Protecting your privacy and confidentiality is essential to support your comfort in the work we do together -- not just because of the professional, legal, and ethical requirements of my profession.

In addition, DC brings its own set of challenges and concerns for those in the public eye — and/or dealing with concerns about security clearance — who want to work on deeply personal or vulnerable issues.

While many of the people who see me hold very high security clearances, or are considered "high profile" citizens, I take every patient's privacy and confidentiality extremely seriously, and have a very strong privacy policy.

• Voicemail and email are accessed only by me. I personally handle all calls and emails from patients, without additional staff.
• I'm the only person who has access to any psychotherapy charts. Those charts aren't accessible to anyone else in my office, nor will they be provided to or discussed with anyone else without your clear, specific permission and authorization. As an example, you might ask me to coordinate care with your physician; I'll only do so after you sign a form authorizing me to speak with them for that specified communication.
• I won't speak to your spouse, partner, family, or friends, or even acknowledge if you're a patient, without your specific, signed authorization. You won't have a diagnosis in your psychotherapy chart unless you choose to file for insurance reimbursement.
• The door to my suite has only the suite number on it, not my name or profession; there's no indication on the door (nor on the building) that it is a psychotherapy office.
• I offer Faraday bags if you prefer to keep your phone protected during your session.

It's important to understand that there are certain circumstances where I legally must breach confidentiality. Limits of Confidentiality: • Suspected child abuse or dependent adult or elder abuse • If a patient is threatening serious bodily harm to another person • If a patient intends to harm himself or herself • If a court order or subpoena has been placed. I will always do my best to have such orders quashed/cancelled.

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns about maintaining your privacy and confidentiality in psychotherapy.