HIPAA Compliance Privacy Policy

Your Privacy Matters Here

At The Joy We Give, protecting your personal health information is not just a legal obligation. It is a reflection of the trust you place in this practice when you choose to do this work. This notice describes how your health information may be used and disclosed, and how you can access that information. Please read it carefully.

Who This Notice Applies To

This notice applies to all health information created or received by Larissa Willsey, LCSW, in the course of providing therapy, immigration psychological evaluations, and clinical supervision services through The Joy We Give.

Your Health Information

When you receive services through this practice, information about you and your care is collected and maintained. This may include personal identifying information, reasons for seeking services, treatment history, progress notes, and any other information relevant to your care.

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This information is referred to throughout this notice as "protected health information" or PHI.

How Your Information May Be Used and Disclosed

Your protected health information may be used and disclosed in the following ways:

For Treatment
Your information may be used to provide, coordinate, or manage your care. For example, if a referral or coordination with another provider is necessary with your knowledge and consent, relevant information may be shared to support continuity of care.

For Payment
If you are using insurance benefits, your information may be used to submit claims and obtain payment from your insurance carrier or Employee Assistance Program.

For Healthcare Operations
Your information may be used for internal practice operations, including quality review, training, and compliance activities.

As Required by Law
Your information may be disclosed when required by federal, state, or local law, including in response to a court order or legal process.

To Avert a Serious Threat to Health or Safety
Your information may be disclosed if necessary to prevent a serious and imminent threat to your health or safety or the health or safety of another person.

For Mandatory Reporting
As a licensed clinician, there are specific circumstances under which disclosure is required by law, including suspected child abuse or neglect, elder abuse, and situations involving imminent risk of harm to self or others.

Uses and Disclosures That Require Your Authorization

Most other uses and disclosures of your protected health information, including the release of psychotherapy notes, use for marketing purposes, or any sale of your information, require your written authorization. You have the right to revoke that authorization at any time in writing, except where action has already been taken based on your prior permission.

Your Rights Regarding Your Health Information

You have the following rights with respect to your protected health information:

Right to Access
You have the right to inspect and receive a copy of your health information, with limited exceptions. A reasonable fee may apply for copies.

Right to Request Amendment
If you believe your health information is incorrect or incomplete, you may request an amendment. This request may be denied under certain circumstances.

Right to an Accounting of Disclosures
You have the right to request a list of certain disclosures made of your health information in the past six years.

Right to Request Restrictions
You may request restrictions on how your health information is used or disclosed for treatment, payment, or operations. While this practice will consider your request, it is not required to agree to all restrictions.

Right to Confidential Communications
You may request that communications about your health information be sent to you in a specific way or at a specific location.

Right to a Paper Copy of This Notice
You have the right to receive a paper copy of this notice at any time, even if you have agreed to receive it electronically.

Telehealth and Electronic Communications

Services at The Joy We Give are provided via telehealth. All telehealth sessions are conducted using HIPAA-compliant platforms. Email and electronic communications outside of the secure client portal are not encrypted and carry inherent privacy risks. Non-clinical communications may be conducted via email with your awareness of those limitations.

Data Security

This practice takes reasonable steps to protect your health information from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure. Electronic records are stored on secure, HIPAA-compliant systems.

Our Responsibilities

This practice is required by law to maintain the privacy of your protected health information, to provide you with this notice, and to follow the terms of the notice currently in effect. The practice reserves the right to change its privacy practices and to make the revised notice effective for information already on file. Any revised notice will be made available upon request and posted on this website.

Questions or Complaints

If you have questions about this notice or believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may contact:

Larissa Willsey, LCSW
The Joy We Give

larissa@thejoywegive.com

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You also have the right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights at www.hhs.gov/ocr without fear of retaliation.