Effective Date: Feb 6, 2026
1. Your Health Information Privacy (HIPAA)
This notice describes how medical information about you may be used and disclosed and how you can get access to this information.
At the practice of Cathy L. House, we are committed to protecting your Personal Health Information (PHI). In accordance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), we maintain strict administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to ensure the confidentiality of your records.
- Use of Information: Your PHI is used solely for treatment, obtaining payment, and healthcare operations.
- Your Rights: You have the right to inspect your records, request amendments, and receive an accounting of disclosures.
- Authorization: We will not disclose your information for any purpose other than treatment without your written authorization.
2. Secure Online Sessions
To provide flexible and accessible care, Cathy L. House offers sessions via HIPAA-compliant versions of Google Meet and Zoom.
- Encryption: All video sessions are conducted through encrypted platforms to ensure our conversations remain private and secure.
- Environment: Cathy conducts sessions from a private, secure location. We ask that clients also find a quiet, private space for their sessions to ensure confidentiality on both ends.
- Recording: To protect your privacy, recording of sessions (audio or video) by either the therapist or the client is strictly prohibited without prior written consent.
- Technical Security: While we use high-level encryption, no digital platform is 100% secure. By engaging in telehealth, you acknowledge the inherent (though minimal) risks of online communication.
3. Email & Messaging Boundaries
Please note that standard email is not a secure form of communication.
- Email Use: Please limit email correspondence to scheduling or administrative matters.
- Sensitive Data: Avoid sending detailed clinical or personal health information via email.
- Response Time: Emails are typically monitored during business hours. For any clinical emergencies, please refer to our emergency disclaimer.