Privacy Policy

Life Stages Counseling & Family Therapy ("Life Stages," "we," "us," or "our") respects your privacy and is committed to protecting the personal information you provide when using our website.
This Privacy Policy explains the types of information we may collect through our website, how we use and disclose that information, the measures we take to protect it, and the choices available to you.
Important Notice Regarding Protected Health Information
This Privacy Policy applies primarily to information collected through our public website and is separate from our HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices, which describes how we use and disclose Protected Health Information ("PHI") in connection with counseling, treatment, payment, and other healthcare activities.
Our HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices is provided to clients as required by law and is available upon request.
The public portions of this website are not intended to be used to transmit detailed or confidential clinical information, including diagnoses, symptoms, treatment history, medications, medical records, crisis information, or other sensitive health information.
Please do not submit detailed clinical or medical information through a general website contact form.
Information submitted through appointment scheduling, consultation requests, registration forms, or other website features may, depending upon the circumstances, constitute PHI or other legally protected information. When information is subject to HIPAA or other applicable healthcare privacy laws, we will handle that information in accordance with those laws and our HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices.
Clinical records and detailed treatment information are maintained separately through our practice-management, electronic-health-record, or other secure systems.
If there is any conflict between this Privacy Policy and our HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices concerning PHI, the HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices will control.
1. Who We Are
Life Stages Counseling & Family Therapy provides individual, couples, family, and group counseling services, including our Family Skills Groups program.
This Privacy Policy applies to visitors to our website located at www.lifestagesfamilytherapy.com (the "Site").
If you have questions or concerns regarding this Privacy Policy or our website privacy practices, please contact:
Life Stages Counseling & Family Therapy
865 Merrick Ave.
Westbury, New York 11590

and

74 Fire Island Ave.
Suite 180N, Office 13
Babylon Village, New York 11702

Phone: 304-518-4766
Email: info@lifestagesfamilytherapy.com
2. Information We Collect
Information You Provide Directly
You may voluntarily provide personal information when you use the Site to:
•    Contact us;
•    Request information concerning our services;
•    Request a consultation;
•    Schedule or request an appointment;
•    Register or request information concerning a Family Skills Group; or
•    Otherwise communicate with us through a feature of the Site.
Depending upon the feature used, the information you provide may include:
•    Name;
•    Email address;
•    Telephone number;
•    Scheduling information;
•    General information about the service you are seeking;
•    Information submitted by a parent or legal guardian concerning participation in a Family Skills Group; and
•    Other information you voluntarily choose to provide.
We ask that you not use general website contact forms to transmit detailed clinical information, medical records, diagnoses, extensive treatment history, Social Security numbers, financial-account information, crisis information, or other highly sensitive information unless you have specifically been directed to use an appropriate secure method of communication.
Information Collected Automatically
When you visit the Site, certain information may be collected automatically through cookies, server logs, and similar technologies.
Depending upon the configuration of the Site and the services that are enabled, this information may include:
•    Internet Protocol ("IP") address;
•    Approximate geographic location, such as city or region;
•    Browser type;
•    Device type;
•    Operating system;
•    Pages viewed;
•    Date and time of visits;
•    Time spent on pages;
•    Referring or exit pages; and
•    General information concerning your interaction with the Site.
We generally use this information to operate, maintain, secure, and improve the Site and to understand how visitors use it.
3. How We Use Information
We may use information collected through the Site to:
•    Respond to inquiries and requests;
•    Provide information concerning counseling services and programs;
•    Schedule consultations or appointments;
•    Process Family Skills Group inquiries or registrations;
•    Communicate with individuals who contact us;
•    Provide requested administrative services;
•    Operate, maintain, and secure the Site;
•    Improve the Site's content, usability, accessibility, and performance;
•    Understand website traffic and usage patterns;
•    Detect, prevent, or investigate fraud, misuse, security incidents, or unauthorized activity;
•    Maintain appropriate business and administrative records; and
•    Comply with applicable legal, regulatory, professional, and licensing obligations.
We do not sell or rent personal information collected through the Site to third parties for their independent marketing purposes.
4. Cookies and Similar Technologies
The Site may use cookies and similar technologies, including web beacons, pixels, or comparable tools, to support website functionality.
These technologies may be used to:
•    Remember user preferences;
•    Maintain website security;
•    Support forms and scheduling functionality;
•    Understand website traffic and usage patterns;
•    Diagnose website errors; and
•    Improve the Site's performance and functionality.
Some cookies may be necessary for the Site to function properly. Other technologies may be used for analytics or similar purposes.
You may be able to control or disable certain cookies through your browser settings or other privacy controls. Disabling cookies may interfere with certain Site features, including forms or online scheduling.
We endeavor to review the tracking technologies used on the Site and to configure them consistently with applicable privacy and healthcare laws.
We do not intend for analytics, advertising, tracking, or similar third-party technologies to collect information entered into fields containing PHI or other sensitive healthcare information unless the transmission and use of that information are permitted by applicable law and appropriate safeguards and agreements are in place.
Where required by HIPAA, a technology vendor that creates, receives, maintains, or transmits PHI on our behalf must satisfy applicable Business Associate requirements.
Do Not Track
Some browsers transmit a "Do Not Track" signal.
Because there is not currently a universally accepted technical or legal standard governing how websites must respond to these signals, the Site may not respond to all Do Not Track signals.
Other browser or device privacy controls may nevertheless allow you to restrict certain tracking activities.
5. How We Share Information
We may disclose personal information collected through the Site when reasonably necessary to provide services, operate our practice, maintain the Site, or comply with legal obligations.
We may share information with service providers that perform functions on our behalf, including providers of:
•    Website hosting and infrastructure;
•    Website maintenance;
•    Information technology services;
•    Website security;
•    Online forms;
•    Scheduling or appointment services;
•    Communications services;
•    Analytics services; and
•    Other administrative or operational services.
We seek to provide service providers only with information reasonably necessary for them to perform services on our behalf and to use appropriate contractual, privacy, and security protections where required.
Where a service provider creates, receives, maintains, or transmits PHI on our behalf and qualifies as a Business Associate under HIPAA, we will enter into a Business Associate Agreement when required by law.
We may also disclose information:
•    As required by federal, state, or local law;
•    In response to a valid subpoena, court order, warrant, or other lawful legal process;
•    When reasonably necessary to protect the rights, property, safety, or security of Life Stages, our clients, our personnel, or others;
•    To detect, investigate, prevent, or respond to fraud, misuse, security incidents, or unlawful activity;
•    In connection with a merger, acquisition, restructuring, sale, transfer, or other change involving the practice or its assets, subject to applicable confidentiality and legal requirements; or
•    With your authorization, direction, or consent.
We do not sell personal information collected through this Site to third parties for their independent marketing purposes.
6. Third-Party Services
The Site is built and hosted using Wix.com and may use Wix services or other third-party providers to support website functionality.
Depending upon the configuration of the Site, third-party services may include:
•    Website hosting and infrastructure;
•    Online scheduling or booking services;
•    Website forms;
•    Website analytics;
•    Security services;
•    Communications services; and
•    Embedded video, images, maps, or other media.
Third-party providers may collect certain information through their own technologies when those services are enabled.
Those providers may process information pursuant to their own privacy policies, contractual obligations, and applicable law.
We encourage users to review the privacy policies of third-party websites and services they choose to access.
Before using third-party technologies on portions of the Site involving healthcare inquiries, appointment scheduling, registration, or other potentially sensitive information, we endeavor to evaluate whether information transmitted to those services may constitute PHI or other protected information and whether appropriate safeguards and agreements are required.
7. Information Concerning Minors
Our general website content is directed to adults seeking information concerning counseling services for themselves or their families.
Our Family Skills Groups may include adolescents ages 12-16 who participate alongside a parent or legal guardian.
Information concerning a minor's participation in these programs should be submitted by the minor's parent or legal guardian rather than directly by the minor.
The Site is not directed to children under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly solicit personal information directly from children under 13 through the public Site.
If you are a parent or legal guardian and believe that a child under 13 has submitted personal information directly through the Site, please contact us so that we can evaluate the circumstances and take appropriate action.
Nothing in this section changes any rights or responsibilities concerning minors' healthcare information arising under HIPAA, New York law, professional licensing requirements, or other applicable law.
8. Information Security
We maintain reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect personal information against unauthorized access, acquisition, disclosure, alteration, misuse, loss, or destruction.
Our safeguards are designed to reflect the nature and sensitivity of the information involved and applicable legal requirements, including, where applicable, HIPAA and New York information-security requirements.
Security measures may include, as appropriate:
•    Access controls;
•    Password protections;
•    Secure technology and systems;
•    Vendor oversight;
•    Workforce policies and procedures;
•    Appropriate administrative safeguards;
•    Security monitoring;
•    Secure transmission or storage technologies where appropriate; and
•    Procedures for responding to suspected privacy or security incidents.
No method of transmitting information over the internet or storing information electronically is completely secure. Accordingly, while we use reasonable safeguards, we cannot guarantee absolute security.
Please do not transmit highly sensitive clinical or personal information through ordinary website forms unless specifically directed to do so.
9. Data Breaches and Security Incidents
If we become aware of unauthorized access to or acquisition of personal information, PHI, or other protected information, we will investigate and respond as required by applicable law.
Where notification is required, we will provide notices to affected individuals, governmental agencies, regulators, or others in accordance with applicable federal and New York law.
Our obligations may include requirements imposed by HIPAA, applicable breach-notification laws, and New York's data-security and breach-notification requirements.
10. Data Retention
We retain personal information collected through the Site only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected and for legitimate administrative, business, professional, regulatory, or legal purposes.
When information is no longer reasonably necessary, we may delete it, securely dispose of it, or de-identify it, subject to applicable legal and record-retention requirements.
Clinical records are maintained separately from general website information and are retained in accordance with applicable professional, licensing, HIPAA, and New York record-retention requirements.
11. Your Choices and Privacy Rights
Depending upon the nature of the information involved and applicable law, you may have rights concerning personal information collected through the Site.
You may contact us to request that we:
•    Provide information concerning personal information we maintain about you through the Site;
•    Correct inaccurate information;
•    Update your contact information; or
•    Delete certain information where deletion is permitted by law.
We will evaluate and respond to legitimate requests in accordance with applicable law.
These website privacy requests are separate from rights concerning PHI contained in clinical records.
Rights relating to PHI are governed by HIPAA, our HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices, and other applicable laws and may require a separate request process.
12. New York Privacy and Data-Security Protections
Because Life Stages operates in New York and serves New York residents, we maintain safeguards intended to comply with applicable New York privacy, data-security, and breach-notification requirements.
Where applicable, we maintain reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect private information from unauthorized access, use, acquisition, disclosure, alteration, or destruction.
These measures may include identifying reasonably foreseeable internal and external risks, evaluating safeguards, selecting service providers capable of appropriately safeguarding information, and adjusting security measures when circumstances reasonably require it.
13. Links to Other Websites
The Site may contain links to websites operated by third parties, including professional directories, insurance providers, educational resources, or other organizations.
We do not control and are not responsible for the privacy practices, security practices, content, or operation of third-party websites.
A link from our Site to another website does not necessarily constitute an endorsement of that website's privacy or security practices.
We encourage you to review the privacy policy of any third-party website before providing personal information.
14. Emergency and Crisis Communications
The Site, website contact forms, email, and online scheduling tools are not intended for emergency or crisis communications.
If you are experiencing a medical or mental-health emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
If you or someone you know is experiencing a suicide, mental-health, or substance-use crisis, you may call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988.
Do not use a general website contact form to request emergency assistance.
15. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may revise this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices, technology, services, legal requirements, or operational needs.
When we make changes, we will update the "Last Updated" date appearing at the beginning of this Privacy Policy.
We encourage visitors to review this Privacy Policy periodically.
Material changes may also be communicated through the Site or by other appropriate means when required by law.
16. Contact Us
If you have questions or concerns concerning this Privacy Policy or our website privacy practices, please contact:
Life Stages Counseling & Family Therapy
865 Merrick Ave.
Westbury, New York 11590

and

74 Fire Island Ave.
Suite 180N, Office 13
Babylon Village, New York 11702

Phone: 304-518-4766
Email: info@lifestagesfamilytherapy.com