Privacy Policy

Annapolis Counseling Center ยท Effective

About This Policy

This Privacy Policy explains how Annapolis Counseling Center (“we,” “us,” or “our”) collects, uses, and protects information when you visit annapoliscounselingcenter.com (the “Website”) or contact us through it.

This policy covers the Website only. If you become a client, the privacy of your health information is governed by federal law (HIPAA), Maryland law, and our separate Notice of Privacy Practices, which you will receive at intake and can request at any time. If this policy and our Notice of Privacy Practices ever conflict regarding your protected health information, the Notice of Privacy Practices controls.

By using the Website, you agree to the practices described in this policy.

Information We Collect

Information you give us. When you fill out a contact or appointment request form, call, email, or subscribe to updates, you may provide your name, email address, phone number, preferred contact method, insurance or payment preference, and a brief description of what you are looking for.

Information collected automatically. Like most websites, ours automatically collects limited technical information, such as your IP address, browser and device type, pages visited, time spent on pages, referring website, and general location (city or region). This is collected through cookies and similar technologies described below.

Information from third parties. If you reach us through a directory listing, online scheduling tool, or advertising platform, we may receive the information you submitted there, such as your name and contact details.

How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

  • Respond to your inquiry and help match you with an appropriate clinician
  • Schedule consultations and appointments
  • Send information you have requested, such as newsletters or updates
  • Operate, maintain, and improve the Website
  • Understand how visitors find and use our Website
  • Comply with legal and professional obligations

Please do not share sensitive clinical details through our website forms or by email. Standard email and web forms are not a secure way to share information about your mental health, diagnosis, or treatment history. A brief note about what you are looking for is plenty; we will discuss the rest with you directly and securely.

Our Website is not for emergencies. Messages sent through the Website are not monitored around the clock. If you are in crisis, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), call 911, or go to your nearest emergency room.

Cookies, Analytics, and Advertising

Cookies are small files stored on your device that help websites function and remember your preferences. We use:

  • Essential cookies that keep the Website working properly
  • Analytics tools, such as Google Analytics, to understand overall traffic and page performance in aggregate
  • Advertising tools, such as Google Ads and Meta (Facebook/Instagram), to measure whether our ads are effective and to show our ads to people who may benefit from our services

We configure these tools to avoid collecting health information. We do not place advertising or social media tracking on pages where you submit personal information, such as contact or appointment request forms, and we do not share form submissions with advertising platforms.

You can control cookies through your browser settings, opt out of Google Analytics at tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout, and manage ad preferences through Google Ad Settings and Meta Ad Preferences. Blocking some cookies may affect how the Website works.

How We Share Information

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. We share it only in these limited situations:

  • Service providers who help us run the Website and our practice, such as website hosting, form handling, email, scheduling, and analytics. They may use your information only to perform services for us.
  • Legal requirements, when we believe in good faith that disclosure is required by law, court order, or to protect the safety of you or others.
  • Business transfers, if our practice is merged, acquired, or reorganized, subject to the same protections described here.

Once you become a client, any sharing of your health information follows our Notice of Privacy Practices and applicable law.

Email and Text Communications

If you give us your email address or phone number, we may contact you to respond to your inquiry, confirm appointments, or share information you have requested. We send marketing emails or text messages only with your consent.

You can unsubscribe from emails at any time using the link in any message. For text messages, reply STOP to opt out or HELP for assistance. Message and data rates may apply. We do not share your phone number with third parties for their marketing purposes.

Security and Retention

We use reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect your information, including encrypted (SSL) connections on our Website. No method of transmission over the internet is completely secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security.

We keep website inquiry information only as long as needed to respond to you, provide services, and meet legal and record-keeping requirements. Client records are retained as required by Maryland law.

Our Website may link to other sites, such as online directories, insurance providers, or community resources. We are not responsible for their privacy practices and encourage you to review their policies.

Children’s Privacy

Our Website is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from them online. A parent or guardian seeking services for a minor should contact us directly. If you believe a child has submitted information through our Website, please contact us and we will delete it.

Your Choices and Rights

You may contact us at any time to:

  • Ask what personal information we have collected about you through the Website
  • Request that we correct or delete that information
  • Unsubscribe from emails or text messages
  • Withdraw consent you previously gave us

Depending on where you live, including Maryland, you may have additional rights under state privacy laws. We will honor requests as required by applicable law and may need to verify your identity before acting on a request. Some information may need to be retained for legal or clinical record-keeping reasons.

If you are a client, your rights to access, amend, and receive an accounting of your health records are described in our Notice of Privacy Practices.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The effective date at the top of this page shows when it was last revised. Continued use of the Website after changes are posted means you accept the updated policy.

Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or want to make a privacy request, please contact us:

Annapolis Counseling Center Phone: (410) 280-9444 Email: info@annapoliscounselingcenter.com Website: annapoliscounselingcenter.com

Last updated: September 30, 2026