Affordable Counseling Services

Affordable Counseling Services believes in a firm and continuing commitment to the privacy of personal information provided by those visiting and interacting with this online counseling site. We hold the privacy of your personal information in the highest regard. The following discloses our information gathering practices for this online counseling site.

 

We recognize the importance of protecting your privacy

Our policy is intended to assist you in understanding how we collect, use and safeguard the personal information you provide to us and to assist you in making informed decisions when using our site. This policy will be continuously assessed against new technologies, licensing practices, and our Client's needs.

 

What Information Do We Collect?

When you visit this online counseling site you may provide us with personal information you knowingly choose to disclose that is collected on an individual basis to be used to help you with your current dilemma.

1. For safety reasons we do require that you give us your home address. In the unlikely event of a mental health or other threatening emergency this will allow us to send you local emergency assistance.

2. Other personal information you choose to share with us.

 

Credit Card Information (Through PayPal)

If you choose to use our online counseling services, you may need to give personal information and authorization to obtain information from various credit services. For example, you may need to provide the following information:

- Name

- Mailing address

- Credit card billing address

- Email address

- Credit card number

- Name on credit card

- Credit card billing address

 

Email Information

If you choose to correspond with us through email, we will retain the content of your email messages together with your email address and our responses. We provide the same protections for these electronic communications that we employ in the maintenance of information received by mail and telephone and in live sessions.

 

How Do We Use the Information That You Provide to Us?

Broadly speaking we use your information to costume tailor the online counseling services you requested to process your payment.Personally identifiable information or business information will not be shared with parties except as required by law. Read more about this in our HIPPA guideline.

 

What About Legally Compelled Disclosure of Information?

We may disclose information when legally compelled to do so, in other words, when we, in good faith, believe that the law requires it or for the protection of our legal rights. We may also disclose account information when we have reason to believe that disclosing this information is necessary to identify, contact or bring legal action against someone who may be violating our Terms of Service or to protect the safety of our users and the Public.

 

What About Other Web Sites Linked to Our Web Site?

We are not responsible for the practices employed by Web sites linked to or from our Web site or the information or content contained therein. Often links to other Web sites are provided solely as pointers to information on topics that may be useful to the users of our Web site.

 

Please remember that when you use a link to go from our Website to another web site, our Privacy Policy is no longer in effect. Your browsing and interaction on any other web site, including web sites, which have a link on our Website, is subject to that Web site's own rules and policies. Please read over those rules and policies before proceeding.

By using our Web site you consent to our collection and use of your personal information as described in this Privacy Policy. We reserve the right to amend this privacy policy at any time with or without notice.

 

What is your personal goal with online counseling?

Do you have any special concerns about online counseling? If yes, what are they?

What will you not tolerate in an online therapist?

What qualities would you like to see in an online therapist?

Are there qualities that would help you during online counseling?

Have you had any bad experiences with mental health professionals? If so, what were they?

Are there any unacceptable forms of therapy? If yes, what are they?

Are there any therapy forms you strongly believe in? If yes, what are they?

Will the online counselor become a person you can come to trust given the time and opportunity?

 

Our Commitment To Data Security:

Please note that your information will be stored and processed on our computers in the United States. The laws on holding personal data in the United States may be less stringent than the laws of your Country of residence or citizenship. To prevent unauthorized access, maintain data accuracy, and ensure the correct use of information, we have put in place appropriate physical, electronic, and managerial procedures to safeguard and secure the information we collect online.

 

A Special Note About Children:

Children are not eligible to use our online counseling services unsupervised and we ask that children (under the age of 18) do not submit any personal information to us. If you are a minor, you can use this service only in conjunction with permission and guidance from your parents or guardians. That permission must be given verbally by calling 517-819-4542.

 

Policy Modifications:

We may change this Privacy Policy from time to time.  We will post any changes here, so be sure to check back periodically. However, please be assured that if the Privacy Policy changes in the future, we will not use the personal information you have submitted to us under this Privacy Policy in a manner that is materially inconsistent with this Privacy Policy, without your prior consent.

 

THIS SECTION DESCRIBES HOW INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN HAVE ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. EFFECTIVE BEGINNING APRIL 14, 2003. PLEASE REVIEW CAREFULLY.

 

OUR PLEDGE REGARDING YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION

This notice of privacy describes how we may use and disclose your protected health information to carry out treatment, payment and for other purposes permitted or required by law. It also describes your right to access and control your protected health information. The following categories describe different ways that we use and disclose medical information. Information may be disclosed in writing, orally or electronically.

 

USES AND DISCLOSURES OF PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION

Your protected health information may be used and disclosed by Affordable Counseling Services for the purpose of providing psychotherapy services to you. Your protected health information may be disclosed to pay your psychotherapy bills.

 

For Treatment:

We may use your health information to provide you with treatment or services. With your permission, we may disclose your medical information to doctors, nurses, technicians, medical students, psychotherapists, or other personnel who are involved in your care. We may disclose medical information about you to people outside who may be involved in your medical care after you leave, such as family members, clergy or others we use to provide services that are part of your care. Individuals Involved In Your Care or Payment for Your Care: We may disclose your protected health information to a friend or family member or other person specifically designated by you and who is involved in your medical care. We may also give medical information to someone who helps to pay for your care.

 

To Avert a Serious Threat to Health or Safety:

We may use and disclose health information about you when necessary to prevent a serious threat to your health and safety or the health and safety of the public or another person. Any disclosure, however, would only be to someone able to help prevent the threat.

 

Mental Health Oversight Activities:

We may disclose your health information to a health oversight agency for activities authorized by law. These oversight activities include, for example, audits, investigations and licensure.

 

Abuse or Neglect:

We may disclose your protected health information to a public health agent authorized by law to receive reports of child abuse or neglect. In addition, we may disclose your health information to a governmental entity or agency authorized to receive such information if we believe that you have been the victim of abuse, neglect or domestic violence. Disclosure would be consistent with the requirements of applicable federal and state law.

 

Lawsuits and Disputes:

If you are involved in a lawsuit or a dispute, we may disclose health information about you in response to a court order. We may also disclose health information about you in response to a valid subpoena, discovery request or other lawful process by someone else involved in the dispute, but only if efforts have been made to tell you about the request or to obtain an order protecting the information requested.

 

Law Enforcement: We may release health information if asked to do so by a law enforcement official; In response to a court order, subpoena, warrant, summons, or similar process; to identify or locate a suspect, fugitive, material witness, or missing person; about the victim of a crime if, under certain circumstances, we are unable to obtain the person's agreement; about a death we believe may be the result of criminal conduct; about the criminal conduct at our office; and in emergency circumstances to report a crime; the location of the crime or victims; or the identity, description or location of the person who committed the crime

 

National Security and Intelligence Activities:

We may release health record information about you to authorized federal authorities for intelligence, counter-intelligence, and other national security activities by law.

 

Right to Inspect, Copy and Amend:

You have a right to inspect and copy all disclosures of information, including treatment summaries. This does not include psychotherapy notes. If you feel any information from any disclosure is incorrect, you have the right to request an amendment. All requests to inspect and copy disclosures must be made in writing to Affordable Counseling Services. Denial of requests may occur with some requests. For instance, a request made by one spouse for disclosures occurring during marital counseling will be denied.

 

Right to an Accounting of Disclosures:

You have the right to request an accounting of disclosures. This is a list of disclosures we have made of your health record information. Request must be made in writing, state a time period (no longer than six years) and may not include dates before April 14, 2003.

 

Right to Request Restrictions:

You have the right to request a restriction or limitation on the ways your health record information is used. We are not required to agree to your request. If we agree, we will comply with your request, with the exception of emergency care. Specific request must be made in writing.

 

Right to Request Confidential Communications:

You have the right to request that we communicate with you in a certain way or at a certain location. Request must be made in writing to Affordable Counseling Services.

 

Right to a Paper Copy of This Notice:

You have the right to a paper copy of this notice. You may ask for a copy any time.

 

Other Uses of Medical Information:

Other disclosures and uses of your information will be made only with your written permission. You may revoke that permission, in writing, any time. Affordable Counseling Services will be unable to take back any disclosures we have already made with your permission, and we are required to retain our records of the care that was provided to you.

 

Changes to this Notice:

We reserve the right to change this notice. Upon your request, we will provide you with any revisions.

 

Web Server Log Files:

Our web server log automatically collects each visitor's domain name.  For visitors merely browsing our site, we only collect the domain name and user-specific browsing data regarding what pages consumers access or visit.  The information we collect is used for internal review to improve the content of our web pages.

 

Complaints:

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with Kenosis Counseling Center, Inc. or with the Michigan Board of Counseling, P.O. Box 30018 Lansing, Michigan 48909-7518. All complaints must be submitted in writing.

 

If you have any questions about this notice contact Affordable Counseling Services 1-517-819-4542