service toward your deductible, information about that service may need to be shared with your health plan for payment, processing, or benefit purposes.

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Your Right to Confidential Communication

You may request that we contact you in a specific way, such as by phone, email, client portal, or mail, or at a specific address or phone number. Reasonable requests will be honored whenever possible.

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Electronic Communication

Stand Counseling & Coaching PLLC may use secure platforms for scheduling, documentation, billing, telehealth, forms, and client communication. Current clients should use the secure client portal for clinical communication whenever possible.

Standard email, text messages, and website contact forms may not be fully secure and should not be used for detailed clinical, medical, legal, or emergency information.

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Telehealth

Telehealth services, when provided, are conducted through secure platforms. Clients are responsible for participating from a private and appropriate location. Telehealth may not be clinically appropriate for every client or situation.

Third-Party Platforms

Stand Counseling & Coaching PLLC may use third-party platforms such as SimplePractice, Headway, Wix, payment processors, and other service providers to support scheduling, billing, forms, communication, website hosting, and practice operations. These platforms may have their own privacy and security practices.

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Uses and Disclosures Related to Coaching, Workshops, and She Stands

Coaching, workshops, public speaking, books, resources, merchandise, community events, and She Stands offerings are separate from psychotherapy and do not create a therapist-client relationship.

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If you are receiving therapy services from Stand Counseling & Coaching PLLC, your protected health information related to therapy services will be handled according to HIPAA and applicable privacy laws.

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Minors and Family Involvement

Privacy rights for minors may vary depending on age, type of service, consent, and applicable federal or state law. When working with minors or families, privacy expectations and limits will be discussed as part of the intake and consent process.

Changes to This Notice

Stand Counseling & Coaching PLLC may change the terms of this Notice at any time. Any changes will apply to information already held by the practice as well as information received in the future. The updated Notice will be posted on the website and available upon request.

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Complaints

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with Stand Counseling & Coaching PLLC using the contact information below.

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You may also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights. You will not be retaliated against for filing a complaint.

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Contact Information

For questions about this Notice or to make a privacy-related request, contact:

Stand Counseling & Coaching PLLC
2911 Dixwell Avenue, Suite 300A
Hamden, CT 06518
Phone: (860) 333-LMFT (5638)
Email: intake@standcounseling.net