PRIVACY POLICY & HIPAA NOTICE

1. OUR COMMITMENT TO PRIVACY

Elite Teen Counseling (“we,” “us,” or “our”) is committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of teens, parents, and families who visit our website or receive clinical care at our Folsom office or via telehealth in California.

This Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, and safeguard personal information collected through our website (eliteteencounseling.com). For established clients, our Notice of Privacy Practices under HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) governs the handling of Protected Health Information (PHI).

2. INFORMATION WE COLLECT

We collect information you voluntarily provide when contacting our practice or requesting a consultation:

• Contact Details: Parent name, email address, phone number, and preferred contact method.
• Consultation Context: Teen’s approximate age/grade, areas of concern (e.g., anxiety, school stress, ADHD), and preferred care format (in-person in Folsom or online).
• Website Usage Data: Standard server logs, IP addresses, browser types, and anonymous aggregated analytics to improve website performance.

3. HOW WE USE YOUR INFORMATION

We use information collected through our website to:

• Respond to your inquiry and schedule initial phone consultations within 1 business day.
• Assess clinical fit with our licensed therapists (LMFT, AMCC).
• Provide requested educational resources, appointment reminders, and administrative updates.
• Ensure the security, reliability, and proper technical functioning of our website.

4. CONFIDENTIALITY & HIPAA COMPLIANCE

As a licensed California mental health practice, we adhere strictly to California legal standards (California Confidentiality of Medical Information Act) and federal HIPAA regulations.

Therapy records and clinical communications are confidential and will never be disclosed without written authorization, except where mandated by law (e.g., imminent safety risks, child abuse reporting, or valid court orders).

5. DATA SECURITY & THIRD-PARTY SERVICES

We employ industry-standard encryption, SSL protocols, and secure data storage to safeguard information. We never sell, rent, or trade personal information to third parties for marketing purposes.

6. CONTACT OUR PRIVACY OFFICER

If you have questions about our privacy practices or wish to update your contact preferences, please contact our office: