Effective Date: 2/18/26
Last Updated: 2/26/26

At Empowered For Joy Counseling, your privacy is treated with respect and care. Reaching out for counseling is a personal step, and we are committed to protecting the information you entrust to us.

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This policy explains how information is collected, used, and safeguarded when you visit our website or begin services.

1. Information You Share With Us

When you complete a contact form, request a consultation, or schedule an appointment, we may collect:

• Your name

• Email address

• Phone number

• Information you choose to include in your message

We use this information only to respond to your inquiry and provide services.

Please note: Website contact forms are not intended for sharing detailed or highly sensitive health information.

2. If You Become a Client

If you begin counseling services, your protected health information is handled in accordance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

Client records are securely stored through SimplePractice, a HIPAA-compliant electronic health record system that uses administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect your confidentiality.

You will receive a separate Notice of Privacy Practices explaining in detail how your health information is used and protected.

3. Website Cookies and Advertising

Our website may use cookies and similar technologies to help it function properly and to understand how visitors use the site.

We may use Google Ads and related tools to:

• Help people find our services online

• Measure how effective our advertisements are

• Show ads to individuals who have previously visited our site (remarketing)

These services may use cookies to display ads based on prior website visits.

You can control or opt out of Google’s advertising cookies by visiting:
https://adssettings.google.com

We do not receive personally identifiable information from Google’s advertising tools.

4. How Your Information Is Used

We use collected information to:

• Respond to inquiries

• Schedule and manage appointments

• Provide counseling services

• Improve our website and communication

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information.

5. Data Security

We take reasonable steps to protect your personal information. While no online transmission can be guaranteed completely secure, we use appropriate safeguards to reduce risk.

For matters involving sensitive clinical information, secure client portals will be used once services begin.

6. Third-Party Services

To operate our practice effectively, we may use trusted third-party providers, including:

• Google Ads (advertising services)

• Website analytics tools

• SimplePractice (secure client management system)

Each provider maintains its own privacy and security policies.

7. Your Rights

You may request:

• Access to your personal information

• Corrections to inaccurate information

• Removal of non-clinical contact information

Clinical records are maintained in accordance with state licensing laws and professional ethical standards.

8. Contact

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact:

Susanne Gilstrap, LPC, LPCC
Empowered For Joy Counseling LLC
empoweredforjoycounseling@gmail.com
251.786.9734

8. Faith and Counseling

As a Catholic counseling practice, we are committed to honoring the dignity of every person. Respect for privacy and confidentiality is part of that commitment.

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