Silent Partners: Confidentiality

I am pleased that you have considered coming to me for treatment. Counseling is a very personal shared interaction between two or more people and should not be entered into lightly. Before you begin counseling there are some things you will want to know. Legally, this information is called “Informed Consent.”

The following information is designed to help you know what you can expect from the counseling, better understand the potential benefits, and the limitations of what we will be doing:

The Counseling Approach, including side effects

Counseling cannot be effective if you only concentrate on the issues and concerns once a week. Therefore, as part of my approach, I will offer you an opportunity to record all sessions. I provide an audiotape recorder, bring your own tape. If you own newer technology, bring a digital recorder that you own if like. I just ask all of my clients to record each session so you can go over the content at least once between sessions.

I will also ask that you do specific activities and/or read specific books that will help to speed up the time it takes for you to work out your concerns and problems. Call this anything you like, it ends up being homework.

The process of recovery requires a great deal of work and understanding. To help accomplish this, I offer a variety of methods to assist you:

n Individual Counseling

n Family Counseling

n Couples' Counseling

To be able to change behaviors that lead to healthy outcomes and consequences, you will need to understand your experiences and the learning process. Counseling is not always easy.

· You may find yourself discussing very personal information that can be difficult and embarrassing.

· You may find your anxiety increasing, both during and after such conversations.

· As you learn more about yourself, you might encounter increased conflict with friends, co-workers, and family members.

· It is possible that you might become somewhat depressed.

Counseling is intended to alleviate problems, but sometimes, at first, as you face the root problems, you may feel worse. I may also ask you to try on some new thoughts, feelings or physical actions that may result in feeling awkward, uncomfortable, or like a beginner. You have a right to a satisfactory explanation for everything I ask you to do. In addition, you can move at your own pace. However, I will challenge you and your old ways of thinking and doing things. I will not offer you any promise about the results you experience. Your outcome depends on so many things.

Privacy, Confidentiality, & Financial Agreements

I respect your right to privacy and have this policy in place to maintain the confidentiality and security of your personal information.

Any and all information collected at my website will be kept strictly confidential and will not be sold, reused, rented, loaned, or otherwise disclosed. Any information you provide to Dr. Bill Haddock, DBA/Silent Partners, will be held with the utmost care, and will not be used in ways to which you have not consented. A more detailed explanation about how I care for your personal information is described below. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to let me know.

Resale or disclosure of information to third parties: Dr. Bill Haddock, DBA/Silent Partners, does not sell, rent, loan, trade, or lease any personal information collected at my site, including my email list.

Browser information collected on the Web site: I restrict access to any personal information about you to those employees and health care agents to whom you have granted a specific release of information. I maintain physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards to guard your personal information.

As with any web site operator, Dr. Bill Haddock, DBA/Silent Partners, analyzes the Web site logs to constantly improve the value of the web site. The Web site logs are not personally identifiable, and I make no attempt to link them with the individuals that actually browse the site.

Privacy of my email lists: Dr. Bill Haddock, DBA/Silent Partners, maintains an email list to keep interested individuals informed about the practice and psychological health. When requested, I gladly remove anyone from the mailing list. I do not sell, rent, loan, trade, or lease the addresses on my list to anyone. In addition, I configure the list server software to refuse to divulge the email addresses of my list subscribers to anyone, including other list subscribers.

§ Information I receive from you on intake, testing, during the process of counseling or consulting sessions;

§ Information about your health and /or previous treatment given by other healthcare providers;

§ Information I collect and share with others in the process of collecting fees for services, such as managed care companies, credit card companies, third party payers, etc.; and

§ Information I receive from another agency that may be related to the problems for which you received services from Dr. Bill Haddock, DBA/Silent Partners.

CONFIDENTIALITY is crucial to the therapeutic process. I believe that talking to me by email or by telephone is almost as safe as talking to me in my office. Just be careful if you are using your cell phone. It can be monitored by unknown people. Also, take care when using your computer at work. That may be monitored by your employer. As a therapist and consultant, I consider it my duty to protect the confidentiality and privacy of my clients, whether I work with clients through email, by telephone, or in a face-to-face setting. I will do my part to safeguard your personal information just as I do for clients I see in my office. The rest is up to you.

Technically, confidentiality of our conversations, your records, and any information that you give me, is protected by something called privilege. That means that the law protects you from having information about you given to anyone without your awareness and permission. I highly value privacy, both yours and mine. We intend to honor your privilege. Just know that there are limits to legal privilege. Below are some common examples:

· a clear threat exists to your life (suicidal) or someone else’s life (homicidal);

· the client authorizes a release of information to someone else;

· the therapist is ordered by a court to release information, such as a child custody suit;

· child or elder abuse/neglect are suspected;

· a dispute surfaces over collection of debt for services;

· you sign a release of information to insurance, managed care, or an employee assistance program; or

· if you become involved in a lawsuit in which your mental health is an issue.

Therefore, confidentiality is not 100% perfect, especially electronically. As mentioned, your employer may monitor your emails from work. Cell phones may not be that secure either. Another example, when you use your insurance benefits under a managed care group, your confidential information is often shared with people in the managed care company. Sometimes they lose claims. Once the information is submitted, I have no control over the information. I cannot guarantee without reservation what happens to the information once it leaves my office.

I lease office space in a building that houses other professionals and their staff. While I strive to maintain both visual and auditory privacy, I cannot prevent you from being seen as you enter and leave the office. If you have concerns about this please discuss them with me when you make the first appointment.

While I cannot guarantee 100% confidentiality, there are steps that can be taken to improve privacy. The single most important thing that can be done to improve security is for you to safeguard your privacy on your end. Do NOT send me email from your computer at work – your employer has a legal right to see your email! And when using your home computer, make sure only YOU have access to your email. The least likely security breach is that someone will intercept our correspondence while it is in transit.

This policy is intended to support statutes of the state of Texas that grant you the right to access your records maintained by Dr. Bill Haddock, DBA/Silent Partners. Normally, I do require the payment of a fee prior to retrieval of your records. On receipt of a written request and prior payment of retrieval fees, your records will be made available within 15 days. Keep in mind that access to any portion of your records can be denied if it is determined that the release would be harmful to you.

By submitting your personal data questionnaire by email or in person you agree to the limits of confidentiality and to pay for any expenses for missed or canceled appointments canceled without 24 hours notice (if applicable). Agreements that I make are listed below:

When appointments are desired, I will make every effort to arrange appointment times that are convenient for you. Specific hours may vary, but generally are during normal business hours. Appointments at other times may be available for special needs.

Office Hours:
Office hours are Monday through Thursday, 8am to 5 pm. I make my own appointments and strive to keep an accurate appointment schedule. Occasionally, I make mistakes (or my computer does) and you may not get on the calendar. This means I’m either NOT here for the appointment and/or I have two people scheduled for the same time. In those instances, I can only ask you to bear with me & reschedule. I make mistakes. If you miss an appointment or cancel less then 24 hours in advance, I will give you one “freebie”. I ask that you allow me the same slack. If I make a mistake more than once, then I give you a credit. I usually space appointments 30 minutes apart and am waiting for you at your appointed time. If the previous appointment goes longer than expected, I will give you your full time. If you arrive late, then I will split the difference with you up to 15 minutes. After fifteen minutes late, then we will just use what original appointment time is left. After the first session, appointments usually last 45 – 50 minutes and I end each session promptly. When a session goes over, I charge my usual fee in 15 minute increments.

Fees:
My usual fee is $110, payable at each visit. The cost of the initial session is $130. I no longer accept insurance and am no longer under contract to accept their billing limitations. If you are considering insurance companies for reimbursement, you should discuss this option in our initial contact and at your first visit with me. I do accept Visa/MasterCard, in addition to personal checks and/or cash. A discount of $5 per session is available, if you pay cash or by check instead of using a credit/debit card.

Broken Appointments:
Due to the time commitment I make, if you fail to show without having given at least 24 hours notice, you will be charged the full appointment fee (the first time is a “freebie”). Special circumstances will be considered as they surface. I maintain a 24-hour voice mail at (979) 209-0137 in case an appointment must be broken. By making an appointment, you enter into a mutual agreement with me to be in my office at the appointed time. I will strive to do the same. Exceptions for medical emergencies will be considered. In addition, you agree to provide credit card or other financial verification information (if applicable). You understand that you are responsible for all payments for email or telephone sessions and/or information, in advance (most cases). This includes paying for therapy time in 15-minute intervals and for contacting others (professionals, family, friends) to consult about your treatment. You also agree to discuss with Dr. Haddock, if you have any questions.

The Counseling Approach, including side effects

Privacy, Confidentiality, & Financial Agreements

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