Since scheduling an appointment involves the reservation of time specifically for you, kindly give at least 48 hours notice for re-scheduling or canceling an appointment, or the regular fee applies. Sessions missed without the minimum notice will be charged to the credit card used to reserve the session, and the deposit will not be returned.

HIPAA NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES

I. THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.

II. IT IS MY LEGAL DUTY TO SAFEGUARD YOUR PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION (PHI).
By law I am required to insure that your PHI is kept private. The PHI constitutes information created or noted by me that can be used to identify you. It contains data about your past, present, or future health or condition, the provision of health care services to you, or the payment for such health care. I am required to provide you with this Notice about my privacy procedures. This Notice must explain when, why, and how I would use and/or disclose your PHI. Use of PHI means when I share, apply, utilize, examine, or analyze information within my practice; PHI is disclosed when I release, transfer, give, or otherwise reveal it to a third party outside my practice. With some exceptions, I may not use or disclose more of your PHI than is necessary to accomplish the purpose for which the use or disclosure is made; however, I am always legally required to follow the privacy practices described in this Notice.

Please note that I reserve the right to change the terms of this Notice and my privacy policies at any time. Any changes will apply to PHI already on file with me. Before I make any important changes to my policies, I will immediately change this Notice and post a new copy of it in my office. You may also request a copy of this Notice from me, or you can view a copy of it in my office.

III. HOW I WILL USE AND DISCLOSE YOUR PHI.
I will use and disclose your PHI for many different reasons. Some of the uses or disclosures will require your prior written authorization; others, however, will not. Below you will find the different categories of my uses and disclosures, with some examples.

A. Uses and Disclosures Related to Treatment, Payment, or Health Care Operations Do Not Require Your Prior Written Consent.

I may use and disclose your PHI without your consent for the following reasons:

1. For treatment. I may disclose your PHI to physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists, and other licensed health care providers who provide you with health care services or are otherwise involved in your care. Example: If a psychiatrist is treating you, I may disclose your PHI to her/him in order to coordinate your care.
2. For health care operations. I may disclose your PHI to facilitate the efficient and correct operation of my practice. Examples: Quality control - I might use your PHI in the evaluation of the quality of health care services that you have received or to evaluate the performance of the health care professionals who provided you with these services. I may also provide your PHI to my attorneys, accountants, consultants, and others to make sure that I am in compliance with applicable laws.
3. To obtain payment for treatment. I may use and disclose your PHI to bill and collect payment for the treatment and services I provided you. Example: I might send your PHI to your insurance company or health plan in order to get payment for the health care services that I have provided to you. I could also provide your PHI to business associates, such as billing companies, claims processing companies, and others that process health care claims for my office.
4. Other disclosures. Examples: Your consent isn't required if you need emergency treatment provided that I attempt to get your consent after treatment is rendered. In the event that I try to get your consent but you are unable to communicate with me (for example, if you are unconscious or in severe pain) but I think that you would consent to such treatment if you could, I may disclose your PHI.

B. Certain Other Uses and Disclosures Do Not Require Your Consent.
I may use and/or disclose your PHI without your consent or authorization for the following reasons:

1. When disclosure is required by federal, state, or local law; judicial, board, or administrative proceedings; or, law enforcement. Example: I may make a disclosure to the appropriate officials when a law requires me to report information to government agencies, law enforcement personnel and/or in an administrative proceeding.
2. If disclosure is compelled by a party to a proceeding before a court of an administrative agency pursuant to its lawful authority.
3. If disclosure is required by a search warrant lawfully issued to a governmental law enforcement agency.
4. If disclosure is compelled by the patient or the patient’s representative pursuant to New York Health and Safety Codes or to corresponding federal statutes of regulations, such as the Privacy Rule that requires this Notice.
5. To avoid harm. I may provide PHI to law enforcement personnel or persons able to prevent or mitigate a serious threat to the health or safety of a person or the public.
6. If disclosure is compelled or permitted by the fact that you are in such mental or emotional condition as to be dangerous to yourself or the person or property of others, and if I determine that disclosure is necessary to prevent the threatened danger.
7. If disclosure is mandated by child abuse and neglect reporting laws in New York State. For example, if I have a reasonable suspicion of child abuse or neglect.
8. If disclosure is mandated by elder/dependent adult abuse reporting laws in New York State. For example, if I have a reasonable suspicion of elder abuse or dependent adult abuse.
9. If disclosure is compelled or permitted by the fact that you tell me of a serious/imminent threat of physical violence by you against a reasonably identifiable victim or victims.
10. For public health activities. Example: In the event of your death, if a disclosure is permitted or compelled, I may need to give the county coroner information about you.
11. For health oversight activities. Example: I may be required to provide information to assist the government in the course of an investigation or inspection of a health care organization or provider.
12. For specific government functions. Examples: I may disclose PHI of military personnel and veterans under certain circumstances. Also, I may disclose PHI in the interests of national security, such as protecting the President of the United States or assisting with intelligence operations.
13. For research purposes. In certain circumstances, I may provide PHI in order to conduct medical research.
14. For Workers' Compensation purposes. I may provide PHI in order to comply with Workers' Compensation laws.
15. Appointment reminders and health related benefits or services. Examples: I may use PHI to provide appointment reminders. I may use PHI to give you information about alternative treatment options, or other health care services or benefits I offer.
16. If an arbitrator or arbitration panel compels disclosure, when arbitration is lawfully requested by either party, pursuant to subpoena duces tectum (e.g., a subpoena for mental health records) or any other provision authorizing disclosure in a proceeding before an arbitrator or arbitration panel.
17. I am permitted to contact you, without your prior authorization, to provide appointment reminders or information about alternative or other heath-related benefits and services that may be of interest to you.
18. If disclosure is required or permitted to a health oversight agency for oversight activities authorized by law. Example: When compelled by U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services to investigate or assess my compliance with HIPAA regulations.
19. If disclosure is otherwise specifically required by law.

C. Certain Uses and Disclosures Require You to Have the Opportunity to Object.

1. Disclosures to family, friends, or others. I may provide your PHI to a family member, friend, or other individual who you indicate is involved in your care or responsible for the payment for your health care, unless you object in whole or in part. Retroactive consent may be obtained in emergency situations.

D. Other Uses and Disclosures Require Your Prior Written Authorization.
In any other situation not described in Sections IIIA, IIIB, and IIIC above, I will request your written authorization before using or disclosing any of your PHI. Even if you have signed an authorization to disclose your PHI, you may later revoke that authorization, in writing, to stop any future uses and disclosures (assuming that I haven't taken any action subsequent to the original authorization) of your PHI by me.

IV. WHAT RIGHTS YOU HAVE REGARDING YOUR PHI
These are your rights with respect to your PHI:
A. The Right to See and Get Copies of Your PHI. In general, you have the right to see your PHI that is in my possession, or to get copies of it; however, you must request it in writing. If I do not have your PHI, but I know who does, I will advise you how you can get it. You will receive a response from me within 30 days of my receiving your written request. Under certain circumstances, I may feel I must deny your request, but if I do, I will give you, in writing, the reasons for the denial. I will also explain your right to have my denial reviewed.
If you ask for copies of your PHI, I will charge you not more than $.25 per page. I may see fit to provide you with a summary or explanation of the PHI, but only if you agree to it, as well as to the cost, in advance.
B. The Right to Request Limits on Uses and Disclosures of Your PHI. You have the right to ask that I limit how I use and disclose your PHI. While I will consider your request, I am not legally bound to agree. If I do agree to your request, I will put those limits in writing and abide by them except in emergency situations. You do not have the right to limit the uses and disclosures that I am legally required or permitted to make.
C. The Right to Choose How I Send Your PHI to You. It is your right to ask that your PHI be sent to you at an alternate address (for example, sending information to your work address rather than your home address) or by an alternate method (for example, via email instead of by regular mail). I am obliged to agree to your request providing that I can give you the PHI, in the format you requested, without undue inconvenience.
D. The Right to Get a List of the Disclosures I Have Made. You are entitled to a list of disclosures of your PHI that I have made. The list will not include uses or disclosures to which you have already consented, i.e., those for treatment, payment, or health care operations, sent directly to you, or to your family; neither will the list include disclosures made for national security purposes, to corrections or law enforcement personnel, or disclosures made before August 1, 2003. After August 1, 2003, disclosure records will be held for six years.

I will respond to your request for an accounting of disclosures within 60 days of receiving your request. The list I give you will include disclosures made in the previous six years (the first six year period being 2003-2009) unless you indicate a shorter period. The list will include the date of the disclosure, to whom PHI was disclosed (including their address, if known), a description of the information disclosed, and the reason for the disclosure. I will provide the list to you at no cost, unless you make more than one request in the same year, in which case I will charge you a reasonable sum based on a set fee for each additional request.

E. The Right to Amend Your PHI. If you believe that there is some error in your PHI or that important information has been omitted, it is your right to request that I correct the existing information or add the missing information. Your request and the reason for the request must be made in writing. You will receive a response within 60 days of my receipt of your request. I may deny your request, in writing, if I find that: the PHI is (a) correct and complete, (b) forbidden to be disclosed, (c) not part of my records, or (d) written by someone other than me. My denial must be in writing and must state the reasons for the denial. It must also explain your right to file a written statement objecting to the denial. If you do not file a written objection, you still have the right to ask that your request and my denial be attached to any future disclosures of your PHI. If I approve your request, I will make the change(s) to your PHI. Additionally, I will tell you that the changes have been made, and I will advise all others who need to know about the change(s) to your PHI.

F. The Right to Get This Notice by Email. You have the right to get this notice by email. You have the right to request a paper copy of it, as well.

V. HOW TO COMPLAIN ABOUT MY PRIVACY PRACTICES
If, in your opinion, I may have violated your privacy rights, or if you object to a decision I made about access to your PHI, you are entitled to file a complaint with the person listed in Section VI below. You may also send a written complaint to the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services at 200 Independence Avenue S.W. Washington, D.C. 20201. If you file a complaint about my privacy practices, I will take no retaliatory action against you.

VI. PERSON TO CONTACT FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THIS NOTICE OR TO COMPLAIN ABOUT MY PRIVACY PRACTICES

If you have any questions about this notice or any complaints about my privacy practices, or would like to know how to file a complaint with the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, please contact me at: Travis W. Atkinson, L.C.S.W., 330 West 38th Street Suite 1201, New York, NY 10018, (212) 725-7774, email: travisa@mac.com.

VII. EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS NOTICE
This notice went into effect on August 1, 2003.

Please confirm that you acknowledge receipt of this notice.

This form provides you (patient) with information that is additional to that detailed in the HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is a federal law that provides new privacy protections and new patient rights with regard to the use and disclosure of your Protected Health Information (PHI) used for the purpose of treatment, payment, and health care operations. HIPAA requires that your signature acknowledge that this information has been provided to you. Please read the documents carefully. If you have any questions, we can discuss them during our next session. When you sign this document, it will also represent an agreement between us. You may revoke this Agreement in writing at any time. That revocation will be binding on me unless I have taken action in reliance on it; if there are obligations imposed on me by your health insurer in order to process or substantiate claims made under your policy; or if you have not satisfied any financial obligations you have incurred.

CONFIDENTIALITY: All information disclosed within sessions and the written records pertaining to those sessions are confidential and may not be revealed to anyone without your (patient's) written permission, except where disclosure is required by law. Most of the provisions explaining when the law requires disclosure are described to you in the Notice of Privacy Practices.

When Disclosure Is Required By Law
Some of the circumstances where disclosure is required by the law are: where there is a reasonable suspicion of child, dependent, or elder abuse or neglect; and where a patient presents a danger to self, to others, to property, or is gravely disabled (for more details see also Notice of Privacy Practices form).

When Disclosure May Be Required
Disclosure may be required pursuant to a legal proceeding. If you place your mental status at issue in litigation initiated by you, the defendant may have the right to obtain the psychotherapy records and/or testimony by Travis W. Atkinson In couple and family therapy, or when different family members are seen individually, confidentiality and privilege do not apply between the couple or among family members while in active treatment together. Travis W. Atkinson will use his clinical judgment when revealing such information. Travis W. Atkinson will not release records to any outside party unless he is authorized to do so by all adult family members who were part of the treatment.

Emergencies
If there is an emergency during our work together, or in the future after termination, where Travis W. Atkinson becomes concerned about your personal safety, the possibility of you injuring someone else, or about you receiving proper psychiatric care, he will do whatever he can within the limits of the law, to prevent you from injuring yourself or others and to ensure that you receive the proper medical care. For this purpose, he may also contact the person whose name you have provided on the biographical sheet.

Health Insurance & Confidentiality of Records
Disclosure of confidential information may be required by your health insurance carrier or HMO/PPO/MCO/EAP in order to process the claims. If you so instruct Travis W. Atkinson, only the minimum necessary information will be communicated to the carrier. Unless authorized by you explicitly the Psychotherapy Notes will not be disclosed to your insurance carrier. Travis W. Atkinson has no control or knowledge over what insurance companies do with the information he submits or who has access to this information. You must be aware that submitting a mental health invoice for reimbursement carries a certain amount of risk to confidentiality, privacy, or to future eligibility to obtain health or life insurance. The risk stems from the fact that mental health information is entered into insurance companies' computers and soon will also be reported to the, congress-approved, National Medical Data Bank. Accessibility to companies' computers or to the National Medical Data Bank database is always in question, as computers are inherently vulnerable to break-ins and unauthorized access. Medical data has been reported to have been sold, stolen, or accessed by enforcement agencies; therefore, confidentiality and how submitted information will be used cannot be guaranteed.

Confidentiality of E-mail, Cell Phone, text and Faxes Communication
It is very important to be aware that e-mail, cell phone communication, and text can be relatively easily accessed by unauthorized people and hence, the privacy and confidentiality of such communication can be compromised. E-mails, in particular, are vulnerable to such unauthorized access due to the fact that servers have unlimited and direct access to all e-mails that go through them. Faxes can easily be sent erroneously to the wrong address. Please notify Travis W. Atkinson at the beginning of treatment if you decide to avoid or limit in any way the use of any or all of the above-mentioned communication devices. Please do not use e-mail,text or faxes for emergencies.

Litigation Limitation
Due to the nature of the therapeutic process and the fact that it often involves making a full disclosure with regard to many matters which may be of a confidential nature, it is agreed that should there be legal proceedings (such as, but not limited to divorce and custody disputes, injuries, lawsuits, etc.), neither you (patient) nor your attorney, nor anyone else acting on your behalf will call on Travis W. Atkinson to testify in court or at any other proceeding, nor will a disclosure of the psychotherapy notes be requested.

Consultation
Travis W. Atkinson consults regularly with other professionals regarding his patients; however, the patient's name or other identifying information is never mentioned. The patient's identity remains completely anonymous, and confidentiality is fully maintained.

* Considering all of the above exclusions, if it is still appropriate, upon your request, Travis W. Atkinson will release information to any agency/person you specify unless Travis W. Atkinson concludes that releasing such information might be harmful in any way.


TELEPHONE & EMERGENCY PROCEDURES
Due to his work schedule, Travis W. Atkinson is often not immediately available. During his office hours, he will probably not be available to answer the phone or respond to email or texts when he is with patients. When Travis W. Atkinson is unavailable, the telephone is answered by a voicemail system that he monitors frequently. Mr. Travis W. Atkinson will make every effort to return your call within 24 hours, with the exception of weekends and holidays. If you need to contact Travis W. Atkinson between sessions, please call (212) 725-7774. If an emergency situation arises, please indicate it clearly in your message. If you need to talk to someone right away, you can call Travis W. Atkinson at (212)933-9335, or the Mental Health Help line (212) 222-7666, or the New York City Crisis Intervention Line (212) 219-5599, or the Police (911).

PAYMENTS & INSURANCE REIMBURSEMENT
Patients are expected to pay the fee at the end of each session unless other arrangements have been made. Fee increases may occur, usually on a yearly basis; in the event of an increase, you will be notified at least fifteen (15) days prior to the increase. Other services lasting longer than 5 minutes, such as telephone conversations, email messages, text messages, site visits, report writing and reading, consultation with other professionals, release of information, reading records, longer sessions, travel time, etc. will be charged at the same rate, pro-rated, unless indicated and agreed otherwise. Please notify Travis W. Atkinson if any problem arises during the course of therapy regarding your ability to make timely payments. Patients who carry insurance should remember that professional services are rendered and charged to the patients directly, and not to the insurance companies. Unless agreed upon differently, Travis W. Atkinson will provide access for you to download or print your statements for insurance reimbursement through this site, if you choose. Please allow at least two weeks for records to be updated. As was indicated in the section, Health Insurance & Confidentiality of Records, you must be aware that submitting a mental health invoice for reimbursement carries a certain amount of risk. Not all issues/conditions/problems, which are the focus of psychotherapy, are reimbursed by insurance companies. It is your responsibility to verify the specifics of your coverage.

MEDIATION & ARBITRATION
All disputes arising out of or in relation to this agreement to provide psychotherapy services shall first be referred to mediation, before, and as a pre-condition of, the initiation of arbitration. The mediator shall be a neutral third party chosen by agreement of Travis W. Atkinson and patient(s). The cost of such mediation, if any, shall be split equally, unless otherwise agreed. In the event that mediation is unsuccessful, any unresolved controversy related to this agreement should be submitted to and settled by binding arbitration in Manhattan County, New York City in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association which are in effect at the time the demand for arbitration is filed. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that your account is overdue (unpaid) and there is no agreement on a payment plan, Travis W. Atkinson can use legal means (court, collection agency, etc.) to obtain payment. The prevailing party in arbitration or collection proceedings shall be entitled to recover a reasonable sum for attorneys' fees. In the case of arbitration, the arbitrator will determine that sum.

THE PROCESS OF THERAPY/EVALUATION
Participation in therapy can result in a number of benefits to you, including improving interpersonal relationships and resolution of the specific concerns that led you to seek therapy. Working toward these benefits, however, requires effort on your part. Psychotherapy requires your very active involvement, honesty, and openness in order to change your thoughts, feelings and/or behavior. Travis W. Atkinson will ask for your feedback and views on your therapy, its progress, and other aspects of the therapy and will expect you to respond openly and honestly. Sometimes more than one approach can be helpful in dealing with a certain situation. During evaluation or therapy, remembering or talking about unpleasant events, feelings, or thoughts can result in your experiencing considerable discomfort or strong feelings of anger, sadness, worry, fear, shame, etc. or experiencing anxiety, depression, insomnia, etc. Travis W. Atkinson may challenge some of your assumptions or perceptions or propose different ways of looking at, thinking about, or handling situations that can cause you to feel very upset, angry, depressed, challenged, or disappointed. Attempting to resolve issues that brought you to therapy in the first place, such as personal or interpersonal relationships, may result in changes that were not originally intended. Psychotherapy may result in decisions about changing behaviors, employment, substance use, schooling, housing, or relationships. Sometimes a decision that is positive for one family member is viewed quite negatively by another family member. Change will sometimes be easy and swift, and may also be slow and even frustrating, depending on the context. There is no guarantee that psychotherapy will yield positive or intended results. During the course of therapy, Travis W. Atkinson is likely to draw on various psychological approaches according, in part, to the problem that is being treated and his assessment of what will best benefit you. These approaches include schema, emotionally focused, cognitive-behavioral, mindsight, Gottman method couples therapy, psychodynamic, existential, system/family, developmental (adult, child, family), gestalt, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, or psycho-educational.

Discussion of Treatment Plan
Within a reasonable period of time after the initiation of treatment, Travis W. Atkinson will discuss with you (patient) his working understanding of the problem, treatment plan, therapeutic objectives, and his view of the possible outcomes of treatment. If you have any unanswered questions about any of the procedures used in the course of your therapy, their possible risks, Travis W. Atkinson's expertise in employing them, or about the treatment plan, please ask and you will be answered fully. You also have the right to ask about other treatments for your condition and their risks and benefits. If you could benefit from any treatment that Travis W. Atkinson does not provide, he has an ethical obligation to assist you in obtaining those treatments.

Termination
As set forth above, after the first couple of meetings, Travis W. Atkinson will assess if he can be of benefit to you. Travis W. Atkinson does not accept patients who, in his opinion, he cannot help. In such a case, he will give you a number of referrals that you can contact. If at any point during psychotherapy, Travis W. Atkinson assesses that he is not effective in helping you reach the therapeutic goals, he is obliged to discuss it with you and, if appropriate, to terminate treatment. In such a case, he would give you a number of referrals that may be of help to you. If you request it and authorize it in writing, Travis W. Atkinson will talk to the psychotherapist of your choice in order to help with the transition. If at any time you want another professional's opinion or wish to consult with another therapist, Travis W. Atkinson will assist you in finding someone qualified, and, if he has your written consent, he will provide her or him with the essential information needed. You have the right to terminate therapy at any time. Ideally, please discuss your termination decision at least one session prior to the final session to allow preparation for a summary session by Travis W. Atkinson If you choose to do so, Travis W. Atkinson will offer to provide you with names of other qualified professionals whose services you might prefer.

Dual Relationships
Not all dual relationships are unethical or avoidable. Therapy never involves sexual or any other dual relationship that impairs Travis W. Atkinson's objectivity, clinical judgment, or therapeutic effectiveness or can be exploitative in nature. Travis W. Atkinson will assess carefully before entering into non-sexual and non-exploitative dual relationships with patients. The possibility exists that patients may know each other and Travis W. Atkinson from the community. Consequently you may bump into someone you know in the waiting room or into Travis W. Atkinson out in the community. Travis W. Atkinson will never acknowledge working therapeutically with anyone without his/her written permission. It is possible that some patients may choose Travis W. Atkinson as their therapist because they know him before they enter into therapy with him and/or are aware of his stance on a topic. Nevertheless, Travis W. Atkinson will discuss with you, his patient/s, the often-existing complexities, potential benefits, and difficulties that may be involved in such relationships. Dual or multiple relationships can enhance therapeutic effectiveness but can also detract from it and often it is impossible to know that ahead of time. It is your, the patient's, responsibility to communicate to Travis W. Atkinson if the dual relationship becomes uncomfortable for you in any way. Travis W. Atkinson will always listen carefully and respond accordingly to your feedback. Travis W. Atkinson will discontinue the dual relationship if he finds it interfering with the effectiveness of the therapeutic process or the welfare of the patient and, of course, you can do the same at any time.

CANCELLATION
Since scheduling of an appointment involves the reservation of time specifically for you, a minimum of 48 hours (2 day) notice is required for re-scheduling or canceling an appointment. Unless we reach a different agreement, the full fee of the session will be charged for sessions missed without such notification on the credit card used to reserve the session. Please be aware that most insurance companies do not reimburse for missed sessions.


I have read the above Agreement and Office Policies and General Information carefully; I understand and agree with them.