In counseling and mental health centers, it’s not only about company secrets and client information. Appointments, records, and contents of counseling sessions are all sensitive information protected by federal and state laws and regulations.
Confidentiality is an essential part of many industries. Good workspace acoustics help secure the privacy and confidentiality of your clients and employees.
For some people going through difficult times, problem sharing can take a lot of courage to do. And once they open up to someone, they expect that what they say remains confidential. People need a place where they can feel safe and comfortable in sharing sensitive information.
Groups like churches, government-run facilities, and schools offer counseling services for those in need of help. They offer places for therapy sessions, reflection, meditation, and contemplation.
Providing an environment that protects clients’ privacy and information confidentiality is a must. Good acoustics in counseling and psychiatry/therapy offices help secure privacy and confidentiality.
How Poor Acoustics Put Privacy and Confidentiality at Risk
Offices separated by a single wall with drop ceiling tiles are common in modern construction, including counseling and mental health centers. This is good from a construction standpoint, but when it comes to room acoustics this only means trouble.
Sound travels much easier through standard drop ceiling tiles, reflecting back off the roof deck and down to the adjacent room. Colleagues or clients can overhear counseling sessions from neighboring rooms.
Sound and confidential conversations can also pass through or under gaps in office doors and windows. Sometimes, overwrought clients can be loud, and therefore overheard from the halls or other rooms where other counseling sessions take place.
These issues are the reason why some people are skeptical about seeking help from counseling and psychiatry/therapy offices.
Acoustic Management in Counseling and Mental Health Centers
Psychologists and counselors understand the importance of confidentiality. Laws protect clients’ privacy.
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) protects individuals’ medical records and personal health information, including psychotherapy and mental health information.
Ensure privacy and confidentiality in your counseling or mental health center. Avoid HIPAA violations without having to reconstruct your whole office. The ABCs of speech privacy — Absorb, Block and Cover — reduce the privacy and confidentiality concerns in your office.
Flexible acoustic panels help absorb sensitive conversations before they can travel to neighboring rooms, colleagues or visiting clients. These decorative fibrous materials can be installed in office walls and ceilings to reduce visual and acoustic noise.
Commercial sound masking systems cover the sound spectrum to make human speech less intelligible. Unobtrusive speakers are installed within the ceiling tiles and emit soft, comfortable low-level background hum that effectively masks sound and conversations.
Together, VoiceArrest™ sound masking systems and EcoPrivacy™ acoustic panels offer the most cost-effective solution to ensure speech privacy and confidentiality.
With good room acoustics and speech privacy, your counseling or mental health center can be a place where people feel safe and comfortable about opening up and seeking help.
Find out more about the importance of privacy and acoustic comfort. Download our Sound Diagnosis whitepaper.
