Notice of Privacy Practices
Turning Tide Therapy
Samantha Sandgren, MA, LPC
5912 S Cody St, Suite 108
Littleton, CO 80123
(720) 514-3020
Effective Date: September 2026
THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW YOUR HEALTH INFORMATION MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION.
Please review it carefully.
At Turning Tide Therapy, I understand that information you share in therapy is personal and private. I am committed to protecting the privacy of your health information and following applicable federal and Colorado privacy laws.
This Notice of Privacy Practices explains your rights, my responsibilities, and the circumstances in which your protected health information may be used or disclosed.
Protected health information, or PHI, is information about your physical or mental health, treatment, or payment for health care that identifies you or could reasonably be used to identify you.
Your Rights
When it comes to your health information, you have certain rights.
Get a copy of your mental health records
You can ask to see or receive an electronic or paper copy of your health information that I maintain about you, subject to certain legal limitations.
You may request your records by contacting me using the information at the end of this notice. I will respond to your request within the time required by law.
In certain circumstances, your request may be denied. If I deny your request, I will explain the reason in writing and let you know whether you have a right to have the decision reviewed.
Ask me to correct your records
You can ask me to correct health information that you believe is incorrect or incomplete.
I may deny your request in certain circumstances, but if I do, I will explain the reason in writing.
Request confidential communications
You can ask me to contact you in a specific way or at a specific location.
For example, you may request that I contact you by phone rather than mail or that I use a particular phone number or email address.
I will consider reasonable requests.
Ask me to limit what I use or share
You can ask me not to use or share certain health information for treatment, payment, or health care operations.
I am not required to agree to every request.
If you pay for a service completely out of pocket and ask me not to share information about that service with your health plan for payment or health care operations, I will agree to your request unless disclosure is required by law.
Get a list of certain disclosures
You can ask for a list of certain disclosures of your health information made during the six years before your request.
This accounting does not include certain disclosures, including disclosures made for treatment, payment, health care operations, or disclosures you authorized.
Get a copy of this notice
You can ask for a paper copy of this notice at any time, even if you have agreed to receive it electronically.
The current version will also be available on the Turning Tide Therapy website.
Choose someone to act for you
If you have given someone legal authority to act on your behalf, such as a legal guardian or personal representative, that person may exercise your privacy rights.
I will verify that the person has the appropriate legal authority before taking action.
File a complaint
If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you can file a complaint with me or with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights.
You will not be penalized or retaliated against for filing a complaint.
How Your Information May Be Used or Disclosed
I may use or disclose your protected health information without your written authorization when permitted or required by law.
Treatment
I may use or share your health information to provide, coordinate, or manage your mental health treatment.
For example, I may consult with another health care professional involved in your care when permitted by law.
Payment
I may use or share your health information to bill and receive payment for services.
If you use insurance, this may include providing information to your health insurance company to process claims, determine eligibility or coverage, or review medical necessity.
Health Care Operations
I may use or share your health information for activities necessary to operate my practice.
This may include billing, scheduling, quality improvement, professional consultation, audits, licensing, and other activities necessary to maintain and operate the practice.
Appointment Reminders and Health Information
I may use your contact information to communicate with you about appointments, scheduling, treatment, or other health-related information.
When Required by Law
I may use or disclose your health information when federal, state, or other applicable law requires me to do so.
Serious Threats to Health or Safety
I may disclose health information when necessary to prevent or lessen a serious and imminent threat to the health or safety of you, another person, or the public, when permitted by law.
Abuse, Neglect, or Domestic Violence
I may disclose information when required or permitted by law to report suspected abuse, neglect, or domestic violence.
Legal Proceedings and Law Enforcement
I may disclose health information when required or permitted by law in response to certain legal proceedings, court orders, subpoenas, law enforcement requests, or other lawful government requests.
Workers' Compensation
I may disclose health information as necessary to comply with workers' compensation laws.
Business Associates
I may work with outside companies or professionals who provide services for my practice, such as billing, technology, administrative, or other practice-support services.
When these individuals or organizations have access to protected health information on my behalf, I will require appropriate contractual protections as required by law.
Uses and Disclosures That Require Your Written Authorization
For uses and disclosures not described in this notice or otherwise permitted by law, I will generally obtain your written authorization.
You may revoke an authorization in writing at any time. Revoking an authorization will not affect information that has already been used or disclosed based on that authorization.
Marketing
I will obtain your written authorization before using or disclosing your health information for marketing purposes when authorization is required by law.
Sale of Your Information
I will obtain your written authorization before selling your protected health information, when authorization is required by law.
I do not sell your protected health information.
Psychotherapy Notes
Psychotherapy notes receive additional protection under HIPAA.
If I maintain separate psychotherapy notes, I will generally obtain your written authorization before disclosing them, except when disclosure is permitted or required by law.
Psychotherapy notes are separate from the medical record and generally contain the therapist's private notes about the contents of a psychotherapy session.
Your Choices
In certain circumstances, you may have the right to tell me whether you want information shared with people involved in your care.
For example, you may ask me to share relevant information with a family member, close friend, or another person involved in your care.
If you are unable to communicate your preference, I may use professional judgment and applicable law to determine whether a disclosure is in your best interest or necessary to address a serious and imminent threat to health or safety.
Substance Use Disorder Records
Certain records related to substance use disorder treatment may receive additional privacy protections under federal law, including 42 U.S.C. § 290dd-2 and 42 CFR Part 2.
If these requirements apply to information maintained by Turning Tide Therapy, I will follow the applicable federal requirements governing the use and disclosure of those records.
Colorado Privacy Protections
Colorado law provides additional protections for certain mental health information. I will follow applicable federal and Colorado laws governing the confidentiality and disclosure of your health information.
When federal and state requirements differ, I will follow the applicable law that provides the required level of protection.
Electronic Communication
I may communicate with you using phone, voicemail, email, text message, electronic scheduling systems, or telehealth platforms.
Electronic communication may involve privacy and security risks. Please use your judgment about the type of information you include in email or text messages.
You may request that I communicate with you in another reasonable manner.
My Responsibilities
I am required by law to:
Maintain the privacy and security of your protected health information.
Provide you with this notice describing my legal duties and privacy practices.
Follow the terms of the notice currently in effect.
Notify you if a breach occurs that may have compromised the privacy or security of your protected health information, when required by law.
Make this notice available to you.
Provide you with a copy of this notice upon request.
I will not use or disclose your health information in a way that is not described in this notice unless the law permits or requires it, or you provide written authorization when authorization is required.
Changes to This Notice
I may change the terms of this Notice of Privacy Practices.
Changes will apply to all protected health information I maintain, including information collected before the change.
The current version of this notice will be available on the Turning Tide Therapy website and in the practice office.
Questions or Concerns
If you have questions about this notice or your privacy rights, please contact:
Samantha Sandgren, MA, LPC
Turning Tide Therapy
5912 S Cody St, Suite 108
Littleton, CO 80123
(720) 514-3020
You may also contact the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Office for Civil Rights
200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20201
1-877-696-6775
https://www.hhs.gov/ocr/complaints/
You will not be retaliated against for filing a complaint.