Nobody wants to think that they are meat for next Saturday night's dinner party, or that those gales of laughter winging through town have anything to do with one. Of course not! That's why we here at Bill.com are always sushing people. Believe me, we've been there. Just look at this foot. (only kidding)

Anyway, no one would go to the trouble of getting a professional license unless there's a payoff. The L.C.S.W. that follows my name around translates as Licensed Certified Social Worker. (www.op.nysed.gov/opsearches.htm).

The ethics of my profession prevent me from revealing any knowledge I gain of you. My license makes the privacy of our communication a fact of law. That means a court cannot compel my testimony.

Also, toward this end, since the recent passage of the laws about sharing medical information, I have stopped keeping more than a bare minimum of records of any kind.

When I begin a new association I keep the notes from my intake interview and several subsequent ones, as well as other pertinent data, until I have a good understanding of the student and we're agreed on the general direction of our work. Once there's a fit, I get rid of all nonessential stuff.

Please consider the implications of this policy carefully. I will not create a written, ongoing, record of treatment. I will, however, always be willing to speak or make a written report to any appropriate health professional you ask me to. Your privacy, and my responsibility to protect it, is my only concern here.

Treating minor children is the same as far as keeping records. What's different is that while I respect the right of parents to know what's going on, I respect the right of the child to autonomy. I have yet to experience a situation where a parent felt left behind, or crucially uninformed about my work with their child. (Also, of course, the proof is in the pudding.)