Risk, Confidentiality, Policy and more – Updated 2025
Jill encourages you to take a couple of seconds to read carefully all of the information below concerning Risk, Benefits and/or Limits to Confidentiality
Jill White-Huffman is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor #7825 & Certified Marriage & Family Therapist. As a Counselor, she is committed to following all policies and procedures.
Risk and Benefits of Counseling and Coaching:
Risk and Benefits of Counseling and Coaching: It is completely natural and often difficult for most people to open up and share uncomfortable or unpleasant situations they may be facing, especially with someone they have only recently met. Doing so can bring up uncomfortable thoughts, feelings, and emotions. As a therapist and coach, I always encourage clients to speak with a medical professional or their physicians about medical concerns, because I am not qualified to treat illnesses, provide medical advice, or prescribe medication. My role is to help individuals and couples process their concerns as smoothly as possible. I cannot guarantee cures or specific outcomes, as many variables can influence therapy results, whether in-person or via telehealth. I am not a crisis center, mental health emergency hotline, or 24-hour service. However, I make every effort to help individuals and couples improve their situations and symptoms, reduce distress or stress, enhance relationships, or resolve specific issues to the best of my professional ability.
If you are feeling or experiencing suicidal thoughts, please call the national prevention hotline at (800) 273-8255.
If you are feeling or experiencing suicidal thoughts, please call the national prevention hotline at (800) 273-8255.
Limits to Confidentiality:
Confidentiality is maintained at the highest standards during therapy sessions, with the following exceptions. I will need your verbal or written consent to share personal information. However, there are limits to confidentiality that I must inform you about, as I am licensed and legally required to disclose or report certain information discussed in therapy. For example: As a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor and Marriage and Family Therapist, I provide therapy services, and when I serve as a Coach, my confidentiality limits include: Duty to Warn—if a client has the intent or plan to harm another person, I am required to make every effort to notify the intended victim and legal authorities. Suicide/self-harm—if a client discloses a plan to harm themselves, I must take necessary steps to ensure safety, which may include notifying family members and legal authorities. Reports will also be made for children (regarding sexual, physical, emotional abuse, or neglect) and vulnerable adults (including the elderly, disabled, and reports of prenatal exposure to controlled substances). Animal abuse or cruelty, including neglect or hoarding, will also be reported. If I am billing an insurance provider for services, I will typically need to provide a diagnosis, dates and times of sessions, descriptions of impairments, prognosis, and summaries. It’s also important to understand that coaching differs from counseling, and we will discuss which service best suits your current needs.
Counseling Process & Guidelines
Risk of Therapy: Since therapy sometimes brings up uncomfortable emotions and feelings, you may feel mad, sad, guilty, angry, frustrated, overwhelmed, lonesome, and/or worthless. If you are committed to therapy and plan to attend your sessions, it may require you to examine yourself to see if you might be contributing to your problems, which can be one of the most painful parts of therapy. However, as you learn more about yourself and gain insight into your challenges and struggles, you will eventually start to feel better. You may experience a range of emotions and feelings in response to your discoveries, which can be unsettling for some people.
Benefits of Therapy: You will need to decide if the risk of change is worth it to you. If so, could you allow Jill to help you? There are no guarantees, but Jill has been successful in helping both couples and individuals reach their goals.
Confidentiality: Your sessions are kept confidential, and Jill will not share your information without your permission. In other words, no one will know you are attending counseling unless you tell them. It is your choice to schedule sessions or email questions to Jill. She takes all possible steps to keep your messages confidential. However, please keep in mind that email is not a guaranteed delivery method, so keep messages brief and share only necessary information.
Benefits of Therapy: You will need to decide if the risk of change is worth it to you. If so, could you allow Jill to help you? There are no guarantees, but Jill has been successful in helping both couples and individuals reach their goals.
Confidentiality: Your sessions are kept confidential, and Jill will not share your information without your permission. In other words, no one will know you are attending counseling unless you tell them. It is your choice to schedule sessions or email questions to Jill. She takes all possible steps to keep your messages confidential. However, please keep in mind that email is not a guaranteed delivery method, so keep messages brief and share only necessary information.
Legal exceptions to your right to confidentiality:
1. If you are at risk of imminent serious harm to yourself or others.
2. If you report that you are HIV positive, it must be reported to the Department of Health unless it has already been reported.
3. Billing to your insurance company.
4. Suspicion of neglect or abuse of a minor or vulnerable adult. This may include a report of past abuse.
5. If there has been sexual misconduct of a physician or therapist.
6. When your records are subpoenaed. This happens in some cases.
7. During times that you provide written permission for Jill to release information to another party, if needed.
8. If there is a need for consultation with another professional who works in the area of care such as what pertains to your situations. However, no names will be discussed and conversation will be discussed like a case study with little details.
9. If there is a need to seek Jill's liability insurance company for consultation.
10. Counseling rules for confidentiality for groups, families, and couples vary. Jill will discuss this with you during your first session.
2. If you report that you are HIV positive, it must be reported to the Department of Health unless it has already been reported.
3. Billing to your insurance company.
4. Suspicion of neglect or abuse of a minor or vulnerable adult. This may include a report of past abuse.
5. If there has been sexual misconduct of a physician or therapist.
6. When your records are subpoenaed. This happens in some cases.
7. During times that you provide written permission for Jill to release information to another party, if needed.
8. If there is a need for consultation with another professional who works in the area of care such as what pertains to your situations. However, no names will be discussed and conversation will be discussed like a case study with little details.
9. If there is a need to seek Jill's liability insurance company for consultation.
10. Counseling rules for confidentiality for groups, families, and couples vary. Jill will discuss this with you during your first session.
Confidentiality & Privacy Statement
Jill White-Huffman is a Licensed Professional Counselor #7825 and Certified Marriage & Family Therapist. As a counselor, she is committed to following all policies and procedures. Jill’s website is not intended to serve as a counseling session but is solely for discussing and educating about health-related topics. If an individual feels they are in danger or experiencing a crisis, they are instructed to call 911 immediately or go to the nearest hospital if able. The law protects the confidentiality of the client-therapist relationship, and information cannot be disclosed without written permission. Therefore, Jill takes confidentiality seriously and makes every effort to keep any information about her clients, potential clients, or website visitors confidential. Exceptions include: 1. Suspected child abuse or dependent adult or elder abuse, which Jill is legally required to report immediately; 2. If a client threatens serious bodily harm to another person(s), Jill must notify the police and inform the intended victim; 3. If a client intends to harm themselves, Jill will try to persuade them to cooperate for their safety. If they refuse, Jill will take further legally authorized measures to protect their safety. Jill provides different sections on her website for users to input their personal information, enabling her to respond appropriately to their needs, questions, and concerns. Jill is the primary owner and responsible for collecting this information. She will never sell, share, or rent this information unless legally required. When visitors access her website, the web server can only see their domain name, not their email address. However, email addresses sent to Jill are used for marketing purposes. To stop receiving these emails, simply unsubscribe by replying with the latest email and including "Remove" in the subject line, and Jill will remove you from the list. Due to her active participation in community events around Greensboro, she may occasionally send duplicate emails but can be notified if you wish to be removed. Jill also sends mail to various professionals, individuals, and organizations who might refer clients that could benefit from her services. She does not sell any of this information. If you receive such mailings and wish to stop, please contact her to request removal from the mailing list. This also applies to phone calls you prefer not to receive.
Certain Disclosures:
If you visit Jill White-Huffman’s website and disclose information that she is legally required or subpoenaed to report, or if she believes such action is necessary, confidentiality will be broken. If you have questions about when confidentiality is broken, please read Jill’s confidentiality policy, guidelines, and rules, including complying with the law and legal policies served by Jill or her affiliated parties. This protects Jill’s property, rights, websites, and associated parties. Jill does everything possible to ensure the safety of users who visit, email, communicate, or use her site. If there are other sites linked to Jill White-Huffman’s site, Jill is not responsible for the information or content from those websites. It is important to understand that visiting another website after viewing Jill’s site may put your personal information at risk. Jill is not responsible for the privacy practices of other websites linked from or to her site. By visiting Jill White-Huffman’s website, you consent to her collection of your personal information.
Jill may use “cookies” to track and record visitor information to ensure accuracy across screens and to keep information private and protected. She also uses other websites to further educate users on various topics. Jill is not responsible for the policies, privacy practices, or content of these sites. Clicking on these links may disclose your private information to those sites, releasing Jill from liability regarding your personal data. Jill employs current technology to safeguard her clients’ information and prevent loss, misuse, or alteration, and she updates her privacy policy as needed. If you have questions about Jill’s privacy policy or her website practices, please contact her at 336-855-1860.
Jill may use “cookies” to track and record visitor information to ensure accuracy across screens and to keep information private and protected. She also uses other websites to further educate users on various topics. Jill is not responsible for the policies, privacy practices, or content of these sites. Clicking on these links may disclose your private information to those sites, releasing Jill from liability regarding your personal data. Jill employs current technology to safeguard her clients’ information and prevent loss, misuse, or alteration, and she updates her privacy policy as needed. If you have questions about Jill’s privacy policy or her website practices, please contact her at 336-855-1860.
Jill White-Huffman's Private Practice Social Media Policy
I am providing this document to outline my policies related to social media use. Please read it to learn how I conduct myself on the Internet as a Licensed School Counselor, Licensed Professional Counselor, Marriage and Family Therapist, and Licensed Massage Bodywork Therapist, and what you can expect from me in various interactions online. If you have any questions about this document, I encourage you to contact me by phone at 336-855-1860 or by email at jwhite_huffman@yahoo.com. Please note that as the Internet evolves and new technology emerges, I recommend regularly checking for updates to this policy.
Friend Requests
I find it impossible to ignore friend or contact requests from the many social networking sites that exist today (Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.), especially since I participate in numerous events, TV programs, and other activities here in Greensboro. However, I am unable to answer questions sent through social media that may compromise your confidentiality or our privacy. Another reason I avoid answering questions is to prevent blurring the boundaries of our therapeutic relationship. If you have concerns about this, please bring them up when we meet so we can discuss them. I keep all my social media profiles professional, and most posts relate to health topics, community events, or other business promotions. Most of the information shared on these pages is also available on my website.
Following
My main concern is your privacy. You are free to use your own judgment when deciding whether to connect with me on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Google+, or any other social media platform. If there are aspects of your online life you'd like to share with me, please call me at 336-855-1860 or email me at jwhite_huffman@yahoo.com, leaving only a message to return your call and not sharing any details of your concerns.
Interacting
Please do not use social networking sites to contact me, especially in an emergency. These platforms are not secure, and I may not read these messages promptly. Communicating with me this way could compromise your confidentiality. It might also lead to these exchanges becoming part of your legal medical record, which will need to be documented and stored in your chart.
Use of Search Engines
It is NOT a common practice for me to search for clients on social media sites. However, during a crisis, I may need to do so if it becomes necessary to ensure your well-being.
Business Review Sites
You may find my counseling and private massage practice on websites or other online platforms that list businesses, and it is always your choice whether to provide testimonials, ratings, or endorsements. You will never be required to give feedback as a condition for receiving services from me. For confidentiality reasons, I will never engage in a client-therapist interactive manner in responses. Likewise, I strongly encourage you to take your own privacy as seriously as I take my commitment to confidentiality. No one will know you are a client unless you choose to disclose this information.
Email
I do not use email to answer or discuss therapy questions or concerns. I prefer to use email only for scheduling or changing appointments. You should also be aware that any emails I receive from you that are not related to appointment changes or confirmations will become part of your legal record.
Conclusion
Thank you for taking the time to read my information. If you have any questions or concerns about these policies and procedures, please feel free to call me at 336-855-1860 or email me at jwhite_huffman@yahoo.com.
Friend Requests
I find it impossible to ignore friend or contact requests from the many social networking sites that exist today (Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.), especially since I participate in numerous events, TV programs, and other activities here in Greensboro. However, I am unable to answer questions sent through social media that may compromise your confidentiality or our privacy. Another reason I avoid answering questions is to prevent blurring the boundaries of our therapeutic relationship. If you have concerns about this, please bring them up when we meet so we can discuss them. I keep all my social media profiles professional, and most posts relate to health topics, community events, or other business promotions. Most of the information shared on these pages is also available on my website.
Following
My main concern is your privacy. You are free to use your own judgment when deciding whether to connect with me on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Google+, or any other social media platform. If there are aspects of your online life you'd like to share with me, please call me at 336-855-1860 or email me at jwhite_huffman@yahoo.com, leaving only a message to return your call and not sharing any details of your concerns.
Interacting
Please do not use social networking sites to contact me, especially in an emergency. These platforms are not secure, and I may not read these messages promptly. Communicating with me this way could compromise your confidentiality. It might also lead to these exchanges becoming part of your legal medical record, which will need to be documented and stored in your chart.
Use of Search Engines
It is NOT a common practice for me to search for clients on social media sites. However, during a crisis, I may need to do so if it becomes necessary to ensure your well-being.
Business Review Sites
You may find my counseling and private massage practice on websites or other online platforms that list businesses, and it is always your choice whether to provide testimonials, ratings, or endorsements. You will never be required to give feedback as a condition for receiving services from me. For confidentiality reasons, I will never engage in a client-therapist interactive manner in responses. Likewise, I strongly encourage you to take your own privacy as seriously as I take my commitment to confidentiality. No one will know you are a client unless you choose to disclose this information.
I do not use email to answer or discuss therapy questions or concerns. I prefer to use email only for scheduling or changing appointments. You should also be aware that any emails I receive from you that are not related to appointment changes or confirmations will become part of your legal record.
Conclusion
Thank you for taking the time to read my information. If you have any questions or concerns about these policies and procedures, please feel free to call me at 336-855-1860 or email me at jwhite_huffman@yahoo.com.