General Privacy Policy and Electronic Contact Policy
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Last updated: December 07, 2024
This Privacy Policy outlines our policies and procedures regarding the collection, use, and disclosure of your information when you interact with Changing Tides Counseling, LLC. This includes when you visit our website, reach out for information, or initiate steps to become a client. It also explains your privacy rights and how the law protects you.
We use your personal data to provide and improve our services. By interacting with us, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this Privacy Policy.
You can review our HIPAA Privacy Policy below, which specifically outline your privacy rights as a healthcare patient.

Interpretation and DefinitionsInterpretationWords with initial capital letters have specific meanings as defined in this section. These definitions apply regardless of whether the terms appear in singular or plural form.
Definitions
  • Account: A unique account created for you to access parts of our Service.
  • Affiliate: An entity under shared ownership or control with the Company.
  • Company: Changing Tides Counseling, LLC, 8130 S. Meridian St. Ste 4A, Indianapolis, IN 46217.
  • Cookies: Small files placed on your device to store information about your activity.
  • Country: Indiana, United States.
  • Device: Any device that can access the Service (e.g., computer, smartphone, tablet).
  • Personal Data: Information that identifies or relates to an individual.
  • Service: The website www.changingtidescounseling.com.
  • Service Provider: Third-party entities that process data on our behalf.
  • Usage Data: Information collected automatically during your use of the Service.
  • You: The individual accessing or using the Service or the legal entity on whose behalf they do so.

Collecting and Using Your Personal DataTypes of Data Collected
  1. Personal Data:
    Includes your email, name, phone number, and address when you directly provide this information to us.
  2. Usage Data:
    Collected automatically, such as IP address, browser type, and pages visited.
Tracking Technologies and CookiesWe use cookies and similar technologies, such as:
  • Browser Cookies: Stored on your device unless disabled in your browser settings.
  • Web Beacons: Small electronic files embedded in emails or web pages for analytics.
Cookies may be:
  • Session Cookies: Deleted when you close your browser.
  • Persistent Cookies: Stored on your device for future sessions.
Learn more in our Cookies Policy.

We Do Not Collect Data for Marketing or PromotionsAs a mental health provider, we do not collect or share your personal data for marketing or promotional purposes. Any tracking or analytics data we collect is used solely to monitor website traffic or improve your experience on our site. We do not use your personal information for advertising or share it with third parties for promotional purposes. 

Use of Your Personal Data: We may use the personal data you provide for the following purposes:
  • To provide and maintain services
  • To manage your account
  • To respond to your inquiries
  • To comply with healthcare-related laws and regulations
  • For data analysis to improve our services and user experience

We do not use your data for marketing or share it with third parties for marketing, sales or promotional purposes.

Location Data: We may collect anonymous location data for the purpose of customizing your service experience. This data is not tied to your identity and is only used to improve the quality of our services.

Access and Deletion of Your Personal Data: You have the right to access or request the deletion of your personal data. If you are a client, we are required to retain certain information for legal, healthcare, or operational purposes, in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. However, if you are simply inquiring about our services, you can request that we delete any personal information we have collected, such as your name, address, phone number, or email, by contacting us directly.

To request access to or deletion of your personal data, please log into your account (if applicable) or contact us directly.

Consent for Communication via Texts, Email, and Phone Calls:
Changing Tides Counseling, LLC offers the option to communicate with clients via texts, email, and phone calls for scheduling, billing, insurance inquiries, appointment reminders, and other matters. These methods provide convenience but may not be fully secure.

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. 

Opting Out of Text Messages: You have the right to opt out of receiving text messages from Changing Tides Counseling at any time. To opt-out, you can reply "STOP" to any text message you receive from us. 

Sharing of Personal Information: We do 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.. 

Data Transfers and SecurityYour data may be processed in other regions or countries with differing privacy laws. We take reasonable steps to ensure its security during transfers.

Children's Privacy: We do not knowingly collect data from children under 13 without parental consent, as required under laws such as COPPA (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act).

Changes to This Privacy PolicyWe may update our Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the updated policy on this page. You are advised to review this Privacy Policy periodically for any changes.

Contact Us: If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, you can contact us:
Notice of HIPAA Privacy Practices

​Changing Tides Counseling, LLC
8130 S. Meridian St. Suite A4, Indianapolis, IN 46217
317-889-0635
Info@CTCounseling.net

EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS NOTICE: This notice went into effect on June 10, 2021.

NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES

THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW HEALTH INFORMATION MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.

I. OUR PLEDGE REGARDING HEALTH INFORMATION:
We understand that health information about you and your health care is personal. We are committed to protecting health information about you. We create a record of the care and services you receive from Changing Tides Counseling. We need this record to provide you with quality care and to comply with certain legal requirements. This notice applies to all of the records of your care generated by Changing Tides Counseling, LLC. This notice will tell you about how we may use and disclose health information about you. We also describe your rights to the health information we keep about you and describe certain obligations we have regarding the use and disclosure of your health information. We are required by law to:
  • Make sure that protected health information (“PHI”) that identifies you is kept private.
  • Give you this notice of our legal duties and privacy practices concerning health information.
  • Follow the terms of the notice that is currently in effect.
  • We can change the terms of this Notice, and such changes will apply to all information we have about you. The new Notice will be available upon request, in our office, and on our website.

II. HOW WE MAY USE AND DISCLOSE HEALTH INFORMATION ABOUT YOU:
The following categories describe different ways that we use and disclose health information. For each category of uses or disclosures, we will explain and try to provide examples. Not every use or disclosure in a category will be listed. However, all of the ways we are permitted to use and disclose information will fall within one of the categories.

For Treatment Payment or Health Care Operations:
Federal privacy rules (regulations) allow healthcare providers who have a direct treatment relationship with the patient/client to use or disclose the patient/client’s personal health information without the patient’s written authorization, to carry out the healthcare provider’s own treatment, payment, or health care operations. We may also disclose your protected health information for the treatment activities of any healthcare provider. This too can be done without your written authorization. For example, if a clinician were to consult with another licensed healthcare provider about your condition, we would be permitted to use and disclose your personal health information, which is otherwise confidential, to assist the clinician in the diagnosis and treatment of your mental health condition.
Disclosures for treatment purposes are not limited to the minimum necessary standard. Because therapists and other health care providers need access to the full record and/or complete information to provide quality care. The word “treatment” includes, among other things, the coordination and management of health care providers with a third party, consultations between health care providers, and referrals of a patient for health care from one health care provider to another. Please note, that therapists are included in the term healthcare provider.

Lawsuits and Disputes:
If you are involved in a lawsuit, we may disclose health information in response to a court or administrative order. we may also disclose health information about your child in response to a subpoena, discovery request, or other lawful processes by someone else involved in the dispute, but only if efforts have been made to tell you about the request or to obtain an order protecting the information requested.

III. CERTAIN USES AND DISCLOSURES REQUIRE YOUR AUTHORIZATION:
  1. Psychotherapy Notes: We may keep “psychotherapy notes” as that term is defined in 45 CFR § 164.501, and any use or disclosure of such notes requires your Authorization unless the use or disclosure is: a. For our use in treating you. b. For our use in training or supervising mental health practitioners to help them improve their skills in group, joint, family, or individual counseling or therapy. c. For our use in defending ourselves in legal proceedings instituted by you. d. For use by the Secretary of Health and Human Services to investigate my compliance with HIPAA. e. Required by law and the use or disclosure is limited to the requirements of such law. f. Required by law for certain health oversight activities about the originator of the psychotherapy notes. g. Required by a coroner who is performing duties authorized by law. h. Required to help avert a serious threat to the health and safety of others.
  2. Marketing Purposes: We will not use or disclose your PHI for marketing purposes.
  3. Sale of PHI: We will never sell your PHI.

IV. CERTAIN USES AND DISCLOSURES DO NOT REQUIRE YOUR AUTHORIZATION:
Subject to certain limitations in the law, we can use and disclose your PHI without your Authorization for the following reasons:
  1. When disclosure is required by state or federal law, and the use or disclosure complies with and is limited to the relevant requirements of such law.
  2. For public health activities, including reporting suspected child, elder, or dependent adult abuse, or preventing or reducing a serious threat to anyone’s health or safety.
  3. For health oversight activities, including audits and investigations.
  4. For judicial and administrative proceedings, including responding to a court or administrative order, my preference is to obtain authorization from you before doing so.
  5. For law enforcement purposes, including reporting crimes occurring on our premises.
  6. To coroners or medical examiners, when such individuals are performing duties authorized by law.
  7. For research purposes, including studying and comparing the mental health of patients who received one form of therapy versus those who received another form of therapy for the same condition.
  8. For workers’ compensation purposes. Although our preference is to obtain authorization from you, we may provide your PHI to comply with workers’ compensation laws.
  9. Appointment reminders, appointment scheduling and health-related benefits or services. We may use and disclose your PHI to contact you by phone, email, or text to remind you that you have an appointment with Changing Tides Counseling or for purposes of scheduling. We may also use and disclose your PHI to tell you about treatment alternatives, or other healthcare services or benefits that we offer.

10. Consent for Communication via Texts, Email, and Phone Calls:
Changing Tides Counseling, LLC offers the option to communicate with clients via texts, email, and phone calls for scheduling, billing, insurance inquiries, appointment reminders, and other matters. These methods provide convenience but may not be fully secure.

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. 

Opting Out of Text Messages: You have the right to opt out of receiving text messages from Changing Tides Counseling at any time. To opt-out, you can reply "STOP" to any text message you receive from us. 

Sharing of Personal Information: We do 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.. 

V. CERTAIN USES AND DISCLOSURES REQUIRE YOU TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO OBJECT.
  • Text messages
  • Email
  • Phone calls
  1. You consent to being contacted at the phone number and email address you have provided for non-urgent purposes.
  2. You understand that electronic communication, such as texts and email, is not encrypted and may pose privacy risks.
  3. You accept responsibility for notifying Changing Tides Counseling, LLC of any changes to your contact information.
  4. You may withdraw your opt-in consent at any time by providing written notice.
  5. You acknowledge that electronic communication is not appropriate for emergencies or urgent matters.
  6. Disclosures to your family, friends, or others. We may provide your PHI to a family member, friend, or another person that you indicate is involved in your care or the payment for your health care unless you object in whole or in part. The opportunity to consent may be obtained retroactively in emergencies or situations in which you are found to be a danger to yourself or others and are unwilling or unable to engage in an appropriate safety plan.

VI. YOU HAVE THE FOLLOWING RIGHTS CONCERNING YOUR PHI:
  1. The Right to Request Limits on Uses and Disclosures of Your PHI.
    You have the right to ask us not to use or disclose certain PHI for treatment, payment, or health care operations purposes. We are not required to agree to your request, and we may decline, if we believe it would affect your health care.
  2. The Right to Request Restrictions for Out-of-Pocket Expenses Paid for In Full.
    You have the right to request restrictions on disclosures of your PHI to health plans for payment or health care operations purposes if the PHI pertains solely to a health care item or a health care service that you have paid for out-of-pocket in full.
  3. The Right to Choose How We Send PHI to You.
    You have the right to ask Changing Tides or your therapist to contact you in a specific way (for example, at home or office phone) or to send mail to a different address, and we will agree to all reasonable requests. We cannot guarantee full privacy when utilizing texting and we encourage you to limit the PHI you share via text with your therapist. If you do not want any PHI to be disclosed using these methods by Changing Tides Counseling, LLC, please immediately notify our clinical team: Krista@ctcounseling.net and/or ShelbyJo@ctcounseling.netThe Right to See and Get Copies of Your PHI.
    Other than “psychotherapy notes,” you have the right to get an electronic or paper copy of your medical record and other information that we have about you. We will provide you with a copy of your record, or a summary of it, if you agree to receive a summary, within 30 days of receiving your written request assuming that your therapist does not feel it will create harm to you. We may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee for administrative time to copy your chart and mail it to you.
  4. The Right to Get a List of the Disclosures We Have Made.
    You have the right to request a list of instances in which we have disclosed your PHI for purposes other than treatment, payment, or healthcare operations, or for which you provided us with authorization. We will respond to your request for an accounting of disclosures within 60 days of receiving your request. We will provide the list to you at no charge, but if you make more than one request in the same year, We may charge you a reasonable cost-based fee for each additional request.
  5. The Right to Correct or Update Your PHI.
    If you believe that there is a mistake in your PHI, or that a piece of important information is missing from your PHI, you have the right to request that we correct the existing information or add the missing information. We may decline your request but agree to explain our reasoning in writing within 60 days of receiving your request.
  6. The Right to Get a Paper or Electronic Copy of this Notice.
    You have the right to get a paper copy of this Notice, and/or you have the right to obtain a copy of this notice by e-mail.
Acknowledgment of Receipt of Privacy Notice
Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), you have certain rights regarding the use and disclosure of your protected health information. When becoming a client at Changing Tides Counseling, you will be asked to acknowledge that you have received a copy of the HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices.

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