Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy is intended to explain how Bestowed Fortitude Counseling collects, uses, protects, and manages information provided by visitors, prospective clients, and clients who interact with our website or contact our practice.

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This Privacy Policy may include information about:

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• The types of personal information we may collect, such as name, phone number, email address, appointment request details, insurance-related information, and information voluntarily submitted through website forms or other communication methods.

• How information may be collected, including through website contact forms, appointment requests, phone calls, email communication, secure client portals, intake paperwork, or other interactions with our practice.

• Why information may be collected, such as responding to inquiries, scheduling appointments, providing counseling services, verifying benefits, communicating with clients, maintaining business records, and improving website functionality.

• How information may be used and protected in accordance with applicable privacy laws, professional ethical standards, and clinical confidentiality requirements.

• When information may be shared with third parties, such as billing services, electronic health record platforms, insurance companies, secure communication systems, legal or regulatory authorities, or other service providers necessary for practice operations.

• How clients or website visitors may request access to their information, ask questions about privacy practices, update inaccurate information, or request limitations when applicable.

• How information related to minors may be handled, including the role of parents, guardians, consent, confidentiality, and applicable legal or clinical requirements.

• The difference between general website communication and confidential clinical communication, including the importance of avoiding the submission of sensitive clinical, emergency, or crisis-related information through general website forms.

• How cookies, analytics tools, or similar website technologies may be used to understand website traffic, improve user experience, and maintain website functionality.

• How users may contact Bestowed Fortitude Counseling with questions about this Privacy Policy or privacy-related concerns.

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Because Bestowed Fortitude Counseling provides mental health services, this Privacy Policy should be read together with any informed consent forms, Notice of Privacy Practices, confidentiality agreements, and clinical documents provided during the counseling process. This website Privacy Policy does not replace those documents and may not describe every privacy right or legal protection that applies to counseling services.

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Information We May Collect

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Bestowed Fortitude Counseling may collect personal information that you voluntarily provide when you use our website, complete a contact form, request an appointment, communicate with our practice, or begin services.

This information may include:

• Name

• Phone number

• Email address

• Mailing address, if provided

• Preferred method of contact

• Appointment request information

• General reason for seeking services

• Insurance or billing-related information, if provided

• Information submitted through website forms, email, phone, or other communication methods

• Technical information related to website use, such as browser type, device type, pages visited, and general website activity

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We ask that visitors avoid submitting detailed clinical information, crisis information, trauma details, or highly sensitive personal health information through general website forms. If you become a client, clinical information should be shared through appropriate clinical forms, secure systems, intake documents, or direct communication with your therapist.

How We Collect Information

Information may be collected in several ways, including when you:

• Visit or browse our website

• Submit a contact form

• Request an appointment

• Call, text, or email the practice

• Complete intake paperwork

• Use a secure client portal, if available

• Participate in billing, insurance verification, or payment processes

• Communicate with our practice about services, scheduling, or administrative matters

Our website may also collect limited technical information through cookies, analytics tools, or similar technologies that help us understand website traffic, improve functionality, and maintain a better user experience.

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Why We Collect Information

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Bestowed Fortitude Counseling may collect and use information for purposes such as:

• Responding to inquiries

• Scheduling appointments

• Determining whether our services may be an appropriate fit

• Providing counseling and related services

• Communicating with clients and prospective clients

• Completing intake, billing, payment, and insurance-related processes

• Maintaining accurate business and clinical records

• Improving website functionality and user experience

• Complying with applicable legal, ethical, regulatory, and professional requirements

• Protecting the safety, rights, and security of clients, visitors, the practice, and others

We do not collect information for the purpose of selling personal information.

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Website Communication and Confidentiality

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Bestowed Fortitude Counseling takes privacy seriously; however, general website forms, standard email, text messaging, and other non-secure communication methods may not provide the same level of protection as secure client portals or formal clinical systems.

Please do not use website forms, email, or text messaging to submit urgent crisis concerns, detailed trauma histories, active safety concerns, or highly sensitive clinical information. These communication methods may be used for general inquiries, scheduling, and administrative communication, but they may not be appropriate for confidential clinical communication unless specifically authorized and secured.

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If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency or mental health crisis, do not wait for a response from this website. Call 911, go to the nearest emergency room, or contact a crisis service immediately.

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HIPAA, Clinical Records, and Notice of Privacy Practices

If Bestowed Fortitude Counseling is acting as a HIPAA-covered health care provider, certain information related to counseling services may be considered protected health information. Protected health information may be subject to HIPAA, applicable state laws, professional ethical standards, and clinical confidentiality requirements.

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Clients may receive additional documents as part of the counseling process, including informed consent paperwork, confidentiality disclosures, telehealth consent forms, financial agreements, and a Notice of Privacy Practices. These documents may explain in more detail how clinical information is used, disclosed, stored, and protected.

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This website Privacy Policy is not intended to replace the Notice of Privacy Practices or other clinical consent documents. In the event of a difference between this website Privacy Policy and the clinical documents provided to clients, the clinical documents and applicable law may control.

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How Information May Be Shared

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Bestowed Fortitude Counseling does not sell personal information. We may share information only when necessary, appropriate, authorized, or legally required.

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Information may be shared with:

• The client, parent, guardian, or authorized representative when appropriate

• Billing, payment, or insurance-related service providers

• Electronic health record or secure client portal providers

• Practice management platforms

• Website hosting or technology service providers

• Professional consultants, supervisors, attorneys, accountants, or compliance professionals, when appropriate

• Insurance companies, when applicable and authorized

• Health care providers or other professionals involved in care, when authorized or legally permitted

• Government, legal, regulatory, or licensing authorities when required by law

• Emergency services or appropriate parties when there is a serious concern for safety, harm, abuse, neglect, or other legally mandated reporting issue

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Clinical information is shared only in accordance with applicable law, professional ethical obligations, client authorization, and required clinical policies.

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Third-Party Services

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Our website or practice operations may use third-party services to support communication, scheduling, billing, website hosting, analytics, electronic health records, secure portals, or payment processing.

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These third parties may have access to limited information only as needed to perform their services. When required, Bestowed Fortitude Counseling seeks to use appropriate agreements and safeguards with third-party providers who may handle protected or sensitive information.

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Third-party websites, platforms, or links may have their own privacy practices. Bestowed Fortitude Counseling is not responsible for the privacy practices, security, or content of third-party websites that are not controlled by our practice.

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Cookies and Website Analytics

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Our website may use cookies, analytics tools, or similar technologies to help the website function properly, understand visitor activity, improve performance, and enhance user experience.

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Cookies are small data files that may be stored on your device when you visit a website. Website analytics may provide information such as pages visited, time spent on the website, browser type, device type, general location data, and referral sources.

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You may be able to disable cookies through your browser settings. However, disabling cookies may affect website functionality.

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Data Security

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Bestowed Fortitude Counseling takes reasonable steps to protect personal information from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. These steps may include administrative, technical, and physical safeguards appropriate to the nature of the information collected.

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No website, electronic communication method, or data storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure. By using this website or communicating electronically, you acknowledge that there are inherent risks associated with online communication and electronic information transmission.

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Data Retention

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Bestowed Fortitude Counseling retains information only as long as reasonably necessary for business, clinical, legal, regulatory, ethical, and professional purposes.

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Clinical records may be retained according to applicable federal and state laws, professional standards, insurance requirements, and practice policies. Website inquiry information and administrative communication may be retained for a reasonable period to support scheduling, documentation, follow-up, and business operations.

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Client and Visitor Rights

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Depending on applicable law and the type of information involved, clients and visitors may have certain rights related to their personal information. These may include the right to:

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• Ask what information has been collected

• Request correction of inaccurate information

• Request access to certain records

• Request restrictions on certain uses or disclosures, when applicable

• Withdraw certain authorizations, when permitted by law

• Ask questions about privacy practices

• File a privacy-related complaint

For clinical records or protected health information, rights may be explained more fully in the Notice of Privacy Practices and other clinical documents provided during the counseling process.

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Minors’ Privacy

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Bestowed Fortitude Counseling recognizes that privacy involving minors can be complex and may depend on the minor’s age, the type of service provided, consent requirements, custody arrangements, parental or guardian rights, and applicable state and federal law.

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Parents or legal guardians may have certain rights to access or authorize treatment information for minor clients. However, minors may also have certain confidentiality rights depending on applicable law and clinical circumstances.

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Because these issues can vary, privacy and confidentiality related to minors will be addressed through the intake process, informed consent documents, and applicable clinical policies.

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This website is not intended to collect personal information directly from children under the age of 13. If a parent or guardian believes a child has submitted information through this website, they may contact Bestowed Fortitude Counseling to request review or deletion of that information where appropriate.

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Email, Texting, and Electronic Communication

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Bestowed Fortitude Counseling may communicate with clients or prospective clients by phone, email, text message, website form, or secure portal when appropriate.

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Electronic communication may be used for scheduling, administrative questions, appointment reminders, billing matters, or general communication. It is not recommended for emergencies, crisis concerns, or detailed clinical discussions unless a secure and appropriate method has been established.

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By providing your contact information, you authorize Bestowed Fortitude Counseling to contact you using the information provided, unless you request otherwise.

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Telehealth Privacy

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If telehealth services are offered, Bestowed Fortitude Counseling makes reasonable efforts to use appropriate technology and privacy safeguards. Clients are responsible for participating in telehealth sessions from a private location whenever possible and using a secure internet connection.

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Additional telehealth consent forms may be provided before telehealth services begin. These forms may explain privacy risks, technology requirements, emergency procedures, location verification, and limitations of telehealth services.

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Payments and Billing Information

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If payments are accepted through the website, client portal, third-party processor, or another electronic system, payment information may be processed by a third-party payment provider. Bestowed Fortitude Counseling does not intentionally collect or store full payment card information unless specifically required and securely handled through an appropriate payment system.

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Billing and payment information may be used to process payments, issue receipts, manage balances, submit insurance claims when applicable, and maintain appropriate financial records.

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Links to Other Websites

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This website may contain links to other websites or resources. These links are provided for convenience or informational purposes only. Bestowed Fortitude Counseling is not responsible for the privacy practices, security, accuracy, or content of external websites.

Visitors are encouraged to review the privacy policies of any third-party websites they choose to visit.

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Changes to This Privacy Policy

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Bestowed Fortitude Counseling may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in practice operations, website features, legal requirements, or privacy practices.

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When updates are made, the effective date at the top of this Privacy Policy may be revised. Continued use of the website after changes are posted indicates acknowledgement of the updated Privacy Policy.

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Contact Information

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If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, website privacy practices, or how your information may be handled, you may contact:

Bestowed Fortitude Counseling
11605 Meridian Market View PMB #138 Falcon, Colorado 80831
(719) 726-5530
admin@bestowedfortitude.com

https://www.bestowedfortitude.com/

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If you are a current client and have questions about your clinical privacy rights, confidentiality, records, or protected health information, please refer to your informed consent documents and Notice of Privacy Practices or contact the practice directly.