Notice of Privacy Practices (HIPAA)
Slow Current Psychotherapy, PLLC
Version 1.0
Effective Date: 08/10/2026
THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.
Who Follows This Notice
This Notice describes the privacy practices of Slow Current Psychotherapy, PLLC, and of Taylor Manfredi, LCSW, the sole licensed clinician of the practice ("we," "us," "our," or "the practice"). We are required by law to maintain the privacy of your protected health information, to provide you with this Notice of our legal duties and privacy practices, and to notify you if a breach of your unsecured protected health information occurs.
We are required to abide by the terms of the Notice currently in effect.
What Is Protected Health Information?
Protected health information ("PHI") is information about you, including demographic information, that could identify you and that relates to your past, present, or future mental or physical health, the health care you receive, or payment for that care.
A Note on Psychotherapy Progress Notes
Psychotherapy progress notes are notes recorded by a mental health professional documenting or analyzing the contents of a counseling session, kept separate from the rest of your clinical record. Psychotherapy progress notes receive heightened protection under HIPAA. With limited exceptions required by law, we will not use or disclose your psychotherapy progress notes without your specific written authorization. Your authorization for the release of psychotherapy progress notes must be separate from any other authorization you sign.
How We May Use and Disclose Your PHI Without Your Written Authorization
Treatment. We may use and disclose your PHI to provide, coordinate, or manage your care. For example, with your knowledge we may coordinate with your psychiatrist or primary care provider regarding medication, or communicate with another treating clinician about your care.
Payment. We may use and disclose your PHI to obtain payment for services. For example, we may submit claims to your health insurance plan, which may include your diagnosis, dates of service, and types of service provided. If you pay for services out of pocket in full, you may request that we not disclose information about that service to your health plan, and we are required to honor that request.
Health Care Operations. We may use and disclose your PHI to support the business functions of the practice — for example, quality review, business planning, obtaining professional consultation, or working with our billing service or electronic health record vendor. Any vendor with access to your PHI is required to sign a Business Associate Agreement obligating them to protect your information.
Appointment Reminders and Related Communications. We may contact you to remind you of appointments or to discuss treatment alternatives, using the contact methods you have authorized.
Uses and Disclosures That May Be Made Without Your Authorization or Opportunity to Object
We may use or disclose your PHI in the following circumstances, consistent with federal and North Carolina law:
When required by law. We will disclose PHI when federal, state, or local law requires it.
Suspected abuse or neglect of a child, disabled adult, or older adult. North Carolina law requires any person who suspects that a juvenile is abused, neglected, or dependent, or that a disabled or older adult is abused, neglected, or exploited, to report that suspicion to the county Department of Social Services. We are legally required to make such reports.
Serious threat to health or safety. If you communicate a serious threat of physical violence against a reasonably identifiable victim, or if we believe disclosure is necessary to prevent or lessen a serious and imminent threat to your health or safety or that of another person, we may disclose PHI to those able to prevent or lessen the threat, including the potential victim and law enforcement.
Risk of harm to yourself. If we believe you are at imminent risk of serious self-harm and unable to maintain your own safety, we may disclose the minimum necessary information to family members, emergency contacts, emergency services, or others who can help protect your safety.
Judicial and administrative proceedings. We may disclose PHI in response to a court order. If we receive a subpoena, discovery request, or other legal process that is not accompanied by a court order, we will not disclose your information without your authorization or a court order, except as otherwise required by law.
Health oversight activities. We may disclose PHI to the North Carolina Social Work Certification and Licensure Board or other agencies authorized by law to conduct audits, investigations, licensure actions, and inspections.
Public health activities. We may disclose PHI to public health authorities authorized by law to receive it.
Law enforcement. We may disclose PHI for law enforcement purposes when the applicable legal requirements are met.
Workers' compensation. We may disclose PHI as authorized to comply with workers' compensation laws.
Coroners, medical examiners, and funeral directors. We may disclose PHI as authorized by law.
Specialized government functions. We may disclose PHI relating to military and veterans' activities, national security, and protective services when the applicable conditions apply.
Uses and Disclosures Requiring Your Written Authorization
All other uses and disclosures of your PHI will be made only with your written authorization, including:
Most uses and disclosures of psychotherapy notes
Uses and disclosures for marketing purposes
Any disclosure that would constitute a sale of PHI
Disclosures to family members, partners, employers, attorneys, or others not otherwise permitted above
You may revoke an authorization in writing at any time. Revocation will not apply to disclosures we have already made in reliance on your authorization.
Uses and Disclosures With an Opportunity to Object
Unless you object, we may disclose to a family member, partner, close friend, or other person you identify the PHI directly relevant to that person's involvement in your care or payment for your care. If you are not present or are unable to agree or object due to incapacity or emergency, we may use professional judgment to determine whether disclosure is in your best interest, and will disclose only the information directly relevant to that person's involvement in your care.
Your Rights Regarding Your PHI
Right to request restrictions. You may ask us to restrict how we use or disclose your PHI for treatment, payment, or health care operations. We are not required to agree to most requested restrictions. However, we must agree to your request to restrict disclosure to a health plan if the disclosure is for payment or health care operations, is not otherwise required by law, and the service has been paid for in full out of pocket by you or someone on your behalf.
Right to request confidential communications. You may request that we communicate with you by alternative means or at an alternative location — for example, only by a specific phone number, or with no voicemail left. We will accommodate reasonable requests and will not ask you why.
Right to inspect and copy. You have the right to inspect and obtain a copy of your PHI in your designated record set, in the form and format you request if readily producible. We will respond within 30 days and may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee for copies. Psychotherapy notes are excluded from this right. In limited circumstances, we may deny access, and certain denials are subject to review by a licensed health care professional.
Right to request an amendment. If you believe your PHI is incorrect or incomplete, you may request an amendment for as long as we maintain the information. We may deny your request in certain circumstances, and you may file a statement of disagreement, to which we may prepare a rebuttal.
Right to an accounting of disclosures. You may request a list of certain disclosures of your PHI made in the six years prior to your request. This does not include disclosures for treatment, payment, or health care operations, disclosures made to you, or disclosures you authorized.
Right to a paper copy of this Notice. You may request a paper copy of this Notice at any time, even if you agreed to receive it electronically.
Right to be notified of a breach. You have the right to be notified in the event of a breach of your unsecured PHI.
Right to choose someone to act for you. If you have a legal guardian, health care power of attorney, or personal representative, that person may exercise your rights and make choices about your PHI.
Minors and Confidentiality
For clients under the age of 18, parents or legal guardians generally have the right to access the minor's health information. We will discuss confidentiality expectations with both the minor client and the parent or guardian at the outset of treatment, and will make reasonable efforts to protect the minor's therapeutic privacy consistent with North Carolina law and clinical judgment.
Changes to This Notice
We reserve the right to change this Notice and to make the revised Notice effective for PHI we already maintain as well as information we receive in the future. The current Notice will be posted at slowcurrentpsychotherapy.com and a copy will be available upon request.
Complaints
If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with us at taylor@slowcurrentpsychotherapy.com or [PHONE], or with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights 200 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20201 1-877-696-6775 https://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/complaints/
We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.
Contact
Privacy Officer: Taylor Manfredi, LCSW, Slow Current Psychotherapy, PLLC, 1721 Allens Lane, Suite 219, Wilmington, NC 28403, [PHONE] | taylor@slowcurrentpsychotherapy.com