Neil Howell, LMFT
California LMFT #107610
Michigan LMFT #4101007669
510-898-6345
[email protected]
Address: 21 Orinda Way, Suite C132, Orinda, CA 94563
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.
My Promise to You
What you share in therapy is deeply personal, and protecting it is one of my core responsibilities. I keep a record of your care because good treatment and the law both require it. This notice explains how that information may be used, the situations where the law allows or requires me to share it, and the rights you have over it. I'm required by law to protect your health information, to give you this notice, to follow what it says, and to notify you if your information is ever compromised.
How I May Use Your Information Without Separate Permission
The law allows me to use or share your health information for three everyday purposes:
The law also allows or requires disclosure without your permission in certain specific situations:
Special Protection for Psychotherapy Notes
Separate "psychotherapy notes" (my private process notes, as defined by HIPAA) get extra protection. With narrow legal exceptions — such as my own use in treating you, defending myself in a proceeding you bring, or averting a serious threat — sharing them requires your written authorization.
What I Will Never Do
People Involved in Your Care
If you tell me a family member or friend is involved in your care, I may share relevant information with them — unless you object. You can limit or withdraw this at any time.
Your Rights
Questions or Complaints
If you have concerns about how your information has been handled, please talk with me directly — I take this seriously and want to make it right. You also have the right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights (www.hhs.gov/ocr, 1-800-368-1019), or with your state licensing board. I will never retaliate against you in any way for raising a concern or filing a complaint.
Changes to This Notice
I may update this notice, and changes will apply to all information I hold. The current version is always available from me on request and on my website.
Effective date: July 7, 2026
California LMFT #107610
Michigan LMFT #4101007669
510-898-6345
[email protected]
Address: 21 Orinda Way, Suite C132, Orinda, CA 94563
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.
My Promise to You
What you share in therapy is deeply personal, and protecting it is one of my core responsibilities. I keep a record of your care because good treatment and the law both require it. This notice explains how that information may be used, the situations where the law allows or requires me to share it, and the rights you have over it. I'm required by law to protect your health information, to give you this notice, to follow what it says, and to notify you if your information is ever compromised.
How I May Use Your Information Without Separate Permission
The law allows me to use or share your health information for three everyday purposes:
- Treatment. Providing your care, and consulting or coordinating with other health care providers involved in your care.
- Payment. Processing payment for sessions.
- Operations. Running the practice — things like quality review and record-keeping.
The law also allows or requires disclosure without your permission in certain specific situations:
- When state or federal law requires it
- To report suspected abuse or neglect of a child, elder, or dependent adult, or to help prevent a serious threat to anyone's health or safety
- For health oversight activities, such as audits or licensing board investigations
- In response to a court order or certain legal proceedings (where possible, I prefer to seek your authorization first)
- For specific law enforcement purposes, to coroners or medical examiners, for workers' compensation, or for specialized government functions
- For research, only under strict privacy protections
- To contact you with appointment reminders or information about your care
Special Protection for Psychotherapy Notes
Separate "psychotherapy notes" (my private process notes, as defined by HIPAA) get extra protection. With narrow legal exceptions — such as my own use in treating you, defending myself in a proceeding you bring, or averting a serious threat — sharing them requires your written authorization.
What I Will Never Do
- I will not use or sell your information for marketing
- I will not share your information with anyone for purposes outside this notice without your written authorization — which you can revoke at any time
People Involved in Your Care
If you tell me a family member or friend is involved in your care, I may share relevant information with them — unless you object. You can limit or withdraw this at any time.
Your Rights
- See and copy your record. You may request an electronic or paper copy of your record (other than psychotherapy notes). I'll respond within 30 days and may charge a reasonable cost-based fee.
- Correct your record. If something is wrong or missing, you may ask me to amend it. If I decline, I'll explain why in writing.
- Choose how I contact you. You may ask me to reach you a specific way or at a specific address, and I'll honor all reasonable requests.
- Request limits. You may ask me to restrict how I use or share your information. I'm not always required to agree, but I'll tell you if I can't.
- Get a list of disclosures. You may request an accounting of disclosures I've made outside treatment, payment, and operations over the past six years.
- Be notified of a breach. If your unsecured health information is ever compromised, I will notify you.
- Get a copy of this notice. Paper or electronic, whenever you ask.
Questions or Complaints
If you have concerns about how your information has been handled, please talk with me directly — I take this seriously and want to make it right. You also have the right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights (www.hhs.gov/ocr, 1-800-368-1019), or with your state licensing board. I will never retaliate against you in any way for raising a concern or filing a complaint.
Changes to This Notice
I may update this notice, and changes will apply to all information I hold. The current version is always available from me on request and on my website.
Effective date: July 7, 2026