ALP Therapy Services – Privacy Policy
Who We Are and What This Policy Covers
ALP Therapy Services is a mental health practice in Atlanta, Georgia. We provide individual, couples, family, teen, and premarital counseling.
This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, protect, and share personal information when you visit our website, contact us, schedule services, or sign up to receive text messages from us.
If you are a client, the health information in your clinical record is also protected by federal law (HIPAA) and Georgia law. How we handle that information is described in our separate Notice of Privacy Practices, which you receive at intake. If this policy and the Notice of Privacy Practices ever conflict about your health information, the Notice of Privacy Practices controls.
By using our website or services, or by opting in to text messages, you agree to the practices described in this policy
Information We Collect
We collect only the information we need to respond to you and provide care.
Contact information: Name, phone number, email address, mailing address
Scheduling information: Appointment requests, preferred times, type of service
Insurance and billing information: Insurance carrier, member ID, billing details
Health and intake information: Reason for seeking care, history, intake forms
Text message consent records: Your phone number, date and time you opted in, how you opted in, opt-out requests
Website usage information: Browser type, pages visited, general location, cookies
We do not ask for more information than we need. You may choose not to provide certain information, but that may limit our ability to schedule or serve you.
How We Use Your Information
We use your information only for the purposes you agreed to, including:
- Responding to your questions and requests for services
- Scheduling, confirming, and reminding you of appointments
- Providing counseling and therapy services
- Verifying insurance and processing payments
- Sending text messages you have opted in to receive
- Improving our website and the way we communicate with you
- Meeting our legal, licensing, and professional obligations
We do not use your information for any purpose you have not agreed to, and we never sell it.
Sharing of Personal Information
ALP Therapy services will not share, sell, or disclose your personal information or mobile opt-in data to third parties without your explicit consent, except where required by law. Your information is kept confidential and used solely for the purposes you have agreed to. All the above categories exclude text messaging originator opt-in data and consent; this information will not be shared with third parties. Text messaging opt-in data is not being shared with third parties.
We may share limited information only in these situations:
- Service providers who help us run the practice. For example, our billing and insurance partner (Headway), scheduling, and secure messaging providers. They may use your information only to perform services for us and must protect it. Where health information is involved, they sign a Business Associate Agreement as required by HIPAA.
- When required by law. For example, a valid court order, mandated reporting of suspected child or elder abuse, or a serious and imminent threat to someone’s safety.
- With your written permission. For example, if you ask us to coordinate with another provider.
All the above categories exclude text messaging originator opt-in data and consent; this information will not be shared with third parties. Text messaging opt-in data is not being shared with third parties.
Consent and Opt-In
By providing your phone number and opting in to receive text messages, you consent to the collection and use of your personal information as described in this policy. We ensure that your consent is obtained explicitly and that you are informed about the types of messages you will receive.
How you opt in. You opt in by checking an unchecked consent box on our website or intake form, by texting a keyword we provide, or by giving verbal or written consent to our staff. Opting in is never required to receive services.
What we text about. Appointment reminders and confirmations, scheduling and rescheduling, intake and paperwork reminders, billing notices, and general practice updates.
What we do not text. We do not send detailed clinical or diagnostic information by text. Text messages are not a secure channel for therapy and are not monitored for emergencies.
Message frequency. Message frequency varies based on your appointments and requests.
Cost. Message and data rates may apply, depending on your mobile carrier and plan.
Help. Reply HELP to any message for assistance, or contact us using the information in Section 8.
Carriers. Mobile carriers are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages.
If you are in crisis, do not text us. Call or text 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline), call 911, or go to the nearest emergency room.
Opting Out of Text Messages
You have the right to opt out of receiving text messages from ALP Therapy Services at any time. To opt out, you can reply “STOP” to any text message you receive from us.
After you reply STOP, you will receive one final message confirming that you have been unsubscribed, and no further texts will be sent. To start receiving texts again, reply “START” or ask our staff to re-enroll you. Opting out of texts does not affect your care or your appointments.
Protecting and Keeping Your Information
Security. We use reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards, including HIPAA-compliant systems, password protection, and limited staff access. No method of electronic transmission or storage is 100% secure, but we work to protect your information and will notify you of a breach as required by law.
How long we keep it. We keep clinical records for as long as Georgia law and our licensing boards require. Text message consent records are kept for as long as you are subscribed and for a reasonable period afterward to show proof of consent.
Minors. Our website is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect their information online. Services for teens are arranged with a parent or legal guardian.
Cookies. You can set your browser to refuse cookies. Some parts of our website may not work as intended if you do.
Your rights. You may ask us to see, correct, or update your personal information, or to stop contacting you. Clients have additional rights over their health records, described in our Notice of Privacy Practices.
Changes to this policy. We may update this policy from time to time. The “Effective date” below shows when it last changed. Significant changes will be posted on our website.
Suggested text: If you have an account on this site, or have left comments, you can request to receive an exported file of the personal data we hold about you, including any data you have provided to us. You can also request that we erase any personal data we hold about you. This does not include any data we are obliged to keep for administrative, legal, or security purposes.
Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, you may text us at (770) 927-7299.
ALP Therapy Services
2255 Cumberland Pkwy SE Building 500, Suite 300, Atlanta, GA 30339