Privacy Policy

Last Updated: July 6, 2026

Healing Arts with Janet (“we,” “us,” “our,” or the “Practice”) operates the website located at healingjanet.com (the “Site”) and provides virtual (telehealth) mental health and therapy services to clients in Texas and Illinois. The Practice is operated by Janet Dowell, Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) — Texas License #59264 and Illinois License #149.030480 — and Certified Art Therapy Practitioner. We are committed to protecting the privacy and security of your personal and health information. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use and share it, and the rights you have.

1. Scope of This Policy

This Privacy Policy applies to information collected through:

• Your use of the Site, including any contact forms, appointment-request forms, intake questionnaires, and client portals;

• Communications with us by email, telephone, text message, or messaging within a client portal; and

• Our provision of telehealth therapy services.

Your Protected Health Information (PHI) — information created or received in the course of providing you clinical services — is governed primarily by the Notice of Privacy Practices (NPP) described in Section 3 and by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (“HIPAA”), the Texas Medical Records Privacy Act, the Illinois Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Confidentiality Act, and other applicable law. Where this Privacy Policy and the Notice of Privacy Practices conflict with respect to PHI, the Notice of Privacy Practices controls.

---

2. Information We Collect

Information you provide directly:

• Identifying information: name, date of birth, mailing address, email address, and phone number.

• Appointment and scheduling information.

• Intake and clinical information you choose to submit, including reason for seeking services, health history, insurance information, and payment details.

• Emergency contact and, for minor clients, parent/guardian information.

• Any content you include in messages, forms, or uploads.

Information collected automatically when you use the Site:

• Device and usage data such as IP address, browser type, operating system, pages viewed, and dates/times of access.

• Cookies and similar technologies (see Section 8).

Information from third parties:

• Insurance eligibility and benefits information from payers (if applicable).

• Information from a parent, legal guardian, or referring provider, where permitted by law.

We collect only the information reasonably necessary to provide services, operate the Site, and comply with our legal obligations.

---

3. Notice of Privacy Practices (Protected Health Information)

As a HIPAA-covered health care provider, we maintain a separate Notice of Privacy Practices that describes in detail how we may use and disclose your PHI, and your rights regarding that information. You will receive the Notice of Privacy Practices at or before your first appointment, and it is available on request and at healingjanet.com/privacy-policy. Please refer to that Notice for the governing terms regarding your clinical health information.

---

4. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Provide, coordinate, and manage your telehealth therapy services (treatment);

• Schedule, confirm, and remind you of appointments;

• Process payments and handle billing and insurance (payment);

• Operate, maintain, and improve the Site and our practice (health care operations);

• Communicate with you and respond to your inquiries;

• Verify identity and eligibility for services, including confirming that you are located in a state where we are licensed to provide care at the time of service;

• Comply with legal, regulatory, licensing, and professional obligations; and

• Protect the safety of clients and others, including responding to emergencies.

We do not sell your personal information or PHI, and we do not use your PHI for marketing without your written authorization, except as permitted by law.

---

5. How We Share Your Information

We may share your information as follows, consistent with HIPAA and applicable state law:

• With your consent or authorization, including disclosures you direct us to make.

• With business associates and service providers who perform functions on our behalf (for example, a HIPAA-compliant telehealth video platform, electronic health record system, scheduling service, or payment processor). These vendors are bound by Business Associate Agreements requiring them to safeguard your information.

• For treatment, payment, and health care operations, as described in our Notice of Privacy Practices.

• When required or permitted by law, including in response to court orders, subpoenas, or lawful requests; to report suspected abuse or neglect of a child, elderly person, or person with a disability; and to prevent or lessen a serious and imminent threat to health or safety.

• In connection with a business transition, such as a merger or transfer of the practice, subject to applicable law.

Disclosures of mental health information receive heightened protection. In Illinois, disclosures are further governed by the Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Confidentiality Act (740 ILCS 110/); in Texas, by the Texas Health & Safety Code confidentiality provisions and applicable licensing-board rules. We will not disclose your mental health records except as authorized by you or as specifically permitted by these laws.

---

6. Minors and Parental Rights

We provide services to both adult and minor (teen) clients. The rights of minors and their parents/guardians vary by state:

• Illinois: Under 405 ILCS 5/3-550, a minor 12 years of age or older may request and receive outpatient counseling or psychotherapy, and the consent of a parent or guardian is not required to authorize those services, subject to statutory session limits before a parent or guardian is notified or involved, and to the clinician’s professional judgment. Confidentiality and access to records for minors are governed by the Illinois Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Confidentiality Act.

• Texas: Generally, a parent or legal guardian consents to and may access the treatment records of a minor, except in the limited circumstances in which a minor may consent to their own treatment under the Texas Family Code (for example, certain situations involving suicide prevention or substance abuse). Parental access to records may be limited where disclosure would endanger the minor or where otherwise restricted by law.

Where a parent or guardian consents to and participates in a minor’s care, we may share information with that parent or guardian as permitted or required by law, balanced against the minor’s confidentiality rights and the clinician’s professional and ethical obligations. If you have questions about your rights as a parent, guardian, or minor client, please contact us.

We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 through the Site without appropriate consent, and the Site is not directed to children under 13 for general marketing purposes.

---

7. Data Security

We maintain administrative, physical, and technical safeguards designed to protect your information, including the use of HIPAA-compliant service providers, encryption in transit for telehealth sessions and portal communications where reasonably available, access controls, and staff training. However, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security. Please avoid sending sensitive clinical information through unsecured email or text; use the secure client portal where provided.

In the event of a breach of unsecured PHI, we will notify affected individuals and applicable authorities as required by HIPAA and state breach-notification laws.

---

8. Cookies and Analytics

The Site may use cookies, web beacons, and similar technologies to operate the Site, remember preferences, and understand how the Site is used. We may use analytics providers to collect aggregated usage data. You can control cookies through your browser settings; disabling cookies may affect Site functionality. We do not use tracking technologies to collect PHI for advertising purposes.

---

9. Third-Party Links

The Site may contain links to third-party websites or resources. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of those third parties. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any site you visit.

---

10. Your Rights

Depending on the information involved and applicable law, you may have the right to:

• Access and obtain a copy of your records;

• Request corrections or amendments to your records;

• Request restrictions on certain uses and disclosures;

• Request confidential communications by alternative means or locations;

• Receive an accounting of certain disclosures; and

• File a complaint if you believe your privacy rights have been violated.

Rights specific to your PHI are described in detail in our Notice of Privacy Practices. To exercise any right, contact us using the information in Section 13. You may also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights, without fear of retaliation.

---

11. Data Retention

We retain records for the period required by applicable law and professional licensing requirements, which may differ for adult and minor clients (for minors, retention periods are often measured from the age of majority). After the applicable retention period, records are securely destroyed.

---

12. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The “Last Updated” date at the top reflects the most recent revision. Material changes affecting your PHI will be communicated as required by law. Your continued use of the Site after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the revised Policy.

---

13. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to exercise your rights, please contact:

Healing Arts with Janet
Attn: Janet Dowell, LCSW (Privacy Officer)
Texas
Phone: 469-715-2026
Email: [email protected]