THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW HEALTH INFORMATION MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. Please review it carefully.
October 3-7 | Starting at $500Notice of Privacy Practices
Effective Date: January 1, 2026
Practice: Inner Strength Counseling, LCSW P.C.
Licensed in: New York · Massachusetts · Georgia
Section IAbout This Practice: Inner Strength Counseling, LCSW P.C. is a telehealth-only private practice owned and operated by Trecia Lewis, LCSW, LICSW. Services are provided to clients physically located in New York, Massachusetts and Georgia. Privacy practices comply with applicable federal HIPAA requirements as well as the state privacy laws of New York, Massachusetts and Georgia where applicable.
Section IIMy Pledge Regarding Your Health Information
I understand that health information about you and your health care is personal. I am committed to protecting health information about you. I create a record of the care and services you receive from me. I need this record to provide you with quality care and to comply with certain legal requirements.
This notice applies to all records of your care generated by this mental health care practice. It will tell you about the ways in which I may use and disclose health information about you. I also describe your rights to the health information I keep about you and describe certain obligations I have regarding the use and disclosure of your health information.
I am required by law to:
❋ Make sure that protected health information ("PHI") that identifies you is kept private.
❋ Give you this notice of my legal duties and privacy practices with respect to health information.
❋ Follow the terms of the notice that is currently in effect.How I May Use and Disclose Health Information About You
The following categories describe different ways that I use and disclose health information. Not every use or disclosure in a category will be listed. However all of the ways I am permitted to use and disclose information will fall within one of the categories.
For Treatment, Payment or Health Care Operations
Federal privacy rules allow health care providers who have a direct treatment relationship with a client to use or disclose the client's personal health information without written authorization to carry out treatment, payment or health care operations. I may also disclose your protected health information for the treatment activities of any health care provider.
Disclosures for treatment purposes are not limited to the minimum necessary standard because health care providers need access to full and complete information to provide quality care. The word "treatment" includes the coordination and management of health care with third parties, consultations between health care providers and referrals from one health care provider to another.
Lawsuits and Disputes
If you are involved in a lawsuit I may disclose health information in response to a court or administrative order. I may also disclose health information in response to a subpoena, discovery request or other lawful process, but only if efforts have been made to notify you about the request or to obtain a protective order.
Section III
Certain Uses and Disclosures Require Your Authorization
Psychotherapy Notes
I keep psychotherapy notes as defined in 45 CFR § 164.501. Any use or disclosure of such notes requires your written authorization unless the use or disclosure is:
For my use in treating you.
For my use in training or supervising mental health practitioners to help them improve their skills in group, joint, family or individual counseling or therapy.
For my use in defending myself in legal proceedings instituted by you.
For use by the Secretary of Health and Human Services to investigate my compliance with HIPAA.
Required by law and the use or disclosure is limited to the requirements of such law.
Required by law for certain health oversight activities pertaining to the originator of the psychotherapy notes.
Required by a coroner performing duties authorized by law.
Required to help avert a serious threat to the health and safety of others.
Marketing Purposes
As a psychotherapist, I will not use or disclose your PHI for marketing purposes.
Sale of PHI
As a psychotherapist I will not sell your PHI in the regular course of my business.
Use of Artificial Intelligence
This practice may use AI-assisted tools for administrative purposes only — such as drafting session documentation and practice management. AI is never used to make clinical decisions, interact therapeutically with clients, diagnose, treat or replace clinical judgment in any way. All AI-generated administrative content is reviewed and approved by Trecia Lewis, LCSW, LICSW before use.
If an AI tool is used in a capacity that involves your session data you will be informed and your consent will be obtained before use. You have the right to decline the use of AI tools in connection with your care without affecting the quality of services you receive.
Section IV
Certain Uses and Disclosures Do Not Require Your Authorization
Subject to certain limitations in the law I can use and disclose your PHI without your authorization for the following reasons:
When disclosure is required by state or federal law and the use or disclosure complies with and is limited to the relevant requirements of such law.
For public health activities including reporting suspected child, elder or dependent adult abuse or preventing or reducing a serious threat to anyone's health or safety.
For health oversight activities including audits and investigations.
For judicial and administrative proceedings including responding to a court or administrative order. My preference is to obtain authorization from you before doing so whenever possible.
For law enforcement purposes including reporting crimes occurring on my premises.
To coroners or medical examiners when such individuals are performing duties authorized by law.
For research purposes including studying and comparing the mental health of clients who received one form of therapy versus those who received another form of therapy for the same condition.
For specialized government functions including ensuring the proper execution of military missions, protecting the President of the United States, conducting intelligence or counter-intelligence operations or helping to ensure the safety of those working within or housed in correctional institutions.
For workers' compensation purposes. My preference is to obtain authorization from you but I may provide your PHI to comply with workers' compensation laws.
Appointment Reminders
I may use and disclose your PHI to send you appointment reminders through the SimplePractice platform. Automated reminders are provided as a courtesy. It is your responsibility to track and attend your scheduled appointments. Non-receipt of an automated reminder does not waive any cancellation or no-show fee.
I may also use and disclose your PHI to tell you about treatment alternatives or other health care services or benefits that I offer.
Section V
Certain Uses and Disclosures Require You to Have the Opportunity to Object
Disclosures to Family, Friends or Others
I may provide your PHI to a family member, friend or other person that you indicate is involved in your care or the payment for your health care unless you object in whole or in part. The opportunity to consent may be obtained retroactively in emergency situations.
Section VI
Telehealth Services
All services provided by Inner Strength Counseling are delivered via telehealth using HIPAA-compliant platforms. While reasonable safeguards are in place to protect your information during telehealth sessions no electronic transmission can be guaranteed to be completely secure.
By participating in telehealth services you acknowledge and accept the inherent privacy limitations of electronic communication. You are encouraged to participate in sessions from a private location where your conversation cannot be overheard by others.
If you have concerns about the security of telehealth services please discuss them with me before or during your consultation call.
Section VII
Recording of Sessions
To protect the privacy, confidentiality and therapeutic integrity of our work together the recording of sessions in any format is strictly prohibited.
This includes but is not limited to video recording, audio recording, screen capture, screenshots, live streaming or any other method of capturing session content — whether through a phone, computer, tablet or any other device. Recorded session content may not be posted, shared, distributed or published on any platform including social media, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook or any other public or private digital platform.
If you have a specific need or request related to session recording please discuss it with me directly before your session. Any exceptions require my explicit written consent and a signed agreement prior to the session. Violation of this policy may result in termination of the therapeutic relationship.
Section VIII
Third-Party Service Providers
Inner Strength Counseling uses two HIPAA-compliant platforms to manage clinical and administrative functions. Both are disclosed here in accordance with HIPAA Business Associate requirements.
SimplePractice
The primary electronic health record and practice management platform used for scheduling, clinical documentation, appointment reminders, telehealth sessions, client portal access and private pay billing. All clinical records are maintained in SimplePractice.
Alma
Used exclusively for insurance credentialing and billing for clients whose insurance is processed through Alma's network. Certain administrative information including insurance details and billing information will be shared with Alma for that purpose only.
Both SimplePractice and Alma function as Business Associates under HIPAA and are each bound by a formal Business Associate Agreement. Neither platform uses your protected health information for any purpose beyond supporting the administrative operations of this practice.
Section IX
Breach Notification
In the event of a breach of your unsecured protected health information I am required to notify you without unreasonable delay and in no case later than 60 days following discovery of the breach.
Notification will include a description of what happened, the types of information involved, steps you should take to protect yourself from potential harm, what I am doing to investigate and mitigate the breach and contact information for you to ask questions.
If a breach affects 500 or more individuals I am also required to notify the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and in some cases local media outlets.
Section X
Your Right to a Good Faith Estimate
Under the No Surprises Act you have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate of expected charges for healthcare services before beginning treatment. As a self-pay or uninsured client you are entitled to receive a written Good Faith Estimate before your first session or upon request at any time.
If your actual billed charges exceed your Good Faith Estimate by $400 or more you have the right to dispute the bill through the patient-provider dispute resolution process.
To request a written Good Faith Estimate please contact connect@trecialewis.com or (914) 361-9778.
Section XI
Your Rights With Respect to Your PHI
Request Limits on Uses and Disclosures
You have the right to ask me not to use or disclose certain PHI for treatment, payment or health care operations purposes. I am not required to agree but may say no if I believe it would affect your health care.
Request Restrictions for Out-of-Pocket Expenses
You have the right to request restrictions on disclosures of your PHI to health plans for payment or health care operations purposes if the PHI pertains solely to a service you have paid for out-of-pocket in full.
Choose How I Send PHI to You
You have the right to ask me to contact you in a specific way or to send communications to a different address and I will agree to all reasonable requests.
See and Get Copies of Your PHI
Other than psychotherapy notes you have the right to get an electronic or paper copy of your medical record. I will provide a copy or summary within 30 days of your written request and may charge a reasonable cost-based fee.
Get a List of Disclosures I Have Made
You have the right to request a list of instances in which I have disclosed your PHI for purposes other than treatment, payment or health care operations. I will respond within 60 days.
Correct or Update Your PHI
If you believe there is a mistake or missing information in your PHI you have the right to request a correction or addition. I may say no but will tell you why in writing within 60 days.
Get a Copy of This Notice
You have the right to get a paper or electronic copy of this Notice at any time. Even if you agreed to receive this Notice electronically you may still request a paper copy.
I can change the terms of this Notice and such changes will apply to all information I have about you. The new Notice will be available upon request and on my website at trecialewis.com.
Questions or Complaints
If you have questions about this Notice or believe your privacy rights have been violated please reach out directly.
Contact Trecia Lewis, LCSW, LICSW
PracticeInner Strength Counseling, LCSW P.C.
Phone(914) 361-9778
Websitetrecialewis.com
You also have the right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights:
Website: www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy · Phone: 1-800-368-1019
Filing a complaint will not affect the care or services you receive from this practice in any way.
