Privacy Policy for DK Counseling LCSW, PLLC
At DK Counseling LCSW, PLLC, we are committed to protecting your privacy and confidentiality. This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, and protect your personal information, and it applies to all clients and visitors who interact with our services.
1. Information We Collect
We may collect the following types of personal information:
- Personal Identification Information: Name, address, phone number, email address, date of birth, emergency contact details.
- Health and Medical Information: Information relevant to your counseling, including medical history, mental health diagnoses, treatment plans, and other relevant clinical data. This may also include any information you provide during sessions or through forms.
- Billing Information: Credit card or insurance details used for payment processing.
We collect this information through various means, including in-person consultations, phone calls, email correspondence, and online forms (if applicable).
2. How We Use Your Information
The personal information we collect may be used for the following purposes:
- Providing Counseling Services: To deliver therapy and other mental health services to you.
- Billing and Payment Processing: To process payments, verify insurance details, and send invoices.
- Communication: To respond to inquiries, send appointment reminders, or communicate relevant information about your treatment.
- Compliance with Legal Requirements: To comply with applicable laws, such as HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act), state mental health laws, and other regulations governing mental health practices.
3. How We Protect Your Information
We take the privacy and confidentiality of your personal information seriously. We implement a range of administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect your data from unauthorized access, alteration, or disclosure. These measures include, but are not limited to:
- Secure storage of paper and electronic records.
- Encrypted communication methods for electronic communication (e.g., email or telehealth sessions, where applicable).
- Limiting access to your information to authorized personnel only, such as your therapist and billing staff.
4. Use of Technology (Cookies and Tracking)
We may use cookies or other tracking technologies (such as Google Analytics) on our website to enhance your experience and gather information on website usage. This information is anonymous and is used solely for improving our website’s functionality. You can choose to disable cookies in your web browser settings if you prefer not to have this data collected.
5. Sharing Your Information
We will not share your personal or health information with third parties without your consent, except in the following circumstances:
- With your written consent: If you provide explicit permission, we may share information with your other healthcare providers or other individuals you designate.
- For billing purposes: We may share your billing and insurance information with your insurance provider or third-party billing services.
- Legal and Regulatory Compliance: We may disclose information if required by law, such as in response to a subpoena, court order, or other legal process.
- Emergency Situations: In the event of an emergency or where there is a risk of harm to you or others, we may disclose information to protect your safety or the safety of others.
6. Your Rights Regarding Your Information
As a client, you have the following rights regarding your personal health information:
- Right to Access: You have the right to request a copy of your personal and health information that we maintain.
- Right to Correct: You may request corrections to any inaccuracies in your information.
- Right to Restrict: You have the right to request restrictions on how your information is used or disclosed.
- Right to Confidential Communication: You have the right to request that we communicate with you in a certain way (e.g., via phone rather than email).
- Right to Privacy: You have the right to privacy regarding your health care records, in accordance with HIPAA and other applicable laws.
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the contact details provided below.
7. Data Retention
We retain your personal and health information for as long as necessary to provide services to you and in compliance with legal, regulatory, and professional requirements. In most cases, we will retain records for at least [insert number of years] after the last treatment session, in accordance with state and federal regulations.
8. Children’s Privacy
Our services are not directed to children under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe we have collected information from a child, please contact us, and we will take steps to delete such information.
9. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or to comply with legal requirements. Any changes to this policy will be posted on our website with an updated effective date. We encourage you to review this policy periodically for updates.
10. Contact Information
If you have any questions or concerns about our privacy practices, or if you would like to exercise your rights related to your personal information, please contact us at:
DK Counseling LCSW, PLLC
Phone: 718 360 9922
Email: office@dkcounselinggroup.com