Notice of Privacy Practices
Your Information. Your Rights. My Responsibility.
THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW PERSONAL HEALTH INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.
New Roots Counseling is committed to protecting your privacy. I am required by federal law to maintain the privacy and security of Protected Health Information (“PHI”), which is information that identifies or could be used to identify you.
This Notice of Privacy Practices explains my legal duties and privacy practices, your rights regarding the health information I collect and maintain, and how that information may be used or disclosed.
Your Rights
When it comes to your health information, you have certain rights. This section explains those rights and my responsibilities to help you exercise them.
Get an electronic or paper copy of your health record
You can ask to see or get an electronic or paper copy of your health record and other health information I have about you. Ask me how to do this.
I will provide a copy or summary of your health information, usually within 14 days of your request. I may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee.
In certain circumstances, I may deny your request as permitted by law. If your request is denied, I will explain the reason and inform you of any rights you have to have that decision reviewed.
Ask me to correct your health record
You can ask me to correct health information about you that you believe is incorrect or incomplete. I may ask you to make your request in writing and explain the reason for the requested correction.
I may say no to your request. If I do, I will tell you why in writing and explain any rights you have to submit a written statement of disagreement.
Request confidential communications
You can ask me to contact you in a specific way, such as by home or office phone, or to send mail to a different address.
I will agree to all reasonable requests.
Ask me to limit what I use or share
You can ask me not to use or share certain health information for treatment, payment, or business operations. I am not generally required to agree to your request and may say no if the restriction would negatively affect your care or my ability to practice.
You may also ask me not to share your information with particular family members, friends, or others involved in your care.
If you pay for a service out-of-pocket in full, you can ask me not to share information about that service with your health insurer for the purpose of payment or health care operations. I will agree unless a law requires me to share that information.
Get a list of those with whom I’ve shared information
You can ask for an accounting of certain disclosures of your health information, including who I shared it with and why.
The accounting generally does not include disclosures made for treatment, payment, or health care operations, or certain other disclosures permitted by law.
I will provide one accounting in a 12-month period at no charge. I may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee if you request additional accountings during that period.
Get a copy of this privacy notice
You can ask for a paper copy of this Notice at any time, even if you have agreed to receive it electronically. I will provide you with a copy promptly.
Choose someone to act for you
If you have given someone medical power of attorney or if someone is your legal guardian, that person may exercise your rights and make choices about your health information.
I will verify that the person has this authority before taking action on their behalf.
File a complaint if you feel your rights have been violated
You can complain if you believe I have violated your privacy rights by contacting me using the information provided at the end of this Notice.
You may also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights by sending a letter to:
200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20201
or by calling 1-877-696-6775 or visiting the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights website.
I will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint or exercising any of your privacy rights.
Your Choices
For certain health information, you can tell me your preferences about what I share. If you have a clear preference for how I share your information in the situations described below, tell me what you would like me to do, and I will follow your instructions when permitted by law.
Family, friends, and others involved in your care
You may tell me whether you want me to:
Share information with your family, close friends, or others involved in your care.
Share information in a disaster relief or emergency situation.
If you are unable to tell me your preference—for example, if you are unconscious—I may share relevant information if I believe doing so is in your best interest and is permitted by law.
Uses requiring your written authorization
Except where otherwise permitted or required by law, I will obtain your written authorization before using or disclosing your PHI for:
Marketing purposes.
The sale of your PHI.
Most uses or disclosures of psychotherapy notes.
Other uses or disclosures not described in this Notice.
You may revoke your authorization at any time by notifying me in writing. Revoking an authorization will not affect information that was already used or disclosed in reliance on your previous authorization.
How I Use and Disclose Your Health Information
I am permitted under federal law to use and disclose PHI without your written authorization for certain purposes, including treatment, payment, and health care operations.
To treat you, I can use your health information and share it with other health care professionals who are involved in your treatment.
Although it is not my practice to do so without first informing you, I may also use your health information when consulting with another professional regarding your care.
Example: I may consult with another therapist about whether a particular treatment may be helpful considering your diagnosis and history.
Example: I may communicate with your psychiatrist or primary care doctor about information relevant to your treatment.
To run my practice
I can use and share your health information as necessary to operate New Roots Counseling, improve your care, manage treatment outcomes, monitor trends within my practice, contact you when necessary, and comply with legitimate audits or other health care operations.
To bill for your services
I can use and share your health information to bill for services and receive payment from health plans or other entities.
Example: I may provide information such as your diagnosis to your health insurance plan so it can process payment for your services.
Although it is not my practice to do so without first informing you, information necessary to collect an outstanding balance may also be disclosed to a collection agency as permitted by law.
Business associates
I may share PHI with organizations or individuals who perform certain functions, activities, or services on behalf of New Roots Counseling when permitted by law. These business associates are required to appropriately safeguard your information.
Other Uses and Disclosures Permitted or Required by Law
I am allowed or required to share your information in certain other circumstances. These disclosures generally serve public health, safety, legal, or regulatory purposes and are subject to conditions and limitations established by law.
For additional information regarding mandatory reporting and limits to confidentiality, please reference the Consent for Services document.
Public health and safety
I may disclose health information when permitted or required by law for purposes such as:
Reporting suspected child abuse or neglect.
Reporting abuse or neglect when required by applicable law.
Preventing or reducing a serious and imminent threat to the health or safety of you or another identifiable person.
Complying with legally authorized public health activities.
Health oversight and compliance
I may disclose PHI to government agencies legally authorized to conduct audits, investigations, inspections, licensing activities, or other health oversight functions.
I will provide information to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services if required to demonstrate compliance with federal privacy law.
Complying with the law
I will share information about you when federal, state, or local law requires me to do so.
Lawsuits, subpoenas, and legal proceedings
Although it is not my practice to disclose your health information without first discussing the situation with you when I am legally permitted to do so, I may disclose PHI in response to a valid court order, subpoena, or other lawful legal process when disclosure is required or permitted by law.
Law enforcement
I may disclose PHI to law enforcement when specifically permitted or required by law. Any such disclosure will be limited to what the law permits or requires.
Substance Use Disorder Records
If applicable to your care, certain Substance Use Disorder (“SUD”) records may receive additional confidentiality protections under federal law, including 42 C.F.R. Part 2.
When those protections apply, use or disclosure of qualifying SUD records may require your written consent except in circumstances specifically permitted by law, such as certain medical emergencies, reporting suspected child abuse or neglect, or other legally authorized disclosures.
SUD records protected under Part 2 are also subject to additional restrictions regarding their use in civil, criminal, administrative, or legislative proceedings against you.
Where these additional protections apply, New Roots Counseling will follow the requirements of applicable federal law.
My Responsibilities
I am required by law to maintain the privacy and security of your protected health information.
I will notify you as required by law if a breach occurs that may have compromised the privacy or security of your information.
I must follow the duties and privacy practices described in the Notice currently in effect.
When state or federal law provides greater protection for your health information, I will follow the more protective law.
I will not use or share your information other than as described in this Notice unless you give me permission in writing or the law otherwise permits or requires the use or disclosure.
If you give me written authorization, you may revoke that authorization as permitted by law.
Changes to the Terms of This Notice
I reserve the right to change the terms of this Notice. Changes may apply to all PHI I maintain, including information created or received before the change.
The current Notice will be available upon request, in my office, and on the New Roots Counseling website.
Effective Date: 9/9/2026
Privacy Officer Contact
If you have questions or concerns about this Notice or about your privacy while receiving services, please contact me, the Privacy Officer:
Luke Morrissey
Privacy Officer
Luke@newrootscounseling.co
(803) 325-2255
Communication & Social Media Privacy Policies
Introduction
Healthy client/counselor boundaries and confidential communication are important to ethical therapeutic practice and positive client outcomes.
This policy governs social media, electronic communication, and other online tools that have become part of modern life. It is important for clients and parents to understand the potential privacy risks associated with social media and electronic communication and to make informed decisions when using these tools in connection with their care.
Social Media
For purposes of this policy, social media includes online publication and communication platforms such as blogs, public directories, review sites, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, YouTube, and similar platforms.
New Roots Counseling and Luke Morrissey will not engage in personal virtual relationships with current counseling clients.
Clients and family members are welcome to view or read articles, educational content, and other information published on New Roots Counseling's business social media accounts.
However, current or former clients and their family members should understand that publicly commenting, following, liking, sharing, or otherwise interacting with New Roots Counseling or Luke Morrissey's professional accounts could reveal or suggest a counseling relationship to others.
Because of this risk, I recommend using discretion when publicly interacting with New Roots Counseling online.
New Roots Counseling and Luke Morrissey may block, reject, remove, or decline interactions that could compromise confidentiality, blur therapeutic boundaries, or create a dual relationship.
Your Privacy and Rights on Social Media
If you like, follow, comment on, or share content from a New Roots Counseling business social media page, your activity may be visible to friends, followers, other users, or the public. This could compromise your privacy or confidentiality.
You have the right to interact with or share anything you wish online. I simply encourage you to consider the potential privacy implications before doing so.
New Roots Counseling and Luke Morrissey will not friend, follow, like, or otherwise establish a personal social media connection with current or former clients when doing so could blur the boundaries of the therapeutic relationship.
Public Friend and Contact Requests
Due to the importance of confidentiality and maintaining appropriate therapeutic boundaries, New Roots Counseling and Luke Morrissey will not accept personal friend, follow, or contact requests from current or former clients or their family members on personal social networking accounts.
Consumer Review Sites
You may find New Roots Counseling or its counselors listed on sites such as Google, Yelp, Healthgrades, Bing, or other directories and consumer review platforms.
Some websites automatically create business listings whether or not the practice requested them.
New Roots Counseling and its counselors do not solicit or request testimonials or consumer reviews from counseling clients. The existence of a business listing should not be interpreted as a request for a testimonial, rating, or endorsement.
Leaving a Review or Rating
You have the right to express yourself on any review platform you choose. However, leaving a public review or rating may reveal that you have received services from New Roots Counseling and could therefore compromise your confidentiality.
Because of my confidentiality obligations, I may also be unable to respond to a review—even a positive one—in a way that acknowledges or confirms that you are or were a client.
If you have praise, suggestions, concerns, or complaints regarding the services you received, I encourage you to communicate with me directly.
Testimonials
Confidentiality prevents New Roots Counseling from telling others that you are a client. Ethical requirements may also restrict counselors from requesting testimonials from current or former counseling clients.
You are, however, free to tell others about your own experience or disclose that you have received services if you choose to do so.
Email & Text Messaging
New Roots Counseling cannot guarantee the confidentiality or security of unencrypted email or text messages.
Standard email and SMS communications can potentially be accessed, stored, forwarded, intercepted, or viewed by people other than the intended recipient.
New Roots Counseling will not sell your email address, phone number, PHI, or other personal information to third parties for marketing purposes.
Encrypted and Unencrypted Communication
You can communicate with your counselor using the secure communication methods provided by New Roots Counseling when available.
If you choose to communicate through unencrypted email or text messaging regarding scheduling, cancellations, or general administrative questions, you may be asked to authorize the use of unencrypted communication.
Please do not use unencrypted email or text messages to discuss sensitive therapeutic content or request emergency assistance.
Therapeutic information communicated electronically may become part of your clinical record when appropriate or required.
While I will try to respond to messages in a timely manner, I cannot guarantee an immediate response.
After-Hours Communication and Emergencies
You are welcome to contact New Roots Counseling during regular business hours for follow-up care and non-emergency assistance. You may also use approved secure communication methods for non-urgent messages.
I cannot guarantee that someone will be available to respond to urgent requests outside normal business hours.
If you are experiencing an emergency, call 911 or seek appropriate emergency assistance.
Cell Phone Location Services
Location-based services on smartphones, tablets, laptops, or other devices can potentially reveal that you have visited a counseling practice.
If GPS tracking, location history, check-ins, or location-sharing applications are enabled on your device, other people with access to that information may be able to determine that you have visited New Roots Counseling.
Please consider this privacy risk when using location-based services.
Use of Search Engines and Online Information
New Roots Counseling and its staff will not routinely search Google, Facebook, social media, or other online sources for information about clients.
Viewing a client's online activity outside of therapy without an agreed-upon therapeutic purpose can create confusion about professional boundaries and potentially affect the counseling relationship.
If there is information online that you would like to share with me, I encourage you to bring it into a session so we can review it together in an appropriate therapeutic context.
In unusual circumstances involving a genuine concern for your immediate safety, online information may be used when reasonably necessary and legally and ethically appropriate to help protect your welfare. If such action is taken as part of your care, it will be appropriately documented and discussed with you when appropriate.
Questions About Communication and Online Privacy
If you have questions or concerns about these policies, electronic communication, social media, or other online interactions, please bring them to my attention.
Technology and online communication practices continue to change, so New Roots Counseling may update these policies when necessary. When required or appropriate, clients will be notified of material changes.
Please refer to the Client Consent & Disclosure document to acknowledge receipt of the Notice of Privacy Practices and, where applicable, authorize or revoke the use of unencrypted communication.