PRIVACY POLICY

SHIFT Your Journey® Mental Health Counseling, PLLC

WEBSITE PRIVACY POLICY

Applies to all visitors and users of www.shiftyourjourney.com

Effective Date: March 6, 2026

SHIFT Your Journey Mental Health Counseling, PLLC Website Privacy Policy

Effective Date: March 13, 2026

This Website Privacy Policy ("Policy") explains how SHIFT Your Journey Mental Health Counseling, PLLC ("SHIFT Your Journey®," "we," "us," or "our") collects, uses, and protects information gathered through our website at www.shiftyourjourney.com (the "Site").

This Policy applies to all visitors to the Site, including prospective clients, current clients accessing general website content, and anyone who contacts us through the Site. It governs non-clinical website data only.

If you are a current or prospective client, your Protected Health Information (PHI) is governed separately by our Notice of Privacy Practices (NPP), which is available on our website and provided to you upon request. This Policy does not replace or modify the NPP.

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Information You Provide Voluntarily

When you contact us through our website, request an appointment, or submit a form, you may provide:

  • Name and contact information (phone number, email address)

  • General inquiry or reason for contact

  • Insurance information submitted through intake or inquiry forms

  • Any information you choose to include in a message or contact form

We collect only what is necessary to respond to your inquiry or facilitate your appointment request. You are not required to provide health information through this Site.

1.2 Information Collected Automatically

When you visit our Site, certain technical information is collected automatically by our web hosting platform (Squarespace) and any analytics tools we use. This may include:

  • IP address and general geographic location (city/region level)

  • Browser type, device type, and operating system

  • Pages visited, time spent on pages, and referring website

  • Date and time of your visit

This information is collected in aggregate and is used solely to understand how our Site is used and to improve its functionality. We do not use this data to identify individual visitors.

1.3 Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Our Site may use cookies and similar technologies. Cookies are small text files placed on your device that help us understand how visitors use our Site. We use only functional and analytics cookies. We do not use marketing or behavioral tracking cookies that would transmit health-related information to third parties.

You may disable cookies through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect the functionality of certain pages on our Site. Our Site does not respond to "Do Not Track" browser signals at this time.

Important: If you are an existing client and log in to a client portal or scheduling system, that portal is governed by a separate Business Associate Agreement and HIPAA-compliant privacy practices, not by this Website Privacy Policy.

1.4 Third-Party Analytics

We use third-party analytics services to help us understand aggregate visitor behavior on our Site. These services may collect non-identifying technical data. We do not permit these services to use your data for their own marketing or advertising purposes.

We may also use third-party advertising and analytics tools, which may include technologies provided by Meta (Facebook) and Google, to understand website traffic and support our outreach efforts. These tools may collect non-identifying technical data about your visit to this Site, such as pages viewed and time spent. We do not knowingly permit third-party advertising platforms to receive, access, or use any protected health information or personally identifiable health-related information through this Site. If you have concerns about the use of tracking technologies, you may adjust your browser settings to limit or block cookies. Note that doing so may affect the functionality of certain features on this Site.

2. How We Use Information Collected Through This Site

We use information collected through this Site solely for the following purposes:

  • To respond to your inquiry or appointment request

  • To communicate with you about our services

  • To improve the content, navigation, and usability of our Site

  • To comply with applicable legal obligations

We do not sell, rent, or trade your information to any third party.

3. SMS Text Message Communications

3.1 Administrative & Care Coordination Messages

By providing your phone number and checking the SMS consent box on our intake form, you consent to receive recurring automated SMS text messages from SHIFT Your Journey® Mental Health Counseling, PLLC for appointment reminders, scheduling confirmations, scheduling changes, and administrative communications related to your care. SMS messages will never contain Protected Health Information (PHI), billing details, or clinical content. Message frequency varies (typically 2–4 messages per month). Message and data rates may apply. Reply HELP for support. Reply STOP to opt out at any time.

3.2 Marketing Messages

Consent to receive marketing or promotional SMS messages is entirely voluntary and separate from your consent to receive administrative communications. Consent to receive marketing SMS is not required to receive services. Marketing SMS consent may be revoked at any time without affecting your care in any way. Marketing messages may include practice updates, new service announcements, wellness resources, blog content, and mental health awareness information. Message frequency varies. Message and data rates may apply. Reply HELP for assistance. Reply STOP to unsubscribe at any time.

3.3 SMS Consent & Data Practices

SMS consent is collected in writing through our client intake form. SMS consent is not shared with third parties or affiliates. We do not sell or share your phone number or SMS consent status for any marketing purposes. You may opt out at any time by replying STOP to any message or by contacting us at Hello@shiftyourjourney.com.

4. How We Share Information

We do not share personal information collected through this Site with third parties except in the following limited circumstances:

  • With our website hosting platform (Squarespace) and other service providers who operate our Site under confidentiality obligations, solely to deliver website services

  • When required by law, court order, or valid legal process

  • To protect the safety of any person where we reasonably believe a threat exists

We do not share information collected through this Site with advertisers, data brokers, or any third party for commercial purposes.

5. Data Security

We implement reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect information submitted through this Site against unauthorized access, disclosure, or loss. Our website is hosted on a platform that maintains its own security standards.

No method of internet transmission is 100% secure. If you have concerns about communicating sensitive information through our Site, you may contact us via email at Hello@shiftyourjourney.com.

6. Minors and Children Under 13

This Site is not directed to children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 through this Site. If you believe a child under 13 has submitted personal information through our Site, please contact us immediately at Hello@shiftyourjourney.com.

Clients ages 13–17 may only access services through a parent or legal guardian. Intake and clinical data for minor clients is governed by our Notice of Privacy Practices, not this Website Privacy Policy.

7. Third-Party Links

Our Site may contain links to third-party websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of those sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit through links on our Site.

8. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Website Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices or applicable law. When we make material changes, we will update the Effective Date at the top of this Policy and post the revised version on this page. We encourage you to review this Policy periodically.

9. Contact Us

For questions about this Website Privacy Policy, to exercise any applicable rights regarding your data, or to report a concern, please contact us using the information below. Email is our preferred and fastest method of contact. Requests submitted by mail will be processed in the order received and may take longer to address.

SHIFT Your Journey Mental Health Counseling, PLLC 75 S. Broadway, 4th Floor White Plains, NY 10601 Email: Hello@shiftyourjourney.com Phone: 914-221-3200 Website: www.shiftyourjourney.com

This Website Privacy Policy governs website visitor data only. For information about how your Protected Health Information is used and protected in the course of your clinical care, please review our Notice of Privacy Practices, available on our website or upon request.