Practice Policies
Understanding your rights as a therapy client is an important part of feeling safe and empowered in counseling. At Bluebird Counseling Center LLC, we want you to know exactly how your information is protected, what confidentiality means in Pennsylvania, and what to expect from your providers here in Lititz. Please review the policies below, we encourage you to reach out and ask questions if something is unclear.
Is therapy confidential in Pennsylvania?
Yes, everything shared in your counseling sessions at Bluebird Counseling Center is kept strictly confidential. Pennsylvania law strongly protects the privacy of mental health clients. However, there are certain situations in which your provider is legally required to act or disclose information in order to protect safety.
Mandatory Reporting
If there is any indication or disclosure of child abuse or neglect, we are mandated reporters and required by Pennsylvania law to report this to ChildLine.
Imminent Threat of Harm
If a client discloses a serious, credible threat of harm to themselves or to another identifiable person, we are obligated to protect action, which may include contacting emergency services.
Court Orders
If a court of law issues an order requiring the disclosure of records or clinical testimony, we are legally obligated to comply with that order.
Our Commitment: In nearly all circumstances, unless doing so would create an immediate safety risk, we will notify you before any breach of confidentiality occurs. You will not be blindsided.
Confidentiality right for children and teens in Pennsylvania
One of the most common questions families ask when starting child or adolescent therapy in Lancaster County is: who can access my child's therapy records? Pennsylvania law draws a clear distinction between younger children and teenagers.
Under age 14 - Parents have access rights
For clients under 14, parents and guardians have the legal right to access information about their child's services. Even so, we use careful clinical judgement to give children enough privacy in sessions to feel safe opening up. We encourage children to share information with their caregivers directly when they feel ready, and we involve parents thoughtfully - not automatically.
Age 14 and older - Treated as adults for privacy
In Pennsylvania, adolescents aged 14 and older have the same confidentiality rights as adults in mental health treatment. Their information will not be shared with parents, guardians, or family members without their consent - except when a safety concern/imminent risk or clinical necessity requires it. This protection is foundational to effective teen therapy and building a trusting therapeutic relationship.
What happens when a family member contacts your therapist?
If a family member, such as a spouse, parent, sibling, or other loved one, reaches out to a clinician about a client's care, the provider will always disclose the contact to the client. We do not hold conversations about you without telling you. The clinician will summarize what was communicated and exercise professional judgement to maintain appropriate therapeutic boundaries for everyone involved. Family members are allowed to reach out and provide information, though if the client hasn't provided authorization for the clinician to talk to the family member, the clinician may not respond to the contact, or will be vague in response. Client confidentiality is a foundational component of your treatment and is respected as such.
Your rights regarding therapy records in Lancaster County
You have rights when it comes to your mental health records. Here is how we handle record security, access requests, and care coordination at Bluebird Counseling Center.
How your records are stored
All client records are maintained in TherapyNotes, a HIPAA-compliant electronic health record system used widely by mental health practices across Pennsylvania. Your information is encrypted, stored securely, and accessible only to authorized members of your care team.
Requests for records from outside parties
If an outside entity, such as another provider, an attorney, a school, or an insurance company, requests access to your records, you will be notified and asked to provide written consent before any information is released. Your records belong to you, and your approval is required.
Coordinating care with other providers
Occasionally, coordinating with another member of your healthcare team, such as a primary care physician or psychiatrist, may be in your best clinical interest. When this occurs, we make every effort to obtain your permission in advance, explain what will be shared and why, and keep you informed throughout the process.
How to communicate securely with your therapist
Standard personal email and unencrypted text messages are not considered secure for sharing personal health information under HIPAA. To protect your privacy, all clinical communication should take place through the TherapyNotes client portal. Through the TherapyNotes secure client portal, you can utilize secure messaging, document sharing, complete questionnaires (sent by your therapist), and updating payment information and insurance information.
If you contact us through a personal email address, or via text, please be aware that the privacy of that exchange cannot be guaranteed. When possible, please use the secure messaging option.
Running into your therapist in public
Lititz is a small, close-knit community, and Lancaster County isn't much bigger. It is entirely possible you may encounter your therapist at a local restaurant, event, or shop. To protect your privacy, your provider will not initiate conversation or approach you in public in a way that could reveal your connection.
They may offer a brief, courteous acknowledgement, a smile or a nod, but will not engage further unless you choose to. If you do initiate contact, please be mindful of who is nearby, as doing so may inadvertently indicate your therapeutic relationship to others.
Social Media Policy
Bluebird Counseling Center LLC maintains social media accounts for educational and community engagement purposes. Clients are welcome to follow, like, or share our content at their own discretion. We will never publicly acknowledge or reference anyone's status as a client on any platform.
Clinician Personal Accounts
Our clinicians will not send, accept, or respond to friend requests, follows, or direct messages from clients on their personal social media profiles - on any platform.
Content Disclaimer
Content on our social media pages is informational only. It does not constitute clinical advice or establish a therapeutic relationship with Bluebird Counseling Center.
Clinical Communication
Social media is never an appropriate channel for discussing clinical matters. Please use our secure portal for all care-related communication.
Policy Updates
This policy may be updated periodically. Changes will be reflected on our website and shared through our social media accounts where applicable.
Court Involvement and Legal Requests
Bluebird Counseling Center LLC is a clinical outpatient mental health practice, not a forensic practice. Our purpose is your therapeutic well-being, and we prefer to avoid involvement in legal proceedings whenever possible.
Why court involvement affects treatment
When a therapist is asked to testify or produce records for a court case, the dynamic of that involvement can unintentionally shift clinical perspective, moving focus away from your growth and healing and toward legal outcomes. This can compromise the integrity of the therapeutic process for both the client and the provider. We name this openly so clients can make informed decisions about initiating or pursuing legal involvement during active treatment.
Fees for court-related services
In circumstances where court involvement is unavoidable, including record preparation, deposition, or testimony, please be aware that these services are billed at a separate rate from standard clinical services. Fees are outlined on our services page. We are committed to transparency and encourage open conversation with your provider about any anticipated legal matters.
Frequently asked questions about therapy confidentiality
Does my therapist have to tell my parents what I say in therapy?
It depends on your age. In Pennsylvania, clients 14 and older have the same confidentiality rights as adults in mental health treatment. Your therapist cannot share what you discuss in sessions with your parents or guardians without your consent — unless there is a safety concern that legally requires disclosure. For clients under 14, parents and guardians do have legal access rights, but your provider will use clinical judgment to give you meaningful privacy in sessions. The goal is always to create a space where you feel safe enough to be honest.
What happens if I tell my therapist I want to hurt myself?
Your therapist will take what you share seriously and respond with care — not judgment. Discussing thoughts of self-harm or suicide in therapy is not only allowed, it is encouraged. The therapeutic space is specifically designed to hold these conversations. Confidentiality is only broken when there is an imminent, serious, and credible risk of harm — meaning your therapist believes you are in immediate danger. In those cases, they may involve emergency services or your emergency contacts to help keep you safe. Your provider will always talk with you about this process before acting whenever it is safe to do so.
Are therapists in Pennsylvania required to report abuse?
Yes. Licensed mental health clinicians in Pennsylvania are mandatory reporters under state law. If there is reasonable cause to suspect that a child is being abused or neglected — whether the disclosure comes from the child, a parent, or another adult — we are legally required to make a report to the appropriate child protective services agency. This requirement exists to protect children, and it applies regardless of who makes the disclosure or whether anyone requests that the information be kept private.
Can I get a copy of my therapy records?
Yes. As a client, you have the right to request access to your mental health records under both HIPAA and Pennsylvania law. To request your records, contact our office directly and we will walk you through the process, including any applicable timelines and fees for record preparation. If you are requesting records for a legal matter or to share with another provider, we recommend initiating the request as early as possible, as some situations — particularly legal ones — involve additional steps and fees.
Can my spouse or family member call my therapist about me?
Anyone can reach out to our office, but your therapist will not confirm or deny your status as a client, nor share any information about your sessions, without your written consent. If a family member does contact your provider, you will be informed that the contact occurred and given a summary of what was communicated. We do not have conversations about you without telling you.
Is teletherapy confidential? What about online sessions?
Yes — the same confidentiality protections that apply to in-person therapy at our Lititz office apply to telehealth sessions as well. We use HIPAA-compliant video platforms for all virtual appointments. For your own privacy during teletherapy, we recommend joining sessions from a private space where others cannot overhear your conversation, and using headphones when possible. The security of your home environment is something only you can control.
What is the difference between confidentiality and HIPAA?
Confidentiality is an ethical and legal obligation that therapists hold — the duty not to disclose what clients share in sessions without permission. It is foundational to the therapeutic relationship and protected under Pennsylvania state law. HIPAA (the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) is a federal law that governs how healthcare providers — including mental health practices — handle, store, and transmit protected health information (PHI). HIPAA sets the floor for data security and privacy practices across the entire healthcare system. At Bluebird Counseling Center, we follow both ethical confidentiality standards and all applicable HIPAA requirements.
Do I need to worry about running into my therapist around Lititz, or Lancaster County?
It can happen — and we want you to know we have thought about it. Your provider will never approach you, initiate conversation, or behave in a way that could reveal your therapeutic relationship in public. If you encounter them, they may offer a brief, neutral acknowledgment, but the choice to engage is entirely yours. If the possibility of a public encounter feels uncomfortable or anxiety-provoking, bring it up with your provider. It is a completely valid topic for session and something many clients in smaller communities navigate.
Thank you for trusting Bluebird Counseling Center LLC with your mental health care. We are honored to serve the Lititz and Lancaster County community and committed to providing a safe, confidential space for every person who walks through our door.
If anything on this page raises questions, please bring it to your provider — or contact our office directly. We would rather answer a question than leave you uncertain about your care.