Electronic communication and tools have become a fact of modern life. It is important to your confidentiality and privacy to understand how and when your therapist may use or be prohibited from using electronic communication and tools in conjunction with your care.
Electronic Health Records System
Eastside Couples Therapy uses a HIPAA compliant client portal for our electronic health record system called Simple Practice. All information is encrypted to ensure your personal health information cannot be compromised. The Simple Practice servers are housed in a secure facility protected by proximity readers, biometric scanners, and security guards 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
Email & Text Messaging
I cannot ensure the confidentiality of any form of communication through email and text messages. You can leave messages for me using my secure client portal which will ensure confidentiality. If you prefer to communicate via email for issues regarding scheduling or cancellations, please speak to me about your preference. While I will return messages in a timely manner, I cannot guarantee immediate response and request that you do not use email or text to discuss therapeutic content and/or request assistance for emergencies.
Social Networking Sites
Due to the importance of your confidentiality and the importance of minimizing dual relationships, I do not accept friend or contact requests from current or former clients on any social networking site (Facebook, LinkedIn, etc). Both the American Counseling Association and the American Association for Marriage & Family Therapy have specific guidelines in their ethical codes regarding social media and clients; adding clients as friends or contacts on these sites can compromise your confidentiality and our respective privacy. It may also blur the boundaries of our therapeutic relationship. If you have questions about this, please bring them up when we meet and we can talk more about it.
You are welcome to like my business Facebook Page, or follow the business on Instagram, in order to stay informed about upcoming events.
Consumer Review Sites
Counselors do not solicit or request testimonials or consumer reviews. We do not claim pages on such sites as Yelp or Healthgrades. Leaving a review compromises your confidentiality. Please refrain from leaving consumer reviews online. If you have concerns or complaints about the services you have received, please speak to me directly.
Cell Phone Location Services
Many people use location-based services on their smartphone or tablets to enable friends and acquaintances to follow their itinerary via their mobile phones. Please be aware that use of location-based service on your smart phone may inform friends and acquaintances that you are visiting a therapist, thus compromising your privacy and confidentiality.
Use of Search Engines
I will not conduct electronic searches about clients unless there is a genuine emergency where information obtained electronically might protect a client from harm.