Notice of Privacy Practices

Salty Counseling, LLC
Q Porschatis, LCSW
2120 E 3900 S, Suite 101
Holladay, UT 84124

THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN ACCESS THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.

If you have questions about this Notice, please contact Q Porschatis, LCSW, at (801) 203-0329.

1. Definitions

  • Protected Health Information (PHI): Information that identifies you and relates to your past, present, or future physical or mental health or condition, including health care services received.

  • Demographic Information: Includes your name, date of birth, address, phone number, social security number, insurance ID, employer, and contact details.

  • Clinical Summary: Includes your diagnosis, treatment plan, functional status, symptoms, prognosis, and progress.

  • Health Care Provider / Clinician / Psychotherapist / Social Worker: Refers to your treating provider.

2. My Pledge Regarding PHI

As your clinician, I am committed to maintaining the privacy of your health information. I am required by law to:

  • Keep your PHI confidential.

  • Provide you with this Notice explaining how I may use and disclose your PHI.

  • Abide by the terms of this Notice.

  • Update this Notice as needed, with any changes applying to all PHI I maintain. Updated versions are available upon request.

3. Uses and Disclosures of PHI

For Treatment, Payment, and Health Care Operations

Your PHI may be used or disclosed to:

  • Other providers or professionals involved in your care (with your written Release of Information).

  • Obtain payment for services provided.

  • Carry out routine business functions such as recordkeeping, scheduling, billing, and quality assurance.

Without Your Authorization (As Permitted or Required by Law)

The following uses and disclosures may occur without your written authorization:

  • Harm to Self or Others: If I believe you are at imminent risk of harming yourself or others, or I become aware of abuse or neglect of a child, elder, or vulnerable adult, I am legally required to disclose PHI to appropriate authorities.

  • Legal Proceedings: PHI may be disclosed under court order, subpoena, or other legal processes. PHI may also be used in my defense if legal action is brought against this practice.

  • Public Health Reporting: PHI may be shared with public health authorities for the control of disease, injury, or disability.

  • Workers’ Compensation: PHI may be disclosed as necessary to comply with workers’ compensation laws.

  • Health Oversight: PHI may be accessed during audits, inspections, or investigations by licensing boards or regulatory agencies.

  • Breach Notification: In the event of a breach of unsecured PHI, you will be notified in compliance with HIPAA’s Breach Notification Rule, including details of the breach and any recommended steps.

Electronic Communication

Salty Counseling may use email or text messaging for appointment reminders, billing notifications, or other administrative communications. These methods are not encrypted and may carry some risk to your privacy. By initiating or continuing to use email or text communication, you acknowledge these risks and authorize this form of contact. You may revoke this authorization at any time in writing.

Marketing and Testimonials

Salty Counseling does not use client information for marketing, advertising, or testimonials. If any such use is ever proposed, it will require your prior written consent.

Client Portal Use

Salty Counseling uses a secure, HIPAA-compliant client portal for scheduling, billing, document sharing, and optional secure messaging. You are encouraged to use this portal for communication and administrative needs.

With Your Written Authorization

Any other use or disclosure of your PHI not specifically permitted above will require your written authorization. You may revoke this authorization at any time in writing, except where I have already acted based on prior authorization.

4. Your Rights Regarding Your PHI

Right to Inspect and Copy

You have the right to inspect and obtain copies of your PHI, including billing and clinical summaries, for as long as the records are maintained. HIPAA’s right of access generally does not include psychotherapy notes maintained separately from your medical record. Other health information contained in your designated record set remains subject to applicable access rights.

Right to Request Restrictions

You may request that certain disclosures of your PHI be restricted. Requests must be submitted in writing and must specify the PHI, the type of restriction, and to whom it applies. While your provider is not legally required to agree to the request, if it is accepted, the restriction will be honored unless needed for emergency care.

5. Complaints

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you have the right to file a complaint. You may:

  • Speak directly with your therapist

  • File a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

  • Contact the Utah Department of Professional Licensing (DOPL)

You will not be retaliated against for filing a complaint.

6. Additional Rights, Choices, and Clarifications

This section supplements this Notice and replaces any inconsistent statements appearing above.

Privacy Contact

This Notice applies to Salty Counseling, LLC and Q Porschatis, MSW, LCSW. If you have questions about this Notice, call (801) 203-0329 or write to:

Salty Counseling, LLC
2120 E 3900 S, Suite 101
Holladay, UT 84124

Right to Request an Amendment

You may ask Salty Counseling to correct health information that you believe is incorrect or incomplete. Your request must be submitted in writing and explain why the information should be amended. Salty Counseling may deny the request in certain circumstances but will provide a written explanation, generally within 60 days.

Right to Request Confidential Communications

You may ask Salty Counseling to contact you in a particular way or at a particular location. Reasonable requests will be honored.

Right to Request Restrictions

You may ask Salty Counseling not to use or disclose certain health information for treatment, payment, or health care operations. Salty Counseling is not generally required to agree to these requests.

If you pay for a service entirely out of pocket, you may ask Salty Counseling not to disclose information about that service to your health plan for payment or health care operations. Salty Counseling will honor that request unless disclosure is required by law.

Right to an Accounting of Disclosures

You may request a list of certain disclosures of your PHI made during the six years preceding your request. The accounting will not include disclosures for treatment, payment, health care operations, disclosures you authorized, or certain other disclosures excluded by law. One accounting will be provided without charge during any 12-month period. A reasonable, cost-based fee may apply to additional requests during the same period.

Right to Receive a Copy of This Notice

You may request a paper or electronic copy of this Notice at any time.

Right to Choose a Personal Representative

If another person has legal authority to act on your behalf, such as through a valid health care power of attorney or legal guardianship, that person may exercise your privacy rights after Salty Counseling verifies the person’s authority.

Your Choices

You may tell Salty Counseling whether your information may be shared with family members, close friends, or other people involved in your care or payment for your care. If you are unable to express a preference, information may be shared when permitted by law and when doing so is believed to be in your best interest or necessary to reduce a serious and imminent threat to health or safety.

Uses Requiring Written Authorization

Salty Counseling does not sell PHI or use client information for marketing, testimonials, or fundraising. Written authorization will be obtained before using or disclosing PHI for marketing, selling PHI, or making most disclosures of separately maintained psychotherapy notes. You may revoke an authorization in writing at any time, except to the extent that Salty Counseling has already acted in reliance on it.

Substance Use Disorder Records

To the extent that Salty Counseling maintains substance use disorder patient records protected by 42 CFR Part 2, those records will not be used or disclosed in civil, criminal, administrative, or legislative investigations or proceedings against you without your written consent or a court order accompanied by a subpoena, as required by applicable law.

Our Responsibilities

Salty Counseling is required to:

  • Maintain the privacy and security of your PHI.

  • Notify you promptly if a breach occurs that may have compromised the privacy or security of your information.

  • Follow the duties and privacy practices described in the current Notice.

  • Provide you with a copy of this Notice upon request.

  • Refrain from using or disclosing your information except as described in this Notice or as otherwise permitted or required by law.

Salty Counseling may change this Notice. Changes may apply to all PHI maintained by the practice, including information created or received before the change. The current Notice will be available on the Salty Counseling website, at the office, and upon request.

Filing a Complaint

You may file a complaint directly with Salty Counseling using the contact information above. You may also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights by calling 1-877-696-6775, visiting www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/complaints, or writing to:

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Office for Civil Rights
200 Independence Avenue SW
Washington, DC 20201

Salty Counseling will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.

Effective Date: August 21, 2026