Notices & Disclaimers

  • If you’re considering suicide or feel that you may be a danger to yourself or others, you should immediately call 911, 988 or go to the nearest emergency room. Never delay seeking emergency care by contacting me first. I cannot provide it, and my inboxes are not monitored 24/7.

  • You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” (GFE) explaining how much your health care will cost.

    Health care providers must give patients without certain insurance, or who aren’t using insurance, an estimate of expected charges for any non-emergency health care item or service.

    • If you schedule at least 3 business days in advance, you should receive a GFE in writing within 1 business day after scheduling.

    • If you schedule at least 10 business days in advance, you should receive a GFE in writing within 3 business days after scheduling.

    • You can also ask for a GFE before you schedule an item or service. If you do, you should receive a GFE in writing within 3 business days after you ask.

    If you receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your GFE, you can dispute it. Make sure to save a copy or picture of your GFE and the bill.

    For questions or more information about your right to a Good Faith Estimate, visit https://www.cms.gov/medical-bill-rights, email FederalPPDRQuestions@cms.hhs.gov, or call  800-985-3059.

  • The information on this site is for educational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional advice or a therapeutic relationship. Any use of this website or the information contained is at your own risk. I am not be responsible for the consequences of your decision to utilize the information. Consult your healthcare provider before starting any new treatment or with questions you have about a health condition.

    NON AFFILIATED CONTENT.

    Any and all hypertext links and (or) general references to other websites, collectively referred to as “NON-AFFILIATED CONTENT” are provided for your convenience only. Dr. Crystimaria Kotsiopoulos provides absolutely no guarantees to their accuracy, relevance, timeliness, legal compliance, or applicability to the specifics of your situation.

    Any references or inclusion of non-affiliated content does not reflect an endorsement or partnership with any organization, individual, concept, or opinion therein referenced.

  • Introduction 

    This policy outlines how personal information is handled by this website, crystipsyd.com, which is owned and operated by Crystimaria Kotsiopoulos, DBA Crysti Kotsiopoulos, PsyD. By visiting this website, you are accepting the practices described in this policy.

    1. Data Collected by the Website (Squarespace)

    This website is hosted on the Squarespace platform. Squarespace automatically collects limited visitor data to run the site and learn about site traffic. 

    • Usage Data (Analytics): Like most websites, this site collects anonymous data to understand how visitors use the site. This may include: the pages you visited, the time and date of your visit, and the general location (city/state) of your internet connection. This information is used solely to analyze website performance and is kept confidential. 

    • Cookies: This site uses necessary cookies to ensure the website functions properly. We may also use analytics cookies (through Squarespace) to track site usage. You can typically manage your cookie preferences through your web browser. 

    • No Direct Personal Collection: This website does not collect personal data such as names, phone numbers, or email addresses directly from visitors through an integrated contact form or any sign-up feature. 

    2. Clinical Data and Communication 

    All clinical and personal health information (PHI) is handled exclusively through secure, HIPAA-compliant methods. 

    • Contact/Appointment Request/Patient Portal Links: When you click a button or link to complete a contact form, request a consultation, or access the patient portal, you are directed to a third-party, HIPAA-compliant client portal or contact form (SimplePractice) and your information goes directly into the client portal. This portal has its own separate, rigorous security and privacy standards. 

    • Confidential Communication: To ensure your confidentiality, we limit direct electronic communication. We request that you do not use email (crystik@crystipsyd.com) to share personal health information or clinical content. 

    • Notice of Privacy Practices (NPP): Your complete rights regarding your Protected Health Information (PHI) and the legal obligations of the psychologist are detailed in the Notice of Privacy Practices provided during your intake process in the SimplePractice client portal and on crystipsyd.com website itself in the Notices section. 

    3. External Links This website may contain links to external sites. We are not responsible for the content or privacy practices of these external sites. 

    4. Updates This policy may be updated periodically to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. The most recent version will always be posted here.

    Last updated: October 5, 2025

  • Notice of Privacy Practices

    Last updated: 09/10/2025

    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. 

    I am required by law to maintain the privacy and security of your protected health information (“PHI”) and to provide you with this Notice of Privacy Practices (“Notice”). I must abide by the terms of this Notice, and I must notify you if a breach of your unsecured PHI occurs. I can change the terms of this Notice, and such changes will apply to all information I have about you. The new Notice will be available upon request, in my office, and on my website (www.crystipsyd.com)

    Except for the specific purposes set forth below, I will use and disclose your PHI only with your written authorization (“Authorization”). It is your right to revoke such Authorization at any time by giving me written notice of your revocation. 

    Uses (Inside Practice) and Disclosures (Outside Practice) Relating to Treatment, Payment, or Health Care Operations Do Not Require Your Written Consent. I can use and disclose your PHI without your Authorization for the following reasons:

    1. For your treatment. I can use and disclose your PHI to treat you, which may include disclosing your PHI to another health care professional. For example, if you are being treated by a physician or a psychiatrist, I can disclose your PHI to him or her to help coordinate your care, although my preference is for you to give me an Authorization to do so. 

    2. To obtain payment for your treatment. I can use and disclose your PHI to bill and collect payment for the treatment and services provided by me to you. For example, I might send your PHI to your insurance company to get paid for the health care services that I have provided to you, although my preference is for you to give me an Authorization to do so. 

    3. For health care operations. I can use and disclose your PHI for purposes of conducting health care operations pertaining to my practice, including contacting you when necessary. For example, I may need to disclose your PHI to my attorney to obtain advice about complying with applicable laws.  

    Certain Uses and Disclosures Require Your Authorization. 

    1. Psychotherapy Notes. I do not keep “psychotherapy notes” as that term is defined in 45 CFR § 164.501; rather, I keep a record of your treatment and you may request a copy of such record at any time, or you may request that I prepare a summary of your treatment. There may be reasonable, cost-based fees involved with copying the record or preparing the summary. 

    2. Marketing Purposes.  As a psychotherapist, I will not use or disclose your PHI for marketing purposes. 

    3. Sale of PHI. As a psychotherapist, I will not sell your PHI in the regular course of my business.

    Certain Uses and Disclosures Do Not Require Your Authorization. Subject to certain limitations mandated by law, I can use and disclose your PHI without your Authorization for the following reasons:

    1. When disclosure is required by state or federal law, and the use or disclosure complies with and is limited to the relevant requirements of such law.  

    2. For public health activities, including reporting suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a child, elder, or vulnerable adult, and for preventing or reducing a serious threat to anyone’s health or safety. 

    3. For health oversight activities, including audits and investigations.  

    4. For judicial and administrative proceedings, including responding to a court or administrative order, although my preference is to obtain an Authorization from you before doing so. 

    5. For law enforcement purposes, including reporting crimes occurring on my premises.  

    6. To coroners or medical examiners, when such individuals are performing duties authorized by law.

    7. For research purposes, including studying and comparing the mental health of patients who received one form of therapy versus those who received another form of therapy for the same condition. 

    8. Specialized government functions, including, ensuring the proper execution of military missions; protecting the President of the United States; conducting intelligence or counter-intelligence operations; or, helping to ensure the safety of those working within or housed in correctional institutions.     

    9. For workers' compensation purposes. Although my preference is to obtain an Authorization from you, I may provide your PHI in order to comply with workers' compensation laws. 

    10. Appointment reminders and health related benefits or services. I may use and disclose your PHI to contact you to remind you that you have an appointment with me. I may also use and disclose your PHI to tell you about treatment alternatives, or other health care services or benefits that I offer. 

    Certain Uses and Disclosures Require You to Have the Opportunity to Object.

    1. Disclosures to family, friends, or others. I may provide your PHI to a family member, friend, or other person that you indicate is involved in your care or the payment for your health care, unless you object in whole or in part. The opportunity to consent may be obtained retroactively in emergency situations. 

    YOUR RIGHTS YOUR REGARDING YOUR PHIYou have the following rights with respect to your PHI:

    1. The Right to Request Limits on Uses and Disclosures of Your PHI. You have the right to ask me not to use or disclose certain PHI for treatment, payment, or health care operations purposes. I am not required to agree to your request, and I may say “no” if I believe it would affect your health care.

    2. The Right to Request Restrictions for Out-of-Pocket Expenses Paid for In Full. You have the right to request restrictions on disclosures of your PHI to health plans for payment or health care operations purposes if the PHI pertains solely to a health care item or a health care service that you have paid for out-of-pocket in full. 

    3. The Right to Choose How I Send PHI to You. You have the right to ask me to contact you in a specific way (for example, home or office phone) or to send mail to a different address, and I will agree to all reasonable requests.

    4. The Right to See and Get Copies of Your PHI. Other than “psychotherapy notes,” you have the right to get an electronic or paper copy of your medical record and other information that I have about you. 
      I will provide you with a copy of your record, or a summary of it, if you agree to receive a summary, within 30 days of receiving your written request, and I may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee for doing so.

    5. The Right to Get a List of the Disclosures I Have Made.
      You have the right to request a list of instances in which I have disclosed your PHI for purposes other than treatment, payment, or health care operations, or for which you provided me with an Authorization. I will respond to your request for an accounting of disclosures within 60 days of receiving your request. The list I will give you will include disclosures made in the last six years unless you request a shorter time. I will provide the list to you at no charge, but if you make more than one request in the same year, I will charge you a reasonable cost-based fee for each additional request.

    6. The Right to Correct or Update Your PHI. If you believe that there is a mistake in your PHI, or that a piece of important information is missing from your PHI, you have the right to request that I correct the existing information or add the missing information. I may say “no” to your request, but I will tell you why in writing within 60 days of receiving your request.

    7. The Right to Get a Paper or Electronic Copy of this Notice. You have the right get a paper copy of this Notice, and you have the right to get a copy of this notice by e-mail. And, even if you have agreed to receive this Notice via e-mail, you also have the right to request a paper copy of it.

    HOW TO COMPLAIN ABOUT MY PRIVACY PRACTICES
    If you think I may have violated your privacy rights, you may file a complaint with me, as the Privacy Officer for my practice. My contact information is: 

    crystik@crystipsyd.com 

    (781) 790-4497

    You can also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights by:

    1. Sending a letter to 200 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20201; 

    2. Calling 1-877-696-6775; or,

    3. Visiting www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/complaints.

    I will not retaliate against you if you file a complaint about my privacy practices.

    EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS NOTICE
    This notice went into effect on 09/10/2025

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