Notice of Privacy Practices

Kodo Couples Therapy | kodocouplestherapy.com

Effective Date: April 8, 2026 | This notice describes how health information about you may be used and disclosed and how you can get access to this information. Please review it carefully.

Our Commitment to Your Privacy

Kodo Couples Therapy is committed to maintaining the privacy of your protected health information ("PHI") as required by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) and applicable California law. This Notice describes our legal duties and privacy practices with respect to your health information.

How We May Use and Disclose Your Health Information

We use and disclose health information about you for the following purposes:

Treatment: We may use and disclose your PHI to provide, coordinate, or manage your care. For example, we may share information with other healthcare providers involved in your treatment when clinically appropriate and with your consent.

Payment: We may use and disclose your PHI to obtain payment for services. Because Kodo Couples Therapy is a private-pay practice and does not bill insurance directly, payment disclosures are limited. If you request a superbill for out-of-network reimbursement, we will provide one to you directly.

Healthcare Operations: We may use and disclose your PHI for internal operations including quality assessment, supervision, training, and compliance activities.

Uses and Disclosures Requiring Your Authorization

In most cases, we will ask for your written authorization before using or disclosing your PHI for purposes other than treatment, payment, or operations. This includes:

  • Disclosure to family members, partners, or others not involved in your direct care.

  • Use of your information for marketing purposes.

  • Release of psychotherapy notes (which receive special protection under HIPAA).

  • Most disclosures of your PHI to third parties not described in this Notice.

You may revoke your authorization in writing at any time, except where we have already acted in reliance on it.

Uses and Disclosures Without Your Authorization

California and federal law require or permit certain disclosures without your authorization, including:

  • Mandatory reporting of child abuse, elder abuse, or dependent adult abuse.

  • When there is a serious and imminent threat to your safety or the safety of others (Tarasoff duty to protect).

  • In response to a valid court order or subpoena.

  • As required by law for public health activities, law enforcement, or government oversight.

California law provides additional privacy protections beyond HIPAA. We follow the stricter standard in all cases.

Your Rights Regarding Your Health Information

You have the following rights with respect to your PHI:

  • Right to Access: You may request a copy of your health records. We will respond within 30 days. A reasonable fee may apply.

  • Right to Amend: You may request that we correct inaccurate or incomplete information in your records.

  • Right to an Accounting of Disclosures: You may request a list of certain disclosures we have made of your PHI.

  • Right to Request Restrictions: You may request restrictions on how we use or disclose your PHI. We are not required to agree to all requests.

  • Right to Confidential Communications: You may request that we contact you at a specific address or phone number.

  • Right to a Paper Copy of This Notice: You may request a paper copy of this Notice at any time.

Psychotherapy Notes

Psychotherapy notes (notes recorded by your therapist documenting the contents of conversations during sessions) are given special protection under HIPAA and California law. These notes are not part of your general medical record and may not be released without your specific written authorization, except in limited circumstances required by law.

Minors and Couples Therapy

Kodo Couples Therapy primarily provides services to adult couples. In cases involving minor children, applicable California law governs consent and access rights. Please speak with your therapist if you have questions about confidentiality in the context of couples or family work.

Our Duties

We are required by law to:

  • Maintain the privacy of your PHI.

  • Provide you with this Notice of our legal duties and privacy practices.

  • Notify you if there is a breach of your unsecured PHI.

  • Abide by the terms of the Notice currently in effect.

Changes to This Notice

We reserve the right to change this Notice and to make the revised Notice effective for health information we already hold as well as information we receive in the future. The current version will always be available on our website at kodocouplestherapy.com.

Complaints

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with us or with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights. We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.

Contact Us

To exercise your rights or to raise a privacy concern, contact us:

Kodo Couples Therapy is led by Sheena Simpson, LMFT #156841. Services are provided by licensed marriage and family therapists and, where noted, by a relationship coach who is not a licensed California therapist.