Privacy Policy
Privacy Policy
This Privacy Policy explains how your personal information is collected, used, and protected when you visit or interact with this website. The site is owned and operated by Chantell Smeisser, LCSW, who provides psychotherapy and EMDR consultation services.
Throughout this policy, the terms "we," "us," and "our" refer to Chantell Smeisser, LCSW. The terms "you" and "your" refer to any visitor, therapy client, clinician, or user of the website.
We collect personal information that you voluntarily provide via the contact form, email, phone calls, or integrated booking platforms. This may include your name, email address, phone number, professional background (for clinicians), and any messages or inquiries you submit.
Additionally, like most websites, this site may automatically collect certain non-personal information through cookies and log files, such as your IP address, browser type, and the pages you visit, to help optimize website functionality.
We use the information you provide to:
Respond to your inquiries and questions
Schedule appointments for therapy or consultation
Provide information about our clinical and professional services
Maintain secure communication as needed for our work together
Text Messaging and SMS Privacy
If you provide your phone number and consent to receive text messages from us, your SMS opt-in data and consent will be held in strict confidence. We do not share, sell, or rent text messaging opt-in data or phone numbers with third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes under any circumstances.
Third-Party Sharing and HIPAA Compliance
We do not sell, rent, or lease your personal information to third parties. We only share your data with trusted, HIPAA-compliant third-party partners (such as Electronic Health Records systems, billing platforms, or credentialing services) as necessary to securely facilitate your care, schedule sessions, and process payments. We may also disclose information if strictly required by law or professional ethical standards.
California Privacy Rights (CalOPPA / CCPA)
Because our practice operates in California, we comply with California privacy regulations. Please note that our website does not currently alter its behavior in response to "Do Not Track" signals from web browsers.
Data Retention
Your personal data is retained for only as long as necessary to:
Fulfill your request for services
Comply with California state laws, medical record retention mandates, and legal, ethical, and professional standards for psychotherapy and consultation
If you begin clinical services, your data will be securely stored and protected within a dedicated HIPAA-compliant electronic health record system.
We take reasonable and industry-standard steps to safeguard your personal information using secure, HIPAA-compliant platforms for communication, scheduling, and documentation. While no internet-based system is completely immune to breaches, we will notify you promptly in accordance with applicable laws if we become aware of any security incident affecting your personal data.
You have the right to request access to the personal data we hold about you, ask for corrections, or request deletion where applicable by law and professional medical records regulations. You may also withdraw your consent to be contacted at any time, unless continued communication is required for ongoing clinical services or legal compliance.
This Privacy Policy may be updated periodically to reflect changes in our practices or legal obligations. Any updates will be posted directly on this page with a revised effective date.
If you have questions about how your information is collected or used, or about this privacy policy, please feel free to contact us here.
Last updated: June 8, 2026