01Our Privacy Commitment
We recognize that privacy is particularly important when people seek behavioral health information or services. We aim to collect only information that is reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it is requested and to use it in a manner consistent with applicable law and our stated practices.
Our website may provide information about our services, general contact options, and ways to request additional information. Information practices may differ between public website interactions and formal healthcare services.
02Information We Collect
The information we collect depends on how you interact with our website and whether you choose to contact us. Depending on the situation, information may include the following categories.
- Contact information: such as your name, email address, telephone number, or other contact details you voluntarily submit.
- Inquiry information: such as the subject of your message, the type of information you request, and details you choose to provide.
- Technical information: such as browser type, device information, operating system, approximate usage data, and pages viewed, where collected by website technologies.
- Communication records: such as messages or correspondence you send to us and the information necessary to respond.
- Service-related information: if you become a client or receive services, additional information may be collected under applicable healthcare, administrative, and legal requirements.
You may be able to browse public pages without directly submitting personal information. If a form requests information, you can choose whether to provide it, although some requests may not be possible to address without the necessary details.
03How We Use Information
Information may be used for legitimate purposes connected with operating our website, responding to inquiries, and communicating with individuals who contact us. Depending on the circumstances, these purposes may include:
- Responding to questions and requests for information.
- Providing information about services and available next steps.
- Maintaining, supporting, and improving website functionality.
- Monitoring website performance and addressing technical issues.
- Protecting our website, systems, and users against misuse or fraud.
- Maintaining appropriate records and meeting applicable legal obligations.
- Managing service-related communications where applicable.
We do not intend to use information for purposes that are incompatible with the context in which it was collected, except where permitted or required by applicable law or otherwise appropriately authorized.
04Health Information and Healthcare Privacy
Behavioral health information can be especially sensitive. If you receive services from us, information related to your care may be subject to additional privacy and security requirements that do not necessarily apply to every public website interaction.
Depending on the services provided and the circumstances, protected health information may be governed by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), its implementing regulations, and other applicable federal or state laws.
Where HIPAA applies, the permitted uses and disclosures of protected health information, along with applicable individual rights, are described in the relevant Notice of Privacy Practices and other required documentation.
Please contact our team if you need clarification about the privacy practices that apply to information associated with your care.
05When Information May Be Shared
We do not intend to disclose personal information indiscriminately. Information may be shared when reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was provided, when authorized by you, or when sharing is otherwise permitted or required by applicable law.
Depending on the context, disclosures may include:
- Service providers: vendors that help operate our website, manage communications, maintain systems, or provide other authorized business support.
- Healthcare-related parties: where relevant and permitted for treatment, payment, healthcare operations, or other lawful purposes.
- Legal and regulatory authorities: when disclosure is required by law, valid legal process, or applicable regulatory obligations.
- Safety and protection: when a disclosure is permitted or required to address certain threats, suspected unlawful activity, or other legally recognized circumstances.
- Authorized recipients: when you direct us to share information or otherwise provide appropriate authorization.
Where appropriate, we seek to limit disclosures to the information reasonably needed for the relevant purpose. Specific rules may apply to protected health information and other specially protected records.
06Cookies and Website Analytics
Our website or its service providers may use cookies, pixels, log files, and similar technologies to support website functionality, understand website usage, improve performance, and help protect against suspicious activity.
These technologies may be used to:
- Remember certain website preferences or settings.
- Understand general patterns in page visits and website traffic.
- Identify errors and improve the user experience.
- Support website security and prevent misuse.
The specific technologies used depend on the website configuration and any third-party services that are enabled. We should update this policy if we add tools that materially change our information practices.
Most browsers allow you to manage cookies through browser settings. Blocking or deleting certain cookies may affect some website features. If analytics or advertising tools are used, additional settings or notices may be available depending on the technology and applicable law.
07Information Security
We take reasonable steps designed to protect information against unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, and destruction. Depending on the type of information and the systems involved, safeguards may include access restrictions, system monitoring, security updates, vendor oversight, and administrative procedures.
No website, electronic transmission, storage system, or internet communication can be guaranteed to be completely secure. For this reason, we encourage visitors to use care when submitting personal information online and to avoid sending sensitive information through channels that have not been designated for that purpose.
If you believe that a communication or account has been compromised, please contact us through an appropriate channel so that the concern can be reviewed.
08Data Retention
We retain information for as long as reasonably necessary to fulfill the purpose for which it was collected, respond to inquiries, maintain appropriate business records, comply with applicable legal requirements, resolve disputes, and protect legitimate interests.
Retention periods may differ depending on the type of information, the nature of the interaction, applicable recordkeeping rules, and whether the information forms part of a healthcare record.
When information is no longer required, it may be deleted, securely destroyed, or de-identified where appropriate and consistent with applicable requirements.
09Your Privacy Choices and Rights
Depending on the circumstances and applicable law, you may have options or rights concerning personal information we maintain about you. These may include requesting access to certain information, asking for a correction, requesting deletion where legally available, or changing certain communication preferences.
Healthcare information may be subject to separate procedures, verification requirements, exceptions, and deadlines. If your request relates to a healthcare record, please use the appropriate process communicated by our team.
To submit a privacy-related question or request, contact us using the details in the Contact Us section. We may need to verify your identity or ask for additional information before acting on a request. We will review requests in accordance with applicable law.
10Electronic Communications and Telehealth
When you contact us by email, submit a website form, or use an electronic communication service, information may pass through systems operated by third-party providers. The privacy and security characteristics of those systems may differ.
If telehealth or other electronic healthcare services are offered, separate consent documents, service terms, or privacy notices may apply to those services. Please review any applicable documentation before using a healthcare communication or telehealth platform.
General website contact forms and ordinary email should not be treated as emergency services or assumed to be suitable for urgent clinical concerns.
11Third-Party Websites and Services
Our website may contain links to third-party websites, external platforms, scheduling tools, maps, social media pages, or other services that we do not operate.
These third parties may collect information according to their own privacy policies and terms. We do not control the privacy or security practices of external websites and cannot guarantee how they handle information.
Before submitting personal information through an external service, we encourage you to review that provider's privacy policy and terms of use. The presence of a link on our website does not, by itself, mean that we endorse every privacy practice of the linked service.
12Children's Privacy
Our website is not designed to knowingly collect personal information directly from children through general website features without an appropriate legal basis or process.
If information about a minor is required in connection with healthcare services, it should be provided through the appropriate process and by a person authorized to provide it, as applicable. Rules relating to consent, access, confidentiality, and parental or guardian involvement may vary according to the circumstances and applicable law.
If you believe a child has submitted personal information through a general website form inappropriately, please contact us so that the concern can be reviewed.
13Marketing Communications
If we send optional informational or promotional communications, we will handle contact details in accordance with applicable requirements and any preferences or permissions that apply.
You may request that we stop sending optional marketing communications by following the unsubscribe instructions included in a message, where available, or by contacting us directly.
Requests to stop marketing messages do not necessarily affect administrative or service-related communications that are necessary or otherwise permitted.
This policy does not mean that every type of marketing technology, newsletter, advertising service, or promotional communication is currently used. The actual tools and practices in place should be reflected accurately in the final published policy.
14Privacy Questions and Potential Incidents
If you believe that personal information has been sent to the wrong recipient, accessed without authorization, or otherwise handled improperly, please contact us promptly using an appropriate communication channel.
We will review concerns as appropriate and take steps consistent with our procedures and applicable requirements. Where a legal notification obligation applies, required notices will be handled in accordance with the relevant rules.
Please avoid including unnecessary medical or other sensitive information in an initial email or general website inquiry about a possible privacy incident.
15Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our website, services, information practices, technologies, or applicable legal requirements.
When the policy is updated, the revised version will be published on this page with an updated effective date or revision date, as appropriate. Where required by law, additional notice or consent procedures may apply.
We encourage you to review this page periodically so you can remain informed about our privacy practices.
16Contact Us About Privacy
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, would like to clarify how information is handled, or need help identifying the appropriate process for a privacy request, please contact Direct Behavioral Health Services.
For your protection, please do not include detailed clinical information, government identification numbers, passwords, or other highly sensitive information in an ordinary email unless you have been directed to an appropriate secure process.