Privacy & Confidentiality

Purpose of This Notice

This Notice describes the privacy and confidentiality practices of St. Charles Wellness in connection with the therapeutic services we provide. It is intended to help you understand how your personal and clinical information is protected, the circumstances under which confidentiality may be limited by law, and how we handle communications with current and prospective clients. This Notice supplements — and should be read alongside — the HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices provided to you at the time of intake.

Our Commitment to Confidentiality

Confidentiality is a cornerstone of effective therapy. St. Charles Wellness treats all information shared in the context of a therapeutic relationship — including session content, disclosures, treatment plans, and clinical records — as strictly confidential. We do not share your information with family members, employers, other providers, insurance companies, or any other party without your written authorization, except as required or permitted by law.

Legally Permitted or Required Disclosures

In limited circumstances, confidentiality may be overridden by legal obligation or ethical duty. These include:

Duty to Warn / Imminent Danger

If you disclose information indicating a serious, credible, and imminent threat to harm yourself or another identifiable person, we may be required to take protective action, which may include warning the at-risk individual or contacting emergency services.

Child Abuse or Neglect

If we have reasonable cause to believe that a child is being abused or neglected, we are mandated by Vermont law to report this to the appropriate state agency.

Vulnerable Adult Abuse

We are similarly required to report suspected abuse or neglect of vulnerable adults (elderly or individuals with disabilities).

Court Orders

If a court of competent jurisdiction orders the disclosure of clinical records, we are obligated to comply, though we will make reasonable efforts to notify you in advance.

Supervision and Consultation

For the purpose of professional development, quality of care, and ethical practice, we may consult with supervisors or trusted colleagues about clinical cases. All consultations are conducted without identifying information wherever possible and under a mutual obligation of confidentiality.

Communication Boundaries & This Website

St. Charles Wellness does not provide therapy, crisis support, or clinical guidance through this website or via email. Our website contact form is intended only for general inquiries and appointment requests. Please do not use email or the contact form to communicate time-sensitive, urgent, or clinical information. We do not maintain a public phone number; all initial contact is made through the secure form on our website, after which communication methods appropriate to our therapeutic relationship will be established.

Electronic Communications

Standard email and unencrypted messaging are not considered fully secure methods of communication. By using our contact form or engaging in email correspondence initiated by your own choice, you acknowledge the inherent limitations of electronic communication and agree not to transmit sensitive health or clinical information through unsecured channels. Clinical communications within an established client relationship will use platforms that meet applicable security and HIPAA standards.

Records & Documentation

Clinical records are maintained in accordance with applicable Vermont law and professional licensing board requirements. Records are stored securely and are accessible only to authorized clinical staff. You have the right to request a copy of your records, subject to limited exceptions recognized by law and clinical judgment. Records requests should be made in writing directly to the practice.

Minors & Confidentiality

When therapy services are provided to a minor client, confidentiality is maintained with respect to the specific content of sessions, consistent with Vermont law and our professional obligations. Parents or legal guardians may have certain rights to access records depending on the nature of the services and applicable law. This balance is discussed with all parties at the start of services involving minor clients.

Your Rights

As a client of St. Charles Wellness, you have the right to:

• Receive a copy of this Notice upon request

• Ask questions about our privacy and confidentiality practices

• Request restrictions on certain uses or disclosures of your information

• Request that we communicate with you in a particular way or at a particular location

• File a complaint if you believe your privacy rights have been violated

Filing a Complaint

If you have concerns about how your information has been handled, you may contact St. Charles Wellness directly via our secure contact form. You also have the right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights (OCR).

We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.

Effective Date & Updates

This Notice is effective as of August 23, 2026. We reserve the right to update this Notice as our practices evolve or as required by changes in applicable law. The most current version will always be available on our website.