Notice of Privacy Practices
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.
Effective Date: March 2026
Our Commitment to Your Privacy
Begin From Within Counseling, PLLC is committed to protecting the privacy of your health information. This Notice of Privacy Practices describes how we may use and disclose your protected health information (PHI) to carry out treatment, payment, or healthcare operations, and for other purposes permitted or required by law. It also describes your rights regarding your health information.
We are required by law to:
• Maintain the privacy of your protected health information
• Provide you with this notice of our legal duties and privacy practices
• Follow the terms of the notice currently in effect
• Notify you if we are unable to agree to a requested restriction
• Accommodate reasonable requests you may have to communicate health information by alternative means or at alternative locations
How We May Use and Disclose Your Health Information
For Treatment: We may use and disclose your health information to provide, coordinate, or manage your healthcare and related services. This may include consultation with other healthcare providers regarding your treatment.
Example: I may document our therapy sessions in your clinical record and use that information to plan your treatment.
For Payment: We may use and disclose your health information to bill and collect payment for services provided.
Example: I may submit information to your health insurance company or send you a bill for services.
For Healthcare Operations: We may use and disclose your health information for healthcare operations purposes, including quality assessment, evaluating provider performance, and general administrative activities.
Example: I may use your information to evaluate the quality of care you received or for my professional training purposes.
As Required by Law: We may use or disclose your health information when required to do so by federal, state, or local law.
To Avert a Serious Threat to Health or Safety: We may use or disclose your health information when necessary to prevent a serious threat to your health and safety or the health and safety of others.
Legal Proceedings: We may disclose your health information in response to a court or administrative order, subpoena, discovery request, or other lawful process.
Special Circumstances Requiring Disclosure Without Your Authorization
Abuse, Neglect, or Domestic Violence: If we reasonably believe you are a victim of abuse, neglect, or domestic violence, we may disclose your health information to a government authority authorized to receive such reports.
Public Health Activities: We may disclose your health information for public health purposes, such as reporting disease outbreaks or adverse reactions to medications.
Health Oversight Activities: We may disclose your health information to health oversight agencies for audits, investigations, inspections, or licensing purposes.
Reporting to Law Enforcement: We may disclose limited health information to law enforcement in response to a warrant, subpoena, court order, or in emergency circumstances.
Duty to Warn: Texas law requires mental health professionals to warn potential victims and law enforcement if a client makes a serious threat of imminent physical violence against a clearly identified or reasonably identifiable victim. This includes situations where a client poses a serious threat to themselves (imminent suicide risk with a plan and means). We will make every effort to resolve such situations before breaking confidentiality, but safety is our priority.
Your Rights Regarding Your Health Information
Right to Inspect and Copy: You have the right to inspect and obtain a copy of your health information. To request access, submit a written request to
angel@beginfromwithincounseling.com. We may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee for copying and mailing.
Right to Request Amendment: If you believe your health information is incorrect or incomplete, you may request an amendment. We will respond to your request in writing within 60 days. We may deny your request if the information is accurate and complete, but you have the right to submit a statement of disagreement.
Right to an Accounting of Disclosures: You have the right to request a list of certain disclosures we have made of your health information. This list will not include disclosures for treatment, payment, healthcare operations, or disclosures you authorized.
Right to Request Restrictions: You have the right to request restrictions on how we use or disclose your health information for treatment, payment, or healthcare operations. We are not required to agree to your request but will consider it carefully.
Right to Request Confidential Communications: You have the right to request that we communicate with you about your health information by alternative means or at alternative locations (for example, by calling a specific phone number or sending mail to a specific address).
Right to a Paper Copy of This Notice: You have the right to receive a paper copy of this notice at any time, even if you have agreed to receive it electronically.
Minors' Privacy Rights
Texas law allows minors age 16 and older to consent to their own mental health treatment without parental consent in certain circumstances. If your child meets these criteria, they may have privacy rights that limit your access to their records. We will discuss this with you during intake.
Changes to This Notice
We reserve the right to change this notice and to make the new notice provisions effective for all health information we maintain. If we make material changes to our privacy practices, we will post a new notice on our website and make copies available upon request.
Complaints
If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with:
Begin From Within Counseling, PLLC
Email: angel@beginfromwithincounseling.com
Phone: 346-402-2069
Or with:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Office for Civil Rights
200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20201
Phone: 1-877-696-6775
Website: www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/complaints
You will not be retaliated against for filing a complaint.
Contact Information
If you have questions about this notice or need additional information, please contact:
Begin From Within Counseling, PLLC
Angelic Mayers Schmidt, LPC (License #80309)
Phone: 346-402-2069
Email: angel@beginfromwithincounseling.com
Acknowledgment: By signing the consent forms during intake, you acknowledge that you have received and reviewed this Notice of Privacy Practices.
