PRIVACY POLICY
Life
Stone Counseling Centers (“Life Stone,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) is
committed to protecting the privacy, confidentiality, and security of
our clients and website visitors. This Privacy Policy explains how we
collect, use, disclose, and safeguard information in compliance with
applicable laws, including the Health Insurance Portability and
Accountability Act (HIPAA).
This policy supplements our Notice of Privacy Practices, which is provided at intake and available upon request.
1. Confidentiality & Limits of Privacy
Information shared between a client and therapist is legally protected. However, confidentiality may be broken in limited circumstances required by law, including:
Suspected child abuse, dependent adult abuse, or elder abuse
Threats of serious bodily harm to another person, requiring notification of law enforcement and/or the intended victim
A client’s intent to harm themselves, when necessary steps must be taken to ensure safety
Mandatory reporting of sexual misconduct by other licensed professionals
Clinical consultation with supervisors for quality of care
Life Stone Group, LLC abides by all HIPAA practice standards.
2. Communication & Internet Privacy
While we take reasonable precautions to protect confidentiality, no internet communication can be guaranteed as fully secure.
We strongly discourage sending sensitive or clinical information via email or website forms.
Email should be used primarily for administrative matters (e.g., scheduling, billing questions).
Emails may be copied, archived, or retained by internet service providers and become part of the legal record.
Alternative methods of communication include phone, voicemail, mail, fax, or in-person contact.
For telehealth services, Life Stone uses HIPAA-compliant platforms. Clients are responsible for ensuring privacy in their own environment during virtual sessions.
3. Information Collected on Our Website
We collect minimal information, including:
IP addresses and basic analytics data for site performance
Information voluntarily submitted through forms, surveys, or appointment requests
We do not:
Monitor private communications
Retrieve personal data from your device without your knowledge
Display or share personal information without your consent
Life Stone Group, LLC is the sole owner of information collected through our website.
4. Cookies, Analytics & Log Files
Our website uses cookies to enhance functionality and user experience. You may disable cookies, though some features may be limited.
Third-party analytics providers may use cookies or web beacons to collect anonymized usage data.
IP addresses are used for aggregate trend analysis and are not linked to personally identifiable information.
5. Third-Party Service Providers
We work with trusted third parties (e.g., electronic health record systems, payment processors, analytics providers) to operate our services.
These vendors are contractually required to safeguard your information.
Credit card payments are processed through PCI-compliant systems; we do not store payment details.
Data is not sold or shared for marketing purposes.
6. Data Retention
Client records are retained only as long as required by state or federal law and are securely destroyed once retention periods expire
7. Your Rights & Choices
You may:
Transactional communications (e.g., appointment reminders, billing notices) are necessary and will continue.
8. Security Measures
We implement reasonable safeguards, including encryption, secure storage, and restricted access. However, no online transmission is entirely risk-free. In the event of a data breach involving protected information, we will notify affected individuals in accordance with applicable laws.
9. Children’s Privacy
Life Stone does not knowingly collect personal information from individuals under 18 through our website. Our services and site are not directed toward minors. If such information is inadvertently collected without verified parental consent, it will be promptly deleted.
10. Social Media & Technology Boundaries
Life Stone staff do not accept personal social media friend requests from clients.
Public interactions on social media are not confidential.
Clients should not contact Life Stone or staff via social media messaging for clinical or urgent matters.
Please use phone or secure email for communication.
These boundaries exist to protect client confidentiality and maintain clear therapeutic relationships.
11. External Links
Our website may contain links to third-party websites. Life Stone is not responsible for their content or privacy practices and encourages reviewing their policies independently.
12. Business Transfers
In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale, client data may be transferred to a successor entity. Any successor will remain bound by this Privacy Policy, and affected clients will be notified as required by law.
13. Policy Updates
This policy may be updated periodically. Changes will be posted on this page with a revised effective date. Continued use of our website or services constitutes acceptance of any updates.
Note: This policy supplements our Notice of Privacy Practices, provided at client intake or upon request.
