“I Know Someone at Your Practice—Can I Still Be Seen?”

How We Prioritize Your Privacy, Comfort, and Ethical Care

At our practice, we understand that mental health care is deeply personal—and so are the relationships that bring people through our doors. Sometimes, a potential client may reach out and share something like:

“I really want to be seen at your practice, but I know one of your clinicians personally. Is that a conflict of interest?”

This is a valid and important question, and we want to reassure you that your privacy, safety, and well-being are always our top priority. Here’s how we handle these situations:

✅ Your Chart is Private—Always

Each clinician at our practice has access only to the charts of clients they directly treat. This means if you are not working with a particular clinician, they will not have access to your records—no notes, no appointment information, nothing.

We use secure, HIPAA-compliant systems that allow us to set strict permissions. So even if you know someone personally at our practice, rest assured they won’t be able to see or interact with your chart in any way.

✅ We Proactively Manage Conflicts of Interest

When a clinician becomes aware of a potential dual relationship—whether they know you socially, professionally, or through family—we take it seriously and take clear steps to prevent any conflicts of interest.

Here’s what that looks like:

• The clinician you know will not be assigned to your care.
• They are removed from your case consultation team, meaning they will not discuss your case with anyone or be involved in any peer support or supervision regarding your treatment.
• If needed, we’ll help match you with a clinician who has no overlapping connections, to ensure your comfort and confidentiality.

✅ You’re Safe to Reach Out

We want you to feel empowered to seek help, even if you know someone on our team. You will never be penalized, judged, or turned away because of that connection. In fact, we’re glad you reached out and want to make sure you receive care that feels safe and supportive.

✅ We’re Here to Talk It Through

If you’re unsure whether seeing someone at our practice is the right fit due to a personal connection, we welcome you to reach out and talk it through with our intake team. We’ll walk you through your options and help you make an informed, comfortable choice.

Seeking care is courageous. And part of our job is making sure the care you receive is protected, private, and free from any unnecessary stress or awkwardness. We’ve built our systems and policies with that in mind—so that your healing can stay the priority.

If you have questions or would like to explore working with us, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re here, and we’re happy to help.

Have a questions about this? I would love to help. Reach out to me – Rachael@middlepathmo.com