Notice of Privacy Practices

Effective date: November 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.

Privacy Officer: Naomi Pickholtz, PhD · (732) 701-7604 · info@centralnjpsych.com

Our Duties

Central NJ Psychological Services (“we”) is required by law to keep your protected health information private, to give you this notice, to follow it, and to tell you if a breach affects your information. Protected health information is information that identifies you and relates to your health or care, including the fact that you receive services here.

This notice covers all of our clinicians and staff, who may share your information with one another to provide and manage your care. Outside companies that help us operate (for example, email and records systems) must sign agreements to protect your information. When New Jersey law gives your information more protection than federal law, we follow New Jersey law.

How We Use and Share Your Information

We may use and share your information without your written permission for:

• Treatment. For example, clinicians in our practice may consult with one another about your care. We ask for your permission before sharing with providers outside the practice, except in an emergency.
• Payment. For example, sending claims with your diagnosis and dates of service to your insurer, or giving you statements for reimbursement.
• Health care operations. For example, quality review, supervision, training, billing and administration.
• People involved in your care. If you agree or do not object, we may share information with family or others involved in your care or payment. In an emergency, or if you cannot respond, we may share what is needed if we believe it is in your best interest.

Sharing the Law Allows or Requires

Mental health information has strong protection under New Jersey law. We may share it without your permission only when the law requires or allows it, including:

• Abuse or neglect. Reporting suspected abuse or neglect of a child, an older adult or a vulnerable adult.
• Serious threat to health or safety. When needed to prevent a serious and imminent threat to you or someone else.
• Legal proceedings. Communications with a psychologist are privileged under New Jersey law and are not released in court proceedings without your permission or a court order.
• Health oversight. To licensing boards and other agencies authorized by law, and to defend ourselves against a complaint or lawsuit you bring.
• Other legal requirements. When required by law; for public health; to law enforcement when the law requires it; to coroners, medical examiners and organ donation organizations; for approved research with privacy safeguards; for military, national security or correctional purposes when the law requires it; and for workers’ compensation.
• Substance use disorder records. If we receive records protected by federal rules on substance use disorder treatment (42 CFR Part 2), we will not use or share them in proceedings against you without your written consent or a court order that meets those rules.

Uses That Need Your Written Permission

• Psychotherapy notes (notes a clinician keeps separately about the content of sessions), except where the law requires.
• HIV/AIDS and substance use treatment information, which have extra legal protection.
• Marketing or sale of your information. We do not sell your information.
• Any other use not described in this notice. You may cancel your permission in writing at any time, except for what we have already shared.

Your Rights

• Access: see or get a paper or electronic copy of your records.
• Amendment: ask us to correct your records.
• Restrictions: ask us to limit how we use or share your information. We are not always required to agree, but we must agree not to tell your health plan about services you paid for in full yourself.
• Confidential communications: ask us to contact you in a specific way (for example, only on your mobile phone) or at a different address.
• List of disclosures: ask for a list of certain times we shared your information.
• Someone to act for you: a parent of a minor, a legal guardian or another legal representative may use these rights for you, as the law allows.
• Copy of this notice: get a paper copy at any time.

To use any of these rights, contact our Privacy Officer.

Complaints

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may complain to our Privacy Officer or to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights (www.hhs.gov/ocr/complaints). We will not retaliate against you for complaining.

Changes to This Notice

We may change this notice, and changes will apply to all information we hold. The current notice is always available from us and at centralnjpsych.com.