Notice of Privacy Practices - Golden State Family Counseling Center

Effective October 20, 2026

This notice describes how medical and mental health information about you may be used and disclosed, and how you can get access to this information. Please review it carefully.

Our Commitment to Your Privacy

Golden State Family Counseling Center is committed to protecting the privacy of your health information. We are required by law to keep your health information private, to give you this notice of our legal duties and privacy practices, to follow the terms of the notice currently in effect, and to notify you if a breach of your unsecured health information occurs. We follow the federal HIPAA Privacy Rule and the California Confidentiality of Medical Information Act. Where California law gives you more protection, we follow California law.

How We May Use and Disclose Your Health Information Without Your Written Authorization

Treatment. To provide and coordinate your care. This includes discussing your care with the licensed clinical supervisor who oversees your therapist's work.

Payment. To collect fees for services you receive. We do not bill insurance.

Health care operations. To run our programs, including quality review, supervision, training of our clinicians, and compliance.

Appointment reminders. To contact you about appointments using the contact method you choose.

When required by law. We must make certain disclosures, including:

Reports of known or suspected child abuse or neglect, and elder or dependent adult abuse, to the agencies designated by California law
When a client communicates a serious threat of physical violence against a reasonably identifiable victim, to protect that person, including warning the person and notifying law enforcement
When we believe disclosure is necessary to prevent or lessen a serious and imminent threat to the health or safety of you or others
In response to a court order, or a subpoena or other lawful process where the law allows
To health oversight agencies for activities authorized by law, such as audits and licensing inquiries
To the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services when it is investigating our compliance with privacy law
To a coroner or medical examiner, and for other purposes required by law

Uses and Disclosures That Require Your Written Authorization

Other than as described above, we will not use or disclose your health information without your written authorization. Your written authorization is required for most uses and disclosures of psychotherapy notes, for any marketing communication, and for any sale of health information. We do not sell health information. You may revoke an authorization in writing at any time, except to the extent we have already acted on it.

Minors

When a parent or legal guardian consents to a minor's treatment, the parent or guardian generally has the right to information about that treatment, with exceptions set by California law. When a minor consents to their own treatment as California law allows, the minor's privacy rights are protected as the law provides, and the clinician will discuss with the minor how and when parents or guardians will be involved.

Your Rights

Right to inspect and copy. You may ask to see or get a copy of your health record. We may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee. In limited cases allowed by law we may deny access and will explain why and how you can ask for review.
Right to request a correction. You may ask us to correct information you believe is wrong or incomplete. If we deny the request, you may submit a written statement of disagreement to be kept with your record.
Right to an accounting of disclosures. You may ask for a list of certain disclosures we made in the six years before your request.
Right to request restrictions. You may ask us to limit how we use or share your information. We will consider every request. Because you pay for services yourself, we will honor a request not to share information about those services with a health plan.
Right to confidential communications. You may ask us to contact you in a particular way or at a particular address, and we will agree to reasonable requests.
Right to a paper copy of this notice. You may ask for a paper or emailed copy at any time.
Right to be notified of a breach. We will notify you if a breach affects your unsecured health information.
Right to choose someone to act for you. A person with legal authority over your health decisions may exercise these rights for you.

Complaints

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with our Privacy Officer at [email protected], or with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights at www.hhs.gov/ocr/complaints. We will never retaliate against you for filing a complaint.

Changes to This Notice

We may change this notice, and the change will apply to all information we hold. The current notice, with its effective date, is posted on this page and is available on request.

Privacy Officer

Privacy Officer, Golden State Family Counseling Center. Email [email protected]. Phone (760) 529-8171.