Privacy Policy
ATWOOD COUNSELING LLC
Sophie Atwood, LMHC 617-299-9220 sophie@atwoodcounseling.org atwoodcounseling.org
NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES
Effective Date: September 17, 2026
THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.
Your Privacy
Atwood Counseling LLC is committed to protecting the privacy of your health information. This Notice describes how your protected health information (“PHI”) may be used and disclosed, your rights regarding your information, and Atwood Counseling’s responsibilities under applicable privacy laws.
Atwood Counseling is required by law to maintain the privacy and security of your PHI, provide you with this Notice, and follow the terms of the Notice currently in effect.
How Your Information May Be Used or Disclosed
Treatment
Your PHI may be used or disclosed as permitted by law to provide, coordinate, or manage your treatment. For example, information may be shared with another health care professional involved in your care when clinically appropriate and legally permitted.
Payment
Your PHI may be used or disclosed as permitted by law for payment-related activities. For example, Atwood Counseling may provide you with documentation, such as a superbill, that you may choose to submit to your insurance company for out-of-network reimbursement.
Health Care Operations
Your PHI may be used or disclosed as permitted by law for activities necessary to operate the practice and provide quality care, such as administrative functions, legal or professional consultation, compliance activities, and practice management.
Because mental health information may receive additional protections under Massachusetts or federal law, Atwood Counseling will comply with any law that provides greater privacy protection than HIPAA.
Other Uses and Disclosures Permitted or Required by Law
Atwood Counseling may use or disclose PHI without your written authorization when permitted or required by law. Depending on the circumstances, this may include:
Reporting suspected abuse or neglect of a child, older adult, or person with a disability;
Preventing or reducing a serious threat to health or safety;
Responding to certain lawful court or administrative proceedings;
Health oversight activities authorized by law;
Certain public health activities;
Certain law-enforcement purposes when permitted or required by law;
Workers’ compensation matters as authorized by law; and
Other uses or disclosures required or permitted by applicable law.
Where Massachusetts law or another applicable law provides greater protection for mental health information, the more protective requirements will be followed. Massachusetts recognizes heightened confidentiality protections for information obtained by mental-health providers in connection with treatment.
Uses and Disclosures Requiring Your Authorization
Uses or disclosures of your PHI that are not otherwise permitted or required by law will generally be made only with your written authorization.
Atwood Counseling will obtain your authorization when required for uses or disclosures of psychotherapy notes, marketing purposes, or the sale of PHI.
If you provide written authorization, you may generally revoke it in writing at any time. Revocation will not affect actions already taken in reliance on your authorization.
Substance Use Disorder Information
Certain records relating to substance use disorder treatment may be subject to additional federal confidentiality protections under 42 C.F.R. Part 2. When these protections apply, Atwood Counseling will use and disclose such information only as permitted by applicable law.
Your Rights Regarding Your Health Information
Subject to applicable law, you have the right to:
Inspect and obtain a copy of your records. You may request access to or a copy of PHI maintained about you. Certain information, including psychotherapy notes as defined by HIPAA, may be excluded from the right of access.
Request an amendment. If you believe information in your record is incorrect or incomplete, you may request that it be amended. Atwood Counseling may deny certain requests as permitted by law.
Request restrictions. You may ask Atwood Counseling to limit certain uses or disclosures of your PHI. Atwood Counseling is not required to agree to every request, except where required by law.
If you pay for a health care service completely out of pocket, you may request that information about that service not be disclosed to a health plan for payment or health care operations, and Atwood Counseling will honor such a request when required by law.
Request confidential communications. You may request that Atwood Counseling contact you in a particular way or at a particular location. Reasonable requests will be accommodated.
Request an accounting of disclosures. You may request a list of certain disclosures Atwood Counseling has made of your PHI, subject to exceptions established by law.
Receive a copy of this Notice. You may request a paper or electronic copy of this Notice at any time.
Breach Notification
Atwood Counseling is required to notify you following a breach of unsecured PHI when notification is required by law.
Changes to This Notice
Atwood Counseling reserves the right to change this Notice and its privacy practices as permitted by law. Any revised Notice may apply to PHI already maintained by the practice as well as information received in the future.
The current Notice will be available upon request and through Atwood Counseling’s website.
Questions or Complaints
If you have questions about this Notice, wish to exercise any of your privacy rights, or have concerns about the privacy of your health information, please contact:
Sophie Atwood, LMHC Atwood Counseling LLC 617-299-9220 sophie@atwoodcounseling.org
You may also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights if you believe your privacy rights have been violated.
Atwood Counseling will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.