Confidentiality & Security

Your confidentiality, privacy and security are extremely important, and I do everything within my power to protect them. These concepts vary from country to country, so I will briefly explain the standards that I keep.

Confidentiality

Confidentiality in health care refers to the obligation of professionals who have access to patient records or communication to hold that information in confidence.

What we talk about stays between us. Not only that, but without your permission I may not reveal even if I know you. If your doctor, family member, or anyone else calls me and asks about you, I will answer neither yes nor no; I will not even say if I know you. I talk to no one about you, not even your existence, without your permission. In the U.S. this tends to be supported by our highest law.

There are some limited and specific exceptions to confidentiality, and we will talk more about these in our first session to answer any questions you may have. These exceptions are about life and death, and protecting vulnerable individuals from abuse. It is not about crime and punishment.

Privacy

Privacy refers to how your information is used. I will not, and may not, use any of your information for anything other than your treatment. For example, I will never use your information for research without your knowledge or written agreement. I will never use your information for marketing purposes, nor sell it or give to others for any purpose.

Security

Security refers to how I make sure your information isn’t accidentally or inadvertently released to someone else. Whether your information is in paper or electronic form, I do everything reasonably possible to keep it safe. This includes, for example, having locked file cabinets, passphrase protected computer and cell phones, encrypted email, and video service that does not keep records of our communications.

Data Protection

As someone that offers secure, private, encrypted services to individuals around the world, it’s important that I am compliant with the privacy laws that govern your personal data.  

In the United States this is the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

In the European Union this is the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

These protections of your confidentiality, privacy and security are not as strong in all countries, but I act as if they were. 

I am committed to the protection of your data and privacy rights, and strive to remain compliant with both HIPAA and GDPR.  This includes all the platforms that I use for email communication, video sessions, and saved documents.

You and your safety and security are important to me.