Mattie Chein LCSW

Notice of Privacy Practices

Effective date: July 18, 2026

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

This notice is provided by Mattie Chein, LCSW, a solo therapy practice serving clients in California and New York. In this notice, “I” and “me” refer to Mattie Chein, LCSW, and “you” refers to you as a client. It explains how I may use and disclose your protected health information (“health information”), the rights you have over that information, and how to reach me with questions or concerns. I have written it in plain language because you deserve to understand exactly how your information is protected.

My commitment to your privacy

What you share in therapy is deeply personal, and protecting it is a core part of my work. I am required by federal law (HIPAA) to maintain the privacy of your health information, to give you this notice describing my legal duties and privacy practices, to follow the terms of the notice currently in effect, and to notify you if a breach ever compromises the privacy or security of your information. Beyond what the law requires, confidentiality is the foundation of therapy, and I treat it that way.

How I may use and disclose your health information

For the following routine purposes, I may use or disclose your health information without your written authorization. In every case, I share only the minimum necessary to accomplish the purpose.

  • Treatment. I use your health information to provide your care: to keep clinical records, plan our work together, and, with appropriate safeguards, coordinate with other professionals involved in your care.
  • Payment. I may use your health information to bill for services and collect payment, and, at your request, to prepare documentation you choose to submit for reimbursement.
  • Health care operations. I may use your health information to run the practice: for quality review, record keeping, professional consultation (with identifying details limited), and administrative work such as scheduling and secure record storage.

Uses and disclosures that require your written authorization

Some uses of health information are so sensitive that they never happen without your explicit written permission:

  • Psychotherapy notes. If I keep separate psychotherapy notes (my personal notes about our sessions, kept apart from your clinical record), almost every use or disclosure of them requires your written authorization. They receive extra protection under HIPAA.
  • Marketing. I will not use your health information for marketing purposes without your written authorization.
  • Sale of health information. I will never sell your health information. Any sale would require your written authorization, and it is not something this practice does.

Any other use or disclosure not described in this notice also requires your written authorization. If you give an authorization, you may revoke it in writing at any time, except to the extent I have already acted in reliance on it.

Disclosures permitted or required by law

In limited situations, the law permits or requires me to disclose health information without your authorization. These situations are narrow, and I disclose only what the law requires:

  • When required by law. If a federal or state law requires a disclosure, I must comply.
  • To prevent serious harm. If I believe there is a serious threat to your health or safety, or to the safety of another person, I may disclose information as required or permitted by law to help prevent that harm. Both California and New York have laws on a therapist’s duties in these situations, and I follow the law of the state that applies to your care.
  • Abuse or neglect. As a licensed clinical social worker, I am a mandated reporter. If I have reason to suspect abuse or neglect of a child, an elder, or a dependent adult, I am required by law to report it to the appropriate authorities.
  • Health oversight. I may disclose information to licensing boards and other health oversight agencies for activities authorized by law, such as audits and license reviews.
  • Legal proceedings. I may disclose information in response to a court order, or in response to a lawful subpoena or discovery request when the legal requirements for disclosure have been met. Where the law allows, I will tell you about the request so you have a chance to object.

California and New York each add protections beyond HIPAA for mental health records. Where state law is more protective of your information than HIPAA, I follow the stricter law.

Your rights over your health information

You have the following rights. To exercise any of them, contact me directly using the details at the end of this notice.

  • See and copy your record. You may ask to inspect and receive a copy of the health information I keep about you. In limited circumstances I may deny part of a request; if that happens, I will explain why and tell you about any right to have the denial reviewed.
  • Ask for a correction. If you believe information in your record is incorrect or incomplete, you may ask me to amend it. I may decline in certain cases, and if I do, I will explain my decision in writing and you may add a statement of disagreement to your record.
  • An accounting of disclosures. You may request a list of certain disclosures I have made of your health information, other than those made for treatment, payment, health care operations, and a few other exceptions the law sets out.
  • Request restrictions. You may ask me to limit how I use or disclose your health information. I am not required to agree to every request, but I will consider each one seriously. One restriction I must honor: if you pay for a service in full out of pocket, you may require that I not disclose information about that service to your health plan.
  • Confidential communications. You may ask me to contact you in a specific way or at a specific place, for example only at a certain phone number or email address. I will accommodate all reasonable requests, and you do not need to explain why.
  • Breach notification. If a breach of unsecured health information affects you, I am required to notify you.
  • A paper copy of this notice. You may request a paper copy at any time, even if you agreed to receive it electronically.
  • Complain without fear. If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may complain to me directly and to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights. I will never retaliate against you for filing a complaint.

Changes to this notice

I may update this notice if the law or my practices change. The updated notice will apply to all health information I maintain, will be posted on this website, and will be available in paper form on request. The effective date always appears at the top.

Questions, requests, and complaints

The privacy contact for this practice is me, Mattie Chein, LCSW. If anything in this notice is unclear, or you would like to exercise any of the rights above, reach out and I will walk you through it.

  • Email: Mattie@mattiecheinlcsw.com
  • Phone: 917-300-8419
  • Mail: Mattie Chein, LCSW, 447 Sutter St, San Francisco, CA 94108

To file a complaint with the federal government, contact the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights, at hhs.gov/ocr. Filing a complaint will never affect the care you receive from me.