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Client Records

At Crossroads to Pathways Counseling, we are committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of all client records while adhering to the applicable legal and ethical guidelines. Below is our policy regarding the access and release of client records, with specific guidance for parents or guardians requesting records for minors.

Client Records Access

  • Adult Clients: Clients have the right to request access to their clinical records. We encourage scheduling a consultation to review the records with your counselor, as this can provide clarity and context for the content. Copies of records or summaries will be provided upon request, subject to applicable administrative fees.

  • Minors' Records: In Alabama, minors aged 14 and older have the legal right to consent to their own mental health services (Code of Alabama § 22-8-4). For these minors, their records are considered confidential. Parents or guardians may only access these records with the minor’s consent unless required by law or a court order. For minors under 14, parents or guardians generally have the right to access their child’s records unless restricted by court order or other legal exceptions.

  • Records will require a 72 hour notice before release and will require a paid fee of $50 per 100 pages per client request. Records will be in a sealed envelope and the requestor will be notified of when to pick-up records. Medical records will not be mailed and can only be hand delivered or through secure fax. Records are not allowed to be emailed for any reason. These fees must be paid before records are released, if these records are subpoenaed by a court, the guardian requesting the documentation will be billed and if payment is not collected, client's payment method on file will be charged the record release fee.  

  • If you have a balance on your account, this balance must be paid in full before you can initiate a record's request. 

Encouraging Collaboration Without Breaking Confidentiality

We understand that parents and guardians may wish to stay informed about their child’s therapeutic progress. To foster trust and collaboration, we recommend the following alternatives to requesting detailed records:

  1. Regular Communication: Speak directly with your child’s counselor for general updates on progress and treatment goals.

  2. Family Therapy Sessions: Participate in family sessions to gain deeper insights and strengthen family relationships while supporting your child’s therapeutic journey.

  3. Request a records summary free of charge which will include a summary of client's progress, diagnosis and last therapy session from the counselor.

  4. Please read our Informed Consent for detailed information regarding access to client records. 

Breaking confidentiality by requesting access to detailed records can undermine trust and potentially disrupt the counseling process. In some cases, this may lead a minor to prematurely end therapy, hindering their progress. Crossroads to Pathways Counseling reserves the right to deny client record requests if obtaining records may cause harm to the client in any way. 

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