Privacy Policy | SafeTherapy

Overview

At SafeTherapy, your privacy and confidentiality are of utmost importance. This Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, store, and protect your personal information when you visit our website, contact us, or engage in therapy services. We are committed to complying with all applicable privacy laws and ethical guidelines governing mental health professionals.

Information We Collect

Information You Provide Directly

When you interact with SafeTherapy, you may provide us with certain personal information, including:

Contact Information: Name, email address, phone number, and mailing address when you fill out our contact form, schedule an appointment, or communicate with us.
Inquiry Information: Details about your reason for seeking therapy, preferences for session types (online or in-person), availability, and any other information you choose to share in initial communications.
Clinical Information: If you become a client, we collect detailed information about your mental health, treatment goals, session notes, and other information necessary for providing effective therapy. This information is governed by strict confidentiality rules (see "Therapy Confidentiality" below).
Billing Information: Payment details such as credit card information, insurance information, or billing address when you pay for services.

Information We Collect Automatically

When you visit our website, we may automatically collect certain technical information, including:

Usage Data: Information about how you use our website, such as pages visited, time spent on pages, links clicked, and navigation paths.
Device Information: Your IP address, browser type, operating system, and device identifiers.
Cookies: Small text files stored on your device that help us improve website functionality and user experience. You can control cookie settings through your browser preferences.

How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

To Provide Services: To respond to inquiries, schedule appointments, deliver therapy services, and communicate with you about your care.
To Improve Our Services: To understand how visitors use our website and to make improvements to content, design, and user experience.
To Process Payments: To handle billing, payment processing, and insurance claims.
To Comply with Legal Obligations: To meet legal, regulatory, or ethical requirements, including maintaining clinical records as required by law.
To Protect Rights and Safety: To protect the rights, safety, and security of SafeTherapy, our clients, and the public.

Therapy Confidentiality

Confidentiality is a cornerstone of the therapeutic relationship. All information shared during therapy sessions, including the fact that you are a client, is confidential and protected under federal and state laws (including HIPAA in the United States) and professional ethical codes.

We Do Not Share Your Therapy Information Except:

With Your Written Consent: We may share information with other healthcare providers, insurance companies, or third parties only with your explicit written permission.
When Required by Law: We may be legally required to disclose information in certain circumstances, such as when there is a court order.
To Prevent Serious Harm: If there is a serious and imminent threat to your safety or the safety of another person, or if there is suspected abuse or neglect of a child, elderly person, or dependent adult, we may be required to break confidentiality to protect safety.
For Billing and Insurance: If you use insurance, we may share limited information (such as diagnosis and treatment dates) with your insurance company for billing and reimbursement purposes.

Emily Parker will discuss confidentiality in detail during your first session and will answer any questions you have about when and how information might be shared.

How We Protect Your Information

We implement reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect your personal and clinical information from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure. These measures include:

Secure, password-protected electronic health record (EHR) systems that comply with HIPAA requirements
Encrypted communication for online therapy sessions (via HIPAA-compliant video platforms)
Secure storage of physical records in locked cabinets
Limited access to personal information, only authorized personnel who need the information to provide services have access
Regular review and updating of security practices

While we take privacy and security seriously, please be aware that no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security, but we are committed to using industry-standard practices to protect your information.

Email and Unencrypted Communication

For your privacy, we recommend avoiding sending highly sensitive or detailed personal information via unencrypted email. While email is convenient for scheduling and general inquiries, it is not a fully secure method of communication. We use email primarily for administrative purposes (e.g., appointment reminders, general questions) and not for discussing clinical details.

If you have sensitive information to share, we encourage you to do so during a scheduled session (in-person or via secure video) rather than through email.

Third-Party Services

SafeTherapy may use trusted third-party service providers to support our operations, such as:

Payment Processors: To securely process credit card and other payments
Electronic Health Records (EHR) Systems: To store and manage clinical records in compliance with HIPAA
Online Therapy Platforms: To facilitate secure video sessions
Website Hosting and Analytics: To host our website and understand how visitors use it

These third parties are contractually obligated to protect your information and use it only for the purposes for which it was shared. We do not sell or rent your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes.

Your Rights and Choices

You have certain rights regarding your personal information, including:

Access: You have the right to request access to the personal information we hold about you, including your clinical records (subject to applicable laws and ethical guidelines).
Correction: You can request corrections to inaccurate or incomplete information.
Deletion: In some cases, you may request deletion of your personal information, though we may be required to retain certain records for legal or regulatory reasons.
Opt-Out: You can opt out of receiving non-essential communications (such as newsletters or promotional emails) at any time by contacting us.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at hello@safetherapy.example or +1 (555) 123-4567.

Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Our website uses cookies and similar technologies to improve functionality and user experience. Cookies are small text files stored on your device. We use cookies to:

Remember your preferences and settings
Understand how visitors interact with our website
Improve website performance and navigation

You can control or disable cookies through your browser settings. However, please note that disabling cookies may affect the functionality of our website.

Children's Privacy

SafeTherapy's services are intended for adults (ages 18 and older). We do not knowingly collect personal information from individuals under the age of 18 through our website. If we become aware that we have inadvertently collected information from a minor, we will take steps to delete that information promptly.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, legal requirements, or for other operational reasons. When we make changes, we will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page. We encourage you to review this policy periodically. Continued use of our services after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.

Contact Us

If you have questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your information, please contact us:

SafeTherapy
123 Wellness Way, Suite 200
Serene City, ST 12345
Email: hello@safetherapy.example
Phone: +1 (555) 123-4567

Your Trust Matters

At SafeTherapy, we understand that trust is essential to the therapeutic relationship. We are committed to maintaining the highest standards of privacy and confidentiality. If you ever have concerns about how your information is being handled, please do not hesitate to reach out, we are here to listen and address any questions you may have.