Frances Bledsoe follows the Federal HIPPA guidelines. Everything that is shared in Therapy or Coaching is considered to be confidential, and may not be shared with other parties without permission of all adult clients who were present in the session. [Note, this means that one member of a couple (or family) may NOT acquire the therapy record without the permissions of all other adults who were present.] The exceptions to these rules are: the therapist or coach deems a client to be at immediate risk of harming him- or her- self; a client reports intent to harm someone else; or a client reports having recently abused or neglected a person (such as a minor or elderly person) who cannot protect him- or her- self. In these exceptional circumstances a therapist or coach is required by law to notify the necessary authorities.
Usually submission of records to third parties is up to the mutual discretion of therapist and client regarding what is best for the client. However, in very rare circumstances, a court may order submission of records.