Client Rights & Privacy

At Root & Bloom Counseling, your privacy, autonomy, and right to understand your care are important to us. This page provides general information about your rights, privacy, communication, telehealth services, records, crisis resources, and other important practice policies.

Please review the information below before beginning services. Additional information and required acknowledgments will be provided as part of the intake and informed-consent process.

Crisis & Emergency Resources

Root & Bloom Counseling provides outpatient counseling services and is not a crisis or emergency service. Messages, emails, contact forms, and scheduled appointments should not be used for urgent or emergency mental health concerns.

If you are experiencing an immediate safety concern or mental health emergency, please seek immediate assistance using the resources below.

IF YOU ARE IN IMMEDIATE DANGER

CALL 911 OR GO TO YOUR NEAREST EMERGENCY ROOM.

If you are experiencing a mental health or substance use emergency and your safety is at immediate risk, call 911.

24/7 Crisis Support

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

Call or text: 988

Free and confidential, 24/7 support for anyone experiencing emotional distress, a mental health crisis, or thoughts of suicide.

Website:988lifeline.org

Crisis Text Line

Text HOME to 741741

Free, 24/7 crisis support through text messaging.

Website:crisistextline.org

National Domestic Violence Hotline

Call: 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE)

Text: START to 88788

24/7 confidential support, information, safety planning, and resources for people experiencing domestic violence.

Website:thehotline.org

SAMHSA National Helpline

Call: 1-800-662-4357 (HELP)

Free and confidential information, treatment referrals, and support for individuals and families experiencing mental health and/or substance use concerns.

Available 24/7.

Website:samhsa.gov

Veterans Crisis Line

Call: 988, then press 1

Text: 838255

24/7 confidential crisis support for veterans, service members, National Guard and Reserve members, and their families.

Texas Resources

Texas 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

Call or text: 988

Texas residents can connect with trained crisis counselors 24/7 for mental health concerns, emotional distress, and crisis support.

Website:texas988.org

Texas 2-1-1

Call: 211

Texas 2-1-1 provides information and referrals to local mental health, substance use, healthcare, housing, food, and other community resources.

For mental health and substance use services, select Option 8.

Website:211texas.org

Texas Youth Helpline

Call or text: 1-800-989-6884

Free and confidential support for Texas youth and their families.

Please Remember

You do not have to wait until a situation becomes an emergency to ask for help.

If you are unsure which resource is appropriate, 988 can help connect you with crisis support and available resources.

If you are in immediate danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

Root & Bloom Counseling does not monitor this website, email, text messages, or contact forms continuously and cannot provide emergency or crisis response through these communication methods.

Communication & Contact

Root & Bloom Counseling offers communication through designated practice communication methods. Communication outside of scheduled sessions is intended primarily for scheduling, administrative matters, and brief non-clinical communication.

Please allow reasonable time for a response to routine messages. Email and text messaging should not be used for emergencies or urgent mental health concerns.

Because electronic communication may involve privacy and security risks, please use discretion when sharing sensitive or confidential information electronically.

Submitting a contact form, email, or other inquiry through this website does not establish a therapist-client relationship.

Client Rights & Access to Records

As a client with Root & Bloom Counseling, you have the right to:

  • Be treated with dignity, respect, and professionalism

  • Participate in decisions regarding your counseling

  • Ask questions about your treatment

  • Understand the purpose and general approach of counseling

  • Understand the limits of confidentiality

  • Request access to your health records as permitted by law

  • Ask questions about your privacy and how your information is handled

  • End counseling services, subject to appropriate clinical discussion and applicable policies

  • File a complaint or report concerns regarding professional conduct without fear of retaliation

As a client, you have rights regarding your mental health information and treatment records, subject to applicable federal and Texas laws.

You may request access to your health records and may request that your records be provided to you or, when appropriate, to another individual or healthcare provider.

To request your records:

  • Submit a written request by email to Seleste@rootandbloomcounselingtx.com.

  • Include your full name, date of birth, and specific records requested.

  • Provide documentation verifying legal authority, if requesting records on behalf of someone else (e.g., guardianship, power of attorney).

We will process requests in accordance with Texas law and applicable privacy regulations.

Certain information, including psychotherapy notes maintained separately from the medical record, may be subject to different access requirements under applicable law.

If you have questions about accessing your records or believe your privacy rights have been violated, please contact Root & Bloom Counseling.

This notice is provided in compliance with Texas Health and Safety Code § 181.105 / House Bill 4224 (effective September 1, 2025).


Good Faith Estimate

You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical care will cost.

Under the law, health care providers need to give patients who don’t have insurance or who are not using insurance an estimate of the bill for medical items and services.

  • You have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate for the total expected cost of any non-emergency items or services. This includes related costs like medical tests, prescription drugs, equipment, and hospital fees.

  • Make sure your health care provider gives you a Good Faith Estimate in writing at least 1 business day before your medical service or item. You can also ask your health care provider, and any other provider you choose, for a Good Faith Estimate before you schedule an item or service.

  • If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you can dispute the bill.

  • Make sure to save a copy or picture of your Good Faith Estimate. For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit www.cms.gov/nosurprises or call 800-985-3059.

Confidentiality & Its Limits

Your privacy is an important part of the counseling relationship. Information shared during counseling is generally treated as confidential and protected in accordance with applicable federal and Texas laws.

However, confidentiality has legal and ethical limits. Circumstances in which information may need to be disclosed can include situations involving serious and imminent safety concerns, suspected abuse or neglect when reporting is required by law, certain legal proceedings or court orders, and other circumstances permitted or required by law.

The specific limits of confidentiality will be reviewed with you as part of the informed-consent process.


Notice of Privacy Practices

Effective Date: August 26, 2026

Our Commitment to Your Privacy

Root & Bloom Counseling is committed to protecting the privacy of your health information. This Notice explains how your protected health information (PHI) may be used or disclosed and your rights regarding your information.

We are required by law to:

  • Protect the privacy of your health information.

  • Provide you with this notice describing our privacy practices.

  • Follow the terms of the notice currently in effect.

  • Accommodate reasonable requests for confidential communication.

How We May Use or Disclose Your Information:

Treatment: We may use and share your information as needed to provide, coordinate, and manage your mental health care.

Healthcare Operations: We may use your information for administrative activities necessary to operate our practice and maintain quality of care.

As Required by Law: We may disclose information when required by federal or Texas law.

Health and Safety: We may disclose information when necessary to prevent or lessen a serious and imminent threat to your health or the safety of others.

Legal Proceedings: We may disclose information when required by a valid court order, subpoena, or other lawful process.

Other Circumstances:

Your information may also be disclosed without your authorization when permitted or required by law, including certain situations involving:

  • Suspected abuse, neglect, or domestic violence

  • Public health activities

  • Health oversight activities

  • Law enforcement requests that meet applicable legal requirements

Duty to Warn: Texas law may require mental health professionals to take appropriate action when a client presents a serious and imminent threat of physical harm to an identifiable person or in certain situations involving imminent risk of suicide.

You have the right to:

  • Inspect and obtain a copy of your health information.

  • Request an amendment if you believe your information is incorrect or incomplete.

  • Request an accounting of certain disclosures of your health information.

  • Request restrictions on certain uses or disclosures of your information.

  • Request confidential communications by alternative methods or locations.

  • Receive a paper copy of this Notice of Privacy Practices upon request.

To request access to your records or exercise any of these rights, please contact Root & Bloom Counseling using the contact information provided on this website.

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with: 

Root & Bloom Counseling

Email: Seleste@rootandbloomcounselingtx.com

Or with:

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Office for Civil Rights

200 Independence Avenue, S.W. 

Washington, D.C. 20201 

Phone: 1-877-696-6775 

Website: www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/complaints

Root & Bloom Counseling will not retaliate against you for filing a privacy complaint.

Telehealth Privacy & Consent

Root & Bloom Counseling may provide counseling through secure telehealth technology when appropriate.

Telehealth services involve the use of electronic communication and technology and may carry certain risks, including interruptions, technical difficulties, or privacy limitations.

Clients participating in telehealth are encouraged to:

  • Participate from a private location whenever possible

  • Use a secure internet connection

  • Use headphones when appropriate

  • Avoid participating from public locations

  • Take reasonable steps to protect the privacy of counseling sessions

At the beginning of telehealth services, clients may be asked to provide their current physical location and emergency contact information so that appropriate safety procedures can be followed if an emergency occurs during a session.

Specific telehealth consent and procedures will be reviewed during the intake process.

Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council

Root & Bloom Counseling is committed to providing services in accordance with applicable Texas laws and professional standards.

Clients have the right to contact the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council (BHEC) regarding questions or complaints concerning the professional conduct of a licensed professional counselor.

Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council
333 Guadalupe Street, Tower 3, Suite 900
Austin, Texas 78701
Phone: (512) 305-7700

Additional information regarding licensing, rules, and the complaint process is available through the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council.

Website Disclaimer & Terms of Use

The information provided on this website is intended for general educational and informational purposes only. Website content is not intended to provide individualized mental health treatment, diagnosis, or medical advice.

Use of this website or submission of an inquiry does not establish a therapist-client relationship between you and Root & Bloom Counseling.

Information provided through this website should not be used as a substitute for professional mental health care or emergency services.

If you are experiencing an emergency or believe you are in immediate danger, please seek emergency assistance rather than contacting the practice through this website.

While reasonable efforts are made to provide accurate and current information, Root & Bloom Counseling does not guarantee that all website content will be complete, current, or applicable to every individual.

Questions About Your Rights or Privacy

If you have questions about your rights, privacy, records, communication, telehealth services, or any of the information provided on this page, please contact Root & Bloom Counseling before beginning services.

Additional policies and disclosures will be reviewed during the client intake and informed-consent process.

Root & Bloom Counseling
Rooted in healing. Growing with purpose.