POLICIES
Our policies are designed to ensure a safe, transparent, and professional experience for every client. Please review the information below regarding privacy, SMS communications, appointment scheduling, cancellations, and other important practice guidelines.
SMS MESSAGING POLICY
SMS MESSAGING POLICY
Effective Date: 6/27/2024
At Empower Psychotherapy, LLC ("we," "us," or "our"), we use SMS messaging to enhance our communication with clients, particularly for appointment reminders. To comply with regulations and ensure that our clients have a positive experience, we have established the following SMS Messaging Policy.
OPT-IN CONSENT
1. Client Consent:
- Clients must opt-in to receive SMS appointment reminders and other informational text messages from us. This consent is obtained during the scheduling of appointments.
2. How to Opt-In:
- During the appointment scheduling process, clients will be asked if they wish to receive SMS reminders for their appointments.
- Clients can opt-in by checking the appropriate box or giving verbal consent during phone scheduling.
- The opt-in disclaimer displayed on our website and scheduling platforms will state: "By scheduling an appointment with Empower Psychotherapy, LLC, you agree to receive informational text messages, including appointment reminders. You may opt out at any time by replying STOP."
MESSAGE CONTENT
3. Types of Messages:
- Appointment reminders.
- Important updates related to your scheduled sessions.
- Information regarding any changes or cancellations of appointments.
4. Sample Messages:
- "Reminder: You have an appointment with Dr. Bryan Gastelle at Empower Psychotherapy, LLC on [Date] at [Time]. Reply STOP to opt out of these reminders."
OPT-OUT MECHANISM
5. How to Opt-Out:
- Clients can opt-out of receiving SMS messages at any time by replying STOP to any of our messages.
- Upon receiving a STOP message, we will promptly remove the client from our SMS messaging list.
6. Confirmation of Opt-Out:
- Clients who opt-out will receive a confirmation message: "You have successfully opted out of receiving SMS messages from Empower Psychotherapy, LLC. If you wish to re-subscribe, please contact our office."
7. SMS Terms of Service:
- By opting in to receive text messages from Empower Psychotherapy, LLC, you agree to receive transactional and operational updates, including appointment reminders and intake documentation status. Message frequency varies based on your appointment schedule. Message and data rates may apply. You can cancel the SMS service at any time by replying 'STOP'. After you send the SMS message 'STOP' to us, we will send you an SMS message to confirm that you have been unsubscribed. If you need assistance, reply 'HELP' or contact our administrative office directly at (480) 291-0769 or admin@empowerpsychotherapyllc.com.
DATA SECURITY AND PRIVACY
8. Protection of Information:
- We are committed to protecting your personal information. SMS messages will not contain sensitive personal or health information.
- For more details on how we protect your data, please refer to our Privacy Policy.
- No mobile information will be shared with third parties/affiliates for marketing/promotional purposes. All the above categories exclude text messaging originator opt-in data and consent; this information will not be shared with any third parties.
COMPLIANCE AND MONITORING
9. Compliance with Regulations:
- We adhere to all relevant regulations and guidelines for SMS messaging, including the CTIA Guidelines.
- Our messaging practices are regularly reviewed to ensure compliance with industry standards.
PRIVACY POLICY
Effective Date: 6/27/2024
Empower Psychotherapy, LLC ("we," "us," or "our") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website [insert website URL], use our services, or engage with us through various communication channels, including SMS and MMS messaging.
INFORMATION WE COLLECT
1. Personal Information:
- Contact Information: Name, email address, phone number, and mailing address.
- Health Information: Information related to your mental health and treatment, as provided during therapy sessions or through our intake forms.
- Payment Information: Credit card details and billing information for processing payments.
2. Non-Personal Information:
- Usage Data: Information about how you use our website and services, such as your IP address, browser type, access times, and pages viewed.
HOW WE USE YOUR INFORMATION
We may use the information we collect in the following ways:
1. To Provide Services:
- To schedule and manage appointments.
- To deliver therapy and counseling services.
- To communicate with you regarding your treatment and our services.
2. To Process Payments:
- To process and manage payments for our services.
3. To Improve Our Services:
- To understand how our services are used and to improve our offerings.
- To personalize your experience on our website.
4. To Communicate:
- To send you informational messages, including appointment reminders and updates about our services. We do not use SMS messaging for advertising or marketing purposes. You can opt out of receiving operational reminders at any time by replying STOP.
DISCLOSURE OF YOUR INFORMATION
Empower Psychotherapy, LLC does not sell, rent, trade, or share your personal information with outside parties except as strictly necessary to provide our services or as required by law.
1. SMS and Mobile Data Protection (Strict Exception):
- Notwithstanding any other language in this privacy policy, no mobile phone numbers, text messaging originator opt-in data, or consent information will be shared, sold, rented, or traded with third parties, service providers, affiliates, or partners for any reason. Text messaging originator opt-in data and consent are strictly excluded from all information-sharing categories; this information will not be shared with any third parties under any circumstances.
2. Administrative Service Providers:
- With the strict exception of SMS and text messaging data outlined above, we may share other necessary non-SMS information with trusted healthcare platforms that assist us in operating our practice, conducting our business, or serving our clients, so long as those parties agree to keep this information strictly confidential.
3. Legal Requirements::
- We may disclose your information if required to do so by law or in response to valid requests by public authorities (e.g., a court or government agency).
4. Business Transfers:
- In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of all or a portion of our assets, your clinical and operational information may be transferred as part of that transaction, excluding any SMS opt-in data or consent records.
DATA SECURITY
We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure. However, no data transmission over the internet or storage system can be guaranteed to be 100% secure.
YOUR RIGHTS
You have the right to access, correct, or delete your personal information. You may also have the right to object to or restrict certain types of data processing. To exercise these rights, please contact us using the information provided below.
CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or applicable laws. The updated policy will be posted on our website with the effective date.
LATE CANCEL AND NO CALL/NO SHOW POLICY
PURPOSE
To ensure the efficient use of appointment times and provide the best possible care to all clients, our practice has established the following policy for late cancellations and no call/no show appointments.
POLICY DETAILS
1. Late Cancellation:
- Definition: A late cancellation is defined as cancelling an appointment with less than 24 hours' notice.
- Fee: A fee of $75 will be charged for any appointment that is cancelled with less than 24 hours' notice.
- Procedure: If you need to cancel an appointment, please notify us as soon as possible. Cancellations can be made via phone, email, or through our online scheduling system.
2. No Call/No Show:
- Definition: A no call/no show is defined as failing to attend a scheduled appointment without providing any notice.
- Fee: A fee of $75 will be charged for any appointment that is missed without prior notification.
- Procedure: If you miss an appointment without notifying us in advance, the fee will be applied to your account and must be paid before scheduling any future appointments.
3. Exceptions:
- We understand that emergencies and unforeseen circumstances can occur. If you experience an emergency or situation beyond your control that prevents you from attending your appointment, please contact us as soon as possible to discuss the situation. We may waive the fee at our discretion.
4. Payment:
- The late cancellation and no call/no show fees will be charged to the credit card on file or must be paid before the next scheduled session.
- If you do not have a card on file, the fee must be paid in full before you can schedule or attend future appointments.
5. Communication:
- We will send reminders for scheduled appointments via email or text message. Please ensure that your contact information is up-to-date to receive these reminders.
6. Agreement:
- By scheduling an appointment with our practice, you agree to this late cancellation and no call/no show policy. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in helping us provide timely care to all our clients.
If you have any questions or concerns about this policy, please do not hesitate to contact our office.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
Sincerely,
Bryan Gastelle, PsyD
Empower Psychotherapy, LLC
(480) 291-0769