Practice Policy
Legal & Documentation
What our care can and cannot provide for legal, employment, and disability purposes.
1. Our scope of care
Pura Vida Mind & Body provides psychiatric evaluation, medication management, and psychotherapy for clinical treatment only. We do not provide forensic psychiatric evaluations or any service intended for use in legal proceedings.
Forensic, disability, and fitness evaluations require in-person examination, collateral records and interviews, standardized testing, and an evaluator who is independent of the treatment relationship. Our services, which are currently delivered by telehealth, are not designed for these purposes.
2. Services we don't provide
- Custody evaluations, independent medical examinations (IMEs), and other forensic assessments
- Fitness-for-duty evaluations, including DOT, FAA, and other occupational clearances
- Expert witness services, legal opinions, or litigation support
- Voluntary participation in legal disputes, including custody, divorce, civil, or criminal matters
- Long-term disability and Social Security disability evaluations or opinions
- Pre-surgical psychological clearances
- Standardized-test or academic accommodation letters (we do not perform psychological testing)
3. FMLA, short-term disability & workplace accommodations
For established patients, we may complete clinical documentation supporting Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) requests, short-term disability (STD), jury-duty excusal, and reasonable workplace accommodations when clinically appropriate and supported by your treatment history. Completion is at the provider's clinical discretion and is not guaranteed.
- An established patient has completed at least 2 visits with us.
- A visit may be required before forms are completed.
- Please allow 7–10 business days.
- We can only certify periods when you were in active care with us.
- A form completion fee of $25–$75 per form, based on the time required, applies.
4. Long-term disability & Social Security disability
We do not perform long-term disability (LTD) evaluations, Social Security (SSDI/SSI) assessments, disability eligibility determinations, or functional capacity evaluations. We do not complete LTD forms, Social Security medical source statements, or give opinions on disability eligibility.
With your written authorization, or as otherwise permitted or required by law, we can release your clinical records to support an independent determination. Some insurers may delay or deny a claim without a completed form from the treating provider, so please plan for that before you file.
5. Records requests, subpoenas & court orders
Clinical records are kept for treatment and are not written as forensic reports. We release records only with your written authorization, a court order, or a subpoena that meets Arizona legal requirements. When the law permits, we will tell you before releasing records under a subpoena.
Psychotherapy notes have extra protection and are not released without separate, specific authorization unless the law requires it. We do not discuss clinical opinions with attorneys, employers, or insurers.
6. If our provider is required to testify
If our provider is legally compelled to testify, she appears only as a treating provider (fact witness), not as an expert. Time for depositions, testimony, preparation, and travel is billed at $350 per hour, and a retainer of $500 may be required. These fees are not covered by insurance.
7. When documentation becomes the focus of care
If it becomes clear that care is being sought mainly to obtain legal or disability documentation, we may refer you to a more appropriate provider.
8. Accuracy of records
We do not change or prepare records for legal purposes. You keep your right under HIPAA to request an amendment to your record.
9. Legal obligations
This policy does not override our legal obligations, including valid court orders, subpoenas, mandated reporting, and other disclosures required by law.