Consent for Telehealth

What Telehealth Is

Telehealth is the use of secure electronic communication, including live two-way audio and video, to deliver mental health services when the client and clinician are not in the same physical location. It can also include secure messaging, exchange of clinical materials, and store-and-forward communication when clinically appropriate. Information shared during telehealth may be used for assessment, treatment, follow-up, education, and care coordination.

How Sessions Are Delivered

Telehealth sessions at AtReef Therapy use SimplePractice Telehealth, a HIPAA-compliant, encrypted video platform. For phone-based contact, secure platforms such as Dialpad or carrier voice services may be used. While reasonable safeguards are in place, no electronic system can guarantee zero risk.

You are responsible for:

• Choosing a private and secure location for sessions

• Using a reliable internet connection when possible

• Not sharing your telehealth link with anyone not authorized to attend

• Not recording sessions, and not allowing others to observe, without explicit written permission

Sessions are not recorded by the provider unless you have signed a separate written consent. When recording is used as part of specialized couples work (for example, the Gottman Method), a separate recording consent describes purpose, storage, and deletion.

Benefits

Telehealth can offer:

• Increased access to care from home or another private location

• Continuity of care when travel or scheduling makes in-person sessions impractical

• Reduced commute time and cost

Risks and Limitations

Telehealth also has limits, including:

• Technology issues such as disconnection, video lag, or poor audio

• Privacy risks despite encryption (for example, persons in your home or environment overhearing)

• Limited ability to observe non-verbal communication compared to in-person sessions

• Clinical situations in which telehealth may not be appropriate

Either you or your clinician may decide to pause, modify, or transition out of telehealth at any time. Telehealth may not be appropriate when a client is actively suicidal, actively homicidal, experiencing severe psychotic symptoms, or in a crisis that cannot be resolved remotely, in which case a higher level of care may be recommended.

Emergencies and Crisis Limits

Telehealth is not emergency care. If you are in immediate danger, please call 911, go to your nearest emergency room, or contact the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988 in the United States.

At the start of each telehealth session, you will be asked to confirm your current physical location so emergency services can be contacted if needed. If a serious clinical concern arises that cannot be addressed remotely, a higher level of care may be recommended, and referrals will be provided when feasible.

Technology Failure

If the connection fails during a session, the clinician will attempt to reconnect by ending and restarting the session. If reconnection is not possible within ten (10) minutes, the clinician will contact you by phone or message to reschedule, when appropriate.

Location and Licensure

Telehealth rules vary by jurisdiction. To receive telehealth services, you must be physically located in a state where Dr. Ehsan Adib Shabahang is licensed or registered to provide telehealth, currently:

• Massachusetts (LMHC)

• North Carolina (LCMHC)

• Michigan (LPC)

• Texas (LPC)

• Florida (out-of-state telehealth, TLHT)

• South Carolina (LPC)

You will be asked to confirm your physical location at the start of each session. If you are temporarily in a jurisdiction outside of these, the session may need to be rescheduled or modified.

AI-Assisted Documentation (Separate Consent)

To support accurate documentation, AtReef Therapy may use HIPAA-compliant AI documentation tools, including SimplePractice AI and Heidi Health. These tools are used only with your separate written consent and only for documentation and administrative support. You may decline AI-assisted documentation and still receive telehealth services. See the Use of AI-Assisted Tools page for more detail.

Email and Text (Administrative Use)

Email and text are convenient but not fully secure. If you choose to communicate by email or text, please use these channels only for scheduling, appointment reminders, and brief administrative matters. Do not use email or text for emergencies or urgent clinical needs. Standard wireless carrier charges may apply.

Your Rights

You retain the same rights and protections in telehealth as in in-person care, including:

• The right to ask questions and have them answered in a language you understand

• The right to confidentiality, with the same legal exceptions that apply to in-person therapy

• The right to withhold or withdraw consent for telehealth at any time, without affecting your right to future care

Acknowledgment

By engaging in telehealth services with AtReef Therapy PLLC, you confirm that you have read and understood the elements of this consent, have had the opportunity to ask questions, and agree to participate in telehealth services under the terms described.

The complete and binding Telehealth Consent, with all clauses required for clinical care, is provided at intake through SimplePractice. Clients sign that document before beginning telehealth services.