Privacy Policy
Effective Date: [Month Day, Year]
Last Updated: [Month Day, Year]
Lumen Counseling of Texas values your privacy and is committed to handling personal information responsibly. This Privacy Policy explains how information may be collected, used, disclosed, and protected when you visit our website or communicate with us through the website.
Lumen Counseling of Texas is an assumed name of Lumen Counseling Group, PLLC. In this policy, “Lumen Counseling,” “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to Lumen Counseling Group, PLLC, doing business as Lumen Counseling of Texas.
1. Information We May Collect
We may collect information that you voluntarily provide through the website, including:
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Your name
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Email address
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Telephone number
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Information submitted through a contact or consultation-request form
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Appointment preferences
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Any message or other information you choose to provide
We may also automatically receive limited technical information when you visit the website, such as:
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Internet Protocol address
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Browser and device type
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Pages viewed
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Date and time of access
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Referring website
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Cookie and website-usage information
Please do not submit detailed clinical, diagnostic, or highly sensitive information through a general website contact form.
2. How We Use Information
We may use information collected through the website to:
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Respond to questions or consultation requests
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Contact you regarding services
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Schedule or coordinate appointments
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Operate and improve the website
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Maintain website security
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Understand general website traffic and usage
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Comply with legal, regulatory, or professional obligations
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Protect the rights, safety, and property of the practice and others
Submitting a website form does not establish a therapist-client relationship.
3. Counseling and Health Information
Information submitted through the public website may not receive the same protections as information collected through the practice’s secure client portal, electronic health-record system, or telehealth platform.
Once you become a client, information created or received as part of your counseling services may be protected by federal and Texas health-privacy laws and will be handled according to the practice’s Notice of Privacy Practices, informed-consent documents, and applicable law. Texas recognizes privacy protections under HIPAA and the Texas Medical Records Privacy Act.
Do not use the website contact form to communicate:
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Detailed mental-health history
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Diagnoses
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Medication information
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Insurance information
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Social Security numbers
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Payment-card information
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Crisis or emergency information
4. Website Forms and Email
Website forms and ordinary email may not be fully secure. Although we take reasonable measures to protect information, no website, email system, or internet transmission can be guaranteed to be completely secure.
By contacting us through a website form or ordinary email, you acknowledge that these communication methods may carry privacy risks.
Current clients should use the secure client portal for counseling-related communications.
Email and text messages should not be used for urgent clinical concerns, emergencies, or crisis communications.
5. Cookies and Analytics
The website may use cookies or similar technologies to:
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Support basic website functions
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Remember visitor preferences
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Measure general website traffic
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Understand how visitors navigate the website
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Improve website performance and accessibility
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Detect technical or security problems
ou may be able to disable cookies through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect certain website functions.
6. How Information May Be Shared
We may share limited website information with service providers that help us operate the practice, such as:
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Website hosting providers
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Scheduling platforms
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Secure client-portal providers
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Email service providers
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Information-technology or security vendors
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Professional advisers
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Payment-processing providers, when applicable
These providers may receive only the information reasonably necessary to perform their services.
We may also disclose information when required or permitted by law, including to:
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Respond to a lawful subpoena, court order, or government request
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Investigate fraud, security incidents, or illegal activity
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Protect the safety, rights, or property of the practice or another person
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Enforce website terms or other agreements
We do not sell personal information for monetary compensation.
7. Third-Party Websites and Services
The website may include links to third-party websites, scheduling systems, client portals, payment processors, social-media platforms, or other services.
Those services maintain their own privacy policies and security practices. We are not responsible for the content, privacy, or security practices of third-party websites.
You should review the privacy policy of each external service before submitting personal information.
8. Data Security
The practice uses reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect information collected through the website.
These safeguards may include:
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Password protection
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Access controls
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Secure website connections
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Vendor security reviews
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Software updates
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Malware protection
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Data-backup procedures
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Limited access to business information
No security method is perfect. The practice cannot guarantee that website information will never be accessed, disclosed, altered, lost, or destroyed without authorization.
9. Data Retention
We retain website inquiries and related information only as long as reasonably necessary to:
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Respond to the inquiry
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Provide requested services
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Maintain legitimate business records
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Meet legal, regulatory, insurance, or professional requirements
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Resolve disputes or protect the practice
Clinical records are maintained separately according to applicable professional and legal record-retention requirements.
10. Your Privacy Choices
You may contact us to request that we:
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Correct inaccurate contact information
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Update your communication preferences
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Stop sending nonessential marketing communications
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Delete an unneeded website inquiry when legally and operationally permitted
These website privacy requests are separate from rights you may have regarding clinical records under HIPAA, Texas law, and the practice’s Notice of Privacy Practices.
11. Texas Privacy Rights
Texas law provides certain privacy rights in some circumstances. The Texas Data Privacy and Security Act generally exempts qualifying small businesses from many of its requirements, although a small business must receive consent before selling sensitive personal data.
Lumen Counseling does not sell sensitive personal information.
Depending on the nature of the information and applicable law, you may have rights to request access, correction, or deletion of certain personal information.
12. Children’s Privacy
This website is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information directly from children under 13 through the website without appropriate authorization.
A parent or legal guardian seeking services for a minor should contact the practice directly and avoid submitting sensitive information through a general website form.
13. Emergencies and Crisis Communications
The website, email, and contact forms are not monitored continuously and must not be used for emergencies.
If you are experiencing an immediate emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
Submitting an urgent message through this website does not guarantee an immediate response.
14. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our services, website technology, business practices, or legal obligations.
The updated policy will be posted on this page with a revised “Last Updated” date.
15. Analytics and Tracking Technologies
The website may use limited analytics tools to understand general traffic and website performance.
The practice does not knowingly use website tracking technologies to sell information about visitors’ mental-health interests or to create targeted advertising profiles based on counseling-related activity.
Healthcare providers must use caution with online tracking technologies because those tools may transmit information to third parties. HHS states that HIPAA-regulated entities must comply with applicable HIPAA requirements when using tracking technologies.
The practice may limit or disable advertising pixels, session-replay tools, heat maps, or similar technologies on pages that collect sensitive information.
16. Sale of Personal Information
The practice does not sell personal information for monetary compensation.
The practice does not sell sensitive health information.
17. Contact Us
Questions or requests regarding this Privacy Policy may be directed to:
Lumen Counseling of Texas
Lumen Counseling Group, PLLC
Email: [privacy or business email]
Phone: [business telephone number]
Mailing Address: [business mailing address]