Client Resources

We at The Barrington Center for Counseling and Wellness are committed to protecting your privacy while providing you with a positive experience on our website. This Privacy Policy explains our online information practices including those pertaining to the collection and use of personal data and of any personal information you choose to provide through our contact page form or via text and email. It also describes how we may use and disclose your protected health information (PHI) to carry out treatment, payment or healthcare operations and for other purposes that are permitted or required by law.  

Personal Information 

“Personal Information” is defined as any information that identifies or can be used to identify, contact, or locate the person to whom such information pertains. Personal information includes, but is not limited to, name, telephone number, and email address. The Barrington Center for Counseling and Wellness includes a web contact form. If you choose to use the contact form provided or to contact us directly via email or text, you will be supplying some form of “Personal information” (e.g., email address, phone number). 

Where personal information is provided, The Barrington Center for Counseling and Wellness uses this information exclusively to reply to your request and to provide scheduling. However, please be aware that email is not a secure form of communication, and thus confidentiality cannot be assured. For protection of your own privacy, please do not send sensitive information to us via email, text, or this web contact form. 

The Barrington Center for Counseling and Wellness does not sell or otherwise disclose your personal information to any third party. Any personal information provided to this website or through email and text, is in accordance with the above conditions is supplied by you voluntarily and The Barrington Center for Counseling and Wellness has your express consent to use the information only as indicated above. Additionally, SMS opt-in consent or phone numbers for the purpose of SMS are not being shared.

Protected Health Information 

Protected Health Information (PHI) is information that individually identifies you and that we create or get from you or from another health care provider, a health plan, your employer, or a health care clearinghouse and that relates to 1) your past, present, or future physical or mental health or conditions, 2) the provision of health care to you, or 3) the past, present, or future payment for your healthcare.  

Protected Health Information Privacy Policy 

The Barrington Center for Counseling and Wellness maintains the privacy of PHI and abides by the terms of this Notice of Privacy Policies. We are dedicated to safeguarding and preserving your privacy. We have the right to change or update the terms at any time. In the event of an update a copy of our current Privacy Policy can be found at our office and on our website.  

Disclosure of your Personal Information and your Protected Health Information is not tolerated. The Barrington Center for Counseling and Wellness will never disclose your identity, or any personal information to outside companies. We will never intentionally disclose any personal information about you or anything mentioned in your interactions without your expressed written consent. 

The Barrington Center for Counseling and Wellness will only use and disclose your health information contained within the behavioral health record to give you treatment, obtain payment for your treatment, and operate our psychotherapy business. 

Some examples of how your health information may be used or disclosed include the following: 

1. Your therapist will collect and document information about you in your record. We may disclose information to a physician or other health care provider who will be assisting or consulting regarding your care. This information will be used to evaluate or choose the treatment we believe is best for you. This treatment will always be coordinated with you. We will document in your record the suggestions and observations made of you.
2. We will send a bill that includes some of your health information to you, to the person responsible for the bill, and your third-party payer (such as your Health Insurance Company or Medicare). In some instances, we may need to send part of your record to your third-party payer. The type of health information we might send includes your name, other identifying information, diagnosis, treatment, and possibly a summary of your progress.
3. We will use and/or disclose your health information to those persons or companies for which you give us written authorization or permission to do so. If you authorize us to use or disclose your information, you must complete our Release of Health Information Form. You may revoke your authorization in writing at any time to the extent that we may have already used or disclosed your health information as previously authorized. 

In certain circumstances mandated by local, state, or federal law, The Barrington Center for Counseling and Wellness may be required to release personal information to third parties such as law enforcement in the event of child or elder abuse, harm to self or others, search warrant, subpoena or court order. The Barrington Center for Counseling and Wellness, and its staff, may use or disclose PHI without your consent or authorization in the following circumstances: 

1. Child Abuse – If The Barrington Center for Counseling and Wellness knows, or has reasonable cause to suspect, that a child known to us in our professional capacity has been, or is in, immediate danger of being mentally or physically abused or neglected, we must immediately report such knowledge or suspicion to the appropriate authorities.
2. Adult and Domestic Abuse – If The Barrington Center for Counseling and Wellness believes that an adult is in need of protective services because of abuse or neglect by another person, we must immediately report this belief to the appropriate authorities.
3. Judicial and Administrative Proceedings – If you are involved in a court proceeding and a request is made for information about the professional services The Barrington Center for Counseling and Wellness has provided you and/or the records thereof, such information is privileged and we will not release information without the written authorization of you or your legally appointed representative or a court order. 
4. Serious Threat to Health or Safety – If The Barrington Center for Counseling and Wellness believes disclosure of PHI is necessary to protect you or another individual from a substantial risk of imminent and serious physical injury we may disclose the PHI to the appropriate individuals. 

Your Rights Regarding your Protected Health Information 

Federal and Illinois Laws provide you. The following rights regarding your Private Health Information. 

1. Right to obtain a copy of this Privacy Policy.
    
2. Right. To request certain restrictions on the uses and disclosures of your health information. However, The Barrington Center for Counseling and Wellness is not required to agree to a restriction you request.
3. Right to inspect or receive copy of your health record.
4. Right to request an amendment of your health record if you believe it contains and error.
5. Right to obtain a list of all the people and companies which the Center has released your health information (an “accounting” of disclosures).
6. Right to request that we communicate with you about your health care at a confidential phone number or address.
7. Right to revoke your written consent/authorization to use or disclose your health information except when the use or disclosure has already happened. 

Federal and Illinois Laws also provide you with the right to be informed about and give your written authorization before any health information is disclosed, unless such disclosure is allowed or required by law. 

Your Consent 

By using this website, email or texting, you consent to the collection and use of non-personal and personal information as described in this Privacy Policy. We reserve the right to amend this policy at any time. 

How to Contact Us 

If you have any questions about this policy, the practices of this site, or any further information about our commitment to your privacy, please feel free to contact The Barrington Center for Counseling and Wellness at 847-304-0780. 

Agreement Acceptance  

This Privacy Statement may be changed or revised at any time here or elsewhere on this site. Continued usage of this site notes your acceptance of the terms as detailed herein. If you have any questions or concerns about your privacy or our Privacy Policy, please contact the Barrington Center for Counseling and Wellness at 847-304-0780. 

Disclaimer 

This website and its content has been prepared by The Barrington Center for Counseling and Wellness for general informational purposes only and does not constitute personal medical or mental health advice. If you think you may have a medical or mental health emergency, please call 911, or go to your nearest emergency room. Viewing the information on this website is not intended to create and does not constitute a therapist relationship. Readers should seek individual professional medical/mental health advice before acting on any information contained in this website. The information on this website should not be considered complete and should not be used in place of a visit, call, consultation or advice of your health care provider or mental healthcare provider. The website does not recommend the self-management of health or mental health problems.