Notice of Privacy Practices

Effective date: August 9, 2026  |  Covered entity: Cognitive Edge LLC, d/b/a Cognitive Edge Counseling ("we," "us," or "the Practice").

We are required by law to maintain the privacy of your protected health information (PHI), to provide you with this Notice of our legal duties and privacy practices with respect to your PHI, to notify you following a breach of unsecured PHI, and to follow the terms of the Notice currently in effect. This Notice applies to all records of your care created or maintained by the Practice.

How we may use and disclose your health information

The following describe the ways we may use and disclose your PHI. Not every use or disclosure is listed, but all permitted uses fall within one of these categories.

• Treatment. We may use your PHI to provide, coordinate, or manage your counseling care, including consultation with, or referral to, other providers involved in your care.
• Payment. If you choose to use insurance, we may use and disclose your PHI to obtain payment, verify coverage, or provide required information to your health plan. The Practice is private-pay first; if you pay out of pocket in full for a service, you may request that we not disclose that information to your health plan.
• Health care operations. We may use your PHI for internal operations such as quality review, licensing, and business management.
• Appointment reminders and communications. We may contact you by phone, text, email, or mail to remind you of appointments or to discuss your care, using the contact methods and preferences you provide.

Uses and disclosures that require your written authorization

Most uses and disclosures of psychotherapy notes, uses and disclosures of PHI for marketing, and any sale of PHI require your written authorization. Any other use or disclosure not described in this Notice will be made only with your written authorization, which you may revoke in writing at any time (except to the extent we have already acted in reliance on it).

Uses and disclosures permitted or required without your authorization

We may use or disclose your PHI without your authorization in limited situations, including: when required by law; for public health activities; to report suspected abuse, neglect, or domestic violence as required by law; for health oversight activities; in response to a court order, subpoena, or other lawful process; to avert a serious and imminent threat to the health or safety of you or others; for workers' compensation as authorized by law; to law enforcement as permitted by law; and to coroners, medical examiners, or funeral directors as permitted by law.

Special protections under Michigan law

Mental health records and certain categories of information (including psychotherapy records, and records relating to substance use disorder, HIV/AIDS status, and genetic information) may receive greater protection under Michigan law and other federal law. Where state or other law is more protective of your information than HIPAA, we will follow the more protective law.

Your rights regarding your health information

• Access and copies. You have the right to inspect and obtain a copy of your PHI, in the form and format you request if readily producible, subject to limited exceptions.
• Amendment. You have the right to request that we amend PHI you believe is incorrect or incomplete.
• Accounting of disclosures. You have the right to request a list of certain disclosures we have made of your PHI.
• Restrictions. You have the right to request restrictions on certain uses and disclosures. We are not required to agree, except that we must agree to a request not to disclose PHI to a health plan for a service you paid for in full out of pocket.
• Confidential communications. You have the right to request that we communicate with you by alternative means or at an alternative location.
• Paper copy. You have the right to a paper copy of this Notice, even if you agreed to receive it electronically.
• Breach notification. You have the right to be notified in the event of a breach of your unsecured PHI.

Website and electronic communications

This website is for general information and appointment inquiries only. Contact forms, email, and text messages are not secure or encrypted methods of communication and should not be used to send protected health information or sensitive clinical details. Submitting an inquiry through this website does not create a counselor-client relationship. For crisis or emergency needs, call 911, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), or contact the Veterans Crisis Line by dialing 988 then pressing 1, or texting 838255.

Our duties

We are required to maintain the privacy of your PHI, provide this Notice of our duties and privacy practices, follow the terms of the Notice currently in effect, and notify you if a breach of your unsecured PHI occurs. We reserve the right to change this Notice and to make the revised Notice effective for PHI we already have as well as any we receive in the future. The current Notice will be posted on this website and available at our office.

How to file a complaint

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with the Practice by contacting our Privacy Officer (below) or with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights. You will not be penalized or retaliated against for filing a complaint.

Contact / Privacy Officer

Cognitive Edge Counseling
Dan Klaasse, M.S., LLPC — Privacy Officer
524 Liberty Street, Alma, MI 48801
(989) 506-1172
DanielKlaasse@gmail.com