Privacy Policy for Growth & Wellness Therapy Services

Effective Date: 09/17/2024

Growth & Wellness Therapy Services (“we,” “us,” or “our”) values the privacy of our clients and is committed to protecting the personal and health information you share with us. This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, and protect your information in compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and other relevant laws and regulations.

Information We Collect

We collect several types of information from or about you in connection with the mental health services we provide:

Personal Information:

Name
Contact details (phone number, email address, mailing address)
Date of birth
Emergency contact information
Insurance details

Health Information:

Mental health history
Treatment records and plans
Diagnosis, symptoms, and progress notes
Medications and prescriptions
Any information shared during therapy sessions

Payment Information:

Credit or debit card details
Billing address
Transaction history

Automatically Collected Information:

When you visit our website or use any digital services, we may collect certain information automatically, such as your IP address, browser type, and operating system.

How We Use Your Information

We may use the information we collect about you for the following purposes:

To provide mental health counseling and therapy services.
To communicate with you regarding appointments, treatment plans, and other necessary communications.
For billing, claims processing, and insurance purposes.
To comply with legal and regulatory requirements, including HIPAA.
To improve our services and tailor the care we provide.

Sharing of Information

We respect your privacy and will not share your information without your consent, except in the following situations:

With Your Consent: We may share your information with third parties if you give us explicit permission.
To Healthcare Providers: We may share your information with other healthcare providers involved in your care, such as doctors, specialists, or other mental health professionals.
For Insurance Purposes: We may share your information with your insurance provider for billing and claims processing.
Legal Requirements: We may disclose your information if required by law, such as to comply with a court order or report abuse or harm.
In Emergencies: In cases of medical emergencies or when there is a serious threat to your safety or the safety of others, we may share relevant information with emergency responders or authorities.

How We Protect Your Information

We take the security of your information seriously and use administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect your personal and health information. These include:

Encryption of sensitive data.
Secure, HIPAA-compliant storage systems.
Access controls to limit access to your information to authorized personnel only.
Regular monitoring and assessment of data security practices.

Your Rights Regarding Your Information

As a client, you have the following rights regarding your personal and health information:

Right to Access: You can request a copy of your health records and other personal information.
Right to Amend: If you believe any information we have is incorrect or incomplete, you can request that we correct or update it.
Right to Confidential Communications: You can request that we communicate with you through specific channels (e.g., email, phone, etc.) to ensure privacy.
Right to Restrict Information Sharing: You may request that we limit the sharing of your information with certain parties, such as insurers or other providers.
Right to File a Complaint: If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you can file a complaint with us or with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Retention of Information

We will retain your personal and health information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy or as required by law. When no longer needed, we will securely dispose of or anonymize the information.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices or relevant laws. We will notify you of any material changes through email or by posting the updated policy on our website.

Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy, or if you would like to exercise any of your rights, please contact us at:

Growth & Wellness Therapy Services
Phone: 310-365-9780
Email: william@growthandwellness.life

This policy reflects our commitment to safeguarding your personal information while providing you with the highest quality care. Thank you for trusting Growth & Wellness Therapy Services with your mental health needs.