Aligning With Self™, LLC — PRIVACY POLICIES
Aligning With Self™, LLC is committed to protecting your privacy—both as a visitor to this website and as a client receiving psychotherapy services. This page includes two distinct privacy policies:
1) Website Privacy Policy that applies to visitors using AligningWithSelf.com and describes how we collect and use information such as IP addresses, cookies, and contact form submissions while you browse our website.
2) Notice of Privacy Practices (HIPAA) that applies to clients receiving psychotherapy services from Aligning With Self™, LLC and describes how your protected health information (PHI) is used, shared, and protected under federal HIPAA regulations.
1) Website Privacy Policy
Last updated: May 3, 2025
This Website Privacy Policy describes how Aligning With Self™, LLC (“we” or “us”) collects, uses, and shares your personal information when you use our website AligningWithSelf.com and any of our subdomains (the “Website”).
Topics:
Personal information we collect
How we use your personal information
How we share your personal information
How we store your data
Email marketing
Behavioral advertising
Your data protection rights
Third party websites
Changes
Contact Us
Personal Information We Collect
When you visit the Website, we automatically collect certain information about your device, including information about your web browser, IP address, time zone, and some of the cookies that are installed on your device. Additionally, as you browse the Website, we collect information about the individual web pages or products that you view, what websites or search terms referred you to the Website, and information about how you interact with the Website. We refer to this automatically collected information as “Device Information”.
We collect Device Information using the following technologies:
“Cookies” are data files that are placed on your device or computer and often include an anonymous unique identifier. For more information about cookies, and how to disable cookies, visit http://www.allaboutcookies.org
“Log files” track actions occurring on the Website, and collect data including your IP address, browser type, Internet service provider, referring/exit pages, and date/time stamps.
“Web beacons”, “tags”, and “pixels” are electronic files used to record information about how you browse the Website.
We use Device Information for:
Functionality: To recognize you on our website and recognize your previously selected preferences, including your preferred language and your location.
Advertising: To collect information about your visit, the content you viewed, the links you followed, and information about your web browser, device, and IP address. We sometimes share limited aspects of this data with third parties for advertising purposes.
Affiliate Marketing: To track which member of our affiliate team referred you to us for the purpose of granting commissions to them if you purchase from us.
You can set your browser not to accept cookies, and the website above tells you how to remove cookies from your browser. Some of our website features may not function if you disable cookies. Please note that we do not alter our Website’s data collection and use practices when we see a Do Not Track signal from your browser.
We also collect data you provide to us directly. We refer to the data you provide as “Provided Information.” We collect and process data you provide when you:
Register online or place an order for any of our products or services
Voluntarily complete a customer survey or provide feedback on any of our message boards, via our contact form, or via email
Provide your email address in exchange for access to a free resource
Sign up for our email newsletter or subscribe to any of our regular content
Submit an intake form or application form for any of our services or programs
The Provided Information we collect may include:
Personal identification information (name, email address, phone number, etc.)
Billing information (billing address, shipping address, payment information, including credit card numbers, etc.)
Business information (name of your business, business model, revenue levels, business goals)
When we talk about “Personal Information” in this Website Privacy Policy, we are talking both about Device Information and Provided Information.
How We Use Your Personal Information
We use the Provided Information that we collect generally to fulfill any orders placed through the Website (including processing your payment information, delivering products, and providing you with invoices and/or order confirmations). Additionally, we use Provided Information to:
Communicate with you;
Screen our orders for potential risk or fraud; and
When in line with the preferences you have shared with us, provide you with information or advertising relating to our products or services.
We use the Device Information that we collect to help us screen for potential risk and fraud (in particular, your IP address), and more generally to improve and optimize our Website (for example, by generating analytics about how our customers browse and interact with the Website, and to assess the success of our marketing and advertising campaigns). We also use Device Information to track affiliate referrals for the purpose of granting commissions to our affiliates.
How We Share Your Personal Information
We share your Personal Information with third parties to help us use your Personal Information, as described above. For example, we use, or may use, Google Analytics to help us understand how our visitors use the Website - you can read more about how Google uses your Personal Information here: https://www.google.com/intl/en/policies/privacy/. You can also opt-out of Google Analytics here: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout.
The types of third parties with whom we might share elements of your Personal Information include:
Payment processors engaged by us to securely store and handle payments information, such as credit or debit card information
Providers of email management and distribution tools
Providers of security and fraud prevention tools and services
Providers of data aggregation and analytics software services that allow us to effectively monitor and optimize our site
Providers of affiliate marketing tracking and analytics software services that allow us to provide an affiliate program and grant commissions to affiliates
Providers of client management systems to help us track and communicate with potential clients
We may also share your Personal Information to comply with applicable laws and regulations, to respond to a subpoena, search warrant or other lawful request for information we receive, or to otherwise protect our rights.
How We Store Your Data
We process and store your data using the following providers:
EHR System: Simple Practice: https://www.simplepractice.com/privacy/
Domain Host: Bluehost: https://www.newfold.com/privacy-center
Website Host: Squarespace: https://www.squarespace.com/privacy
Google Workspace: Including but not limited to use of Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Meet, Docs, and Sheets: https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=en-US
Payment Processor: Stripe through Simple Practice: https://stripe.com/privacy
Telephone Communications: RingRx: https://ringrx.com/privacy-policy/
Please visit their individual websites for information on the physical location of their servers where your information is stored.
We use commercially reasonable security measures to protect against unauthorized access to or unauthorized alteration, disclosure or destruction of any information that may be stored on our servers. Of course, no computer network or data transmission on the internet can be guaranteed to be 100% secure and so you submit your information at your own risk.
We will maintain your Personal Information for our records unless and until you ask us to delete this information.
Email Marketing
If you make a purchase on this Website, download a free resource in exchange for your email address, and/or opt in to receive emails, you agree to receive email communications from this site, including but not limited to newsletters, site updates, promotions, and other announcements and correspondence. We are not responsible for the receipt of any such emails. You are responsible for ensuring that our email address(es) are not blocked or forwarded to your spam folder.
You have the right at any time to stop us from contacting you for marketing purposes. If you opt to unsubscribe from receiving emails, you understand that you may no longer receive information or updates from this Website, including promotions or product updates.
Behavioral Advertising
This website does not currently engage in behavioral advertising or retargeting practices through third-party tracking technologies (e.g., Meta Pixel, Google Ads, or similar tools). However, the website owner reserves the right to implement such technologies in the future for the purpose of promoting psychotherapy services and increasing online visibility.
Should behavioral advertising technologies be adopted at a later date, this Website Privacy Policy will be updated accordingly to disclose the types of data collected, the purposes of use, and the mechanisms available for opting out of such data collection.
For reference, users may manage advertising preferences or opt out of interest-based advertising through the following platforms:
Meta (Facebook & Instagram): https://accountscenter.facebook.com/ads
Google (including YouTube and Chrome): https://www.google.com/settings/ads/anonymous
Bing: https://advertise.bingads.microsoft.com/en-us/resources/policies/personalized-ads
Psychology Today: https://docs.psychologytoday.com/directory/privacy-policy/en/v1.0.14
Inclusive Therapists: https://www.inclusivetherapists.com/about/privacy
Therapy Den: https://www.therapyden.com/privacy-policy
In addition, users may opt out of certain interest-based advertising more broadly by visiting the following industry opt-out platforms:
Digital Advertising Alliance (DAA): http://optout.aboutads.info/
Network Advertising Initiative (NAI): https://thenai.org/opt-out/
Your Data Protection Rights
If you are a European resident, you have the right to access personal information we hold about you and to ask that your personal information be corrected, updated, or deleted. Under certain conditions, you may also have the right to restrict or object to our processing of your data, and to request that we transfer your Personal Information to another organization. If you would like to exercise any of these rights, please contact us through the contact information below.
Additionally, if you are a European resident, we note that we are processing your information to fulfill contracts we might have with you (for example if you make an order through the Website), or otherwise to pursue our legitimate business interests listed above. Please note that your information will be transferred outside of Europe, including to Canada and the United States.
Third Party Websites
Our Website Privacy Policy applies only to our website. We are not responsible for the data collection, privacy practices or policies of any third-party site to which we may provide a link or that may link to our site. We encourage you to read the privacy statement and terms of use of other sites.
Changes
We may update this Website Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect, for example, changes to our practices or for other operational, legal or regulatory reasons. The date of the last revision will be indicated by the “Last updated” date at the top of this page. Any such changes are effective immediately upon publication on our Website.
Complaints
Please contact us if you have any complaints about how we use your Personal Information so we can resolve the issue whenever possible.
Ohio residents can file a consumer complaint with the Ohio Attorney General’s Office online at filecomplaint.ohioattorneygeneral.gov, by telephone at (800) 282-0515, or in writing at Ohio Attorney General's Office, Consumer Protection Section, 30 E. Broad St., 14th Floor, Columbus, OH 43215.
California residents can contact the Complaint Assistance Unit of the Division of Consumer Services of the California Department of Consumer Affairs in writing at 1625 North Market Blvd., Suite N 112, Sacramento, California 95834 or by telephone at (800) 952-5210 or (916) 445-1254.
Residents of the European Union also have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection regulator, such as the Information Commissioner’s Office in the UK.
Contact Us
For more information about our privacy practices, if you have questions, or if you would like to exercise your data protection rights, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Email us: Info@AligningWithSelf.com
Write to us: Aligning With Self, LLC, 670 Meridian Way STE 148, Westerville, Ohio 43082
End Website Privacy Policy.
2) Notice of Privacy Practices (HIPAA)
THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW HEALTH INFORMATION MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.
I. MY PLEDGE REGARDING HEALTH INFORMATION
I understand that health information about you and your health care is personal. I am committed to protecting health information about you. I create a record of the care and services you receive from me. I need this record to provide you with quality care and to comply with certain legal requirements. This notice applies to all of the records of your care generated by this mental health care practice. This notice will tell you about the ways in which I may use and disclose health information about you. I also describe your rights to the health information I keep about you, and describe certain obligations I have regarding the use and disclosure of your health information. I am required by law to:
· Make sure that protected health information (“PHI”) that identifies you is kept private.
· Give you this notice of my legal duties and privacy practices with respect to health information.
· Follow the terms of the notice that is currently in effect.
· I can change the terms of this Notice, and such changes will apply to all information I have about you. If this Notice is revised, I will inform you and offer you an opportunity to receive a copy of the revised Notice. The Notice will be available upon request, in my office, and on my website.
II. HOW I MAY USE AND DISCLOSE HEALTH INFORMATION ABOUT YOU
The following categories describe different ways that I use and disclose health information. For each category of uses or disclosures I will explain what I mean and try to give some examples. Not every use or disclosure in a category will be listed. However, all of the ways I am permitted to use and disclose information will fall within one of the categories.
For Treatment Payment, or Health Care Operations: Federal privacy rules (regulations) allow health care providers who have direct treatment relationship with the patient/client to use or disclose the patient/client’s personal health information without the patient’s written authorization, to carry out the health care provider’s own treatment, payment or health care operations. I may also disclose your protected health information for the treatment activities of any health care provider. This too can be done without your written authorization. For example, if a clinician were to consult with another licensed health care provider about your condition, we would be permitted to use and disclose your personal health information, which is otherwise confidential, in order to assist the clinician in diagnosis and treatment of your mental health condition.
Disclosures for treatment purposes are not limited to the minimum necessary standard. Because therapists and other health care providers need access to the full record and/or full and complete information in order to provide quality care. The word “treatment” includes, among other things, the coordination and management of health care providers with a third party, consultations between health care providers and referrals of a patient for health care from one health care provider to another.
Lawsuits and Disputes: If you are involved in a lawsuit, I may disclose health information in response to a court or administrative order. I may also disclose health information about your child in response to a subpoena, discovery request, or other lawful process by someone else involved in the dispute, but only if efforts have been made to tell you about the request or to obtain an order protecting the information requested.
III. CERTAIN USES AND DISCLOSURES REQUIRE YOUR AUTHORIZATION
1. Psychotherapy Notes. I do keep “psychotherapy notes” as that term is defined in 45 CFR § 164.501, and any use or disclosure of such notes requires your Authorization unless the use or disclosure is:
a. For my use in treating you.
b. For my use in training or supervising mental health practitioners to help them improve their skills in group, joint, family, or individual counseling or therapy.
c. For my use in defending myself in legal proceedings instituted by you.
d. For use by the Secretary of Health and Human Services to investigate my compliance with HIPAA.
e. Required by law and the use or disclosure is limited to the requirements of such law.
f. Required by law for certain health oversight activities pertaining to the originator of the psychotherapy notes.
g. Required by a coroner who is performing duties authorized by law.
h. Required to help avert a serious threat to the health and safety of others.
2. Marketing Purposes. As a psychotherapist, I will not use or disclose your PHI for marketing purposes.
3. Sale of PHI. As a psychotherapist, I will not sell your PHI in the regular course of my business.
IV. CERTAIN USES AND DISCLOSURES DO NOT REQUIRE YOUR AUTHORIZATION
Subject to certain limitations in the law, I can use and disclose your PHI without your Authorization for the following reasons:
1. When disclosure is required by state or federal law, and the use or disclosure complies with and is limited to the relevant requirements of such law.
2. For public health activities, including reporting suspected child, elder, or dependent adult abuse, or preventing or reducing a serious threat to anyone’s health or safety.
3. For health oversight activities, including audits and investigations.
4. For judicial and administrative proceedings, including responding to a court or administrative order, although my preference is to obtain an Authorization from you before doing so.
5. For law enforcement purposes, including reporting crimes occurring on my premises.
6. To coroners or medical examiners, when such individuals are performing duties authorized by law.
7. For research purposes, including studying and comparing the mental health of patients who received one form of therapy versus those who received another form of therapy for the same condition.
8. Specialized government functions, such as military, national security, and presidential protective services.
9. For workers' compensation purposes. Although my preference is to obtain an Authorization from you, I may provide your PHI in order to comply with workers' compensation laws.
10. Appointment reminders and health related benefits or services. I may use and disclose your PHI to contact you to remind you that you have an appointment with me. I may also use and disclose your PHI to tell you about treatment alternatives, or other health care services or benefits that I offer.
V. CERTAIN USES AND DISCLOSURES REQUIRE YOU TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO OBJECT
Disclosures to family, friends, or others. I may provide your PHI to a family member, friend, or other person that you indicate is involved in your care or the payment for your health care, unless you object in whole or in part. The opportunity to consent may be obtained retroactively in emergency situations.
VI. YOU HAVE THE FOLLOWING RIGHTS WITH RESPECT TO YOUR PHI
1. The Right to Request Limits on Uses and Disclosures of Your PHI. You have the right to ask me not to use or disclose certain PHI for treatment, payment, or health care operations purposes. I am not required to agree to your request, and I may say “no” if I believe it would affect your health care.
2. The Right to Request Restrictions for Out-of-Pocket Expenses Paid for In Full. You have the right to request restrictions on disclosures of your PHI to health plans for payment or health care operations purposes if the PHI pertains solely to a health care item or a health care service that you have paid for out-of-pocket in full.
3. The Right to Choose How I Send PHI to You. You have the right to ask me to contact you in a specific way (for example, home or office phone) or to send mail to a different address, and I will agree to all reasonable requests.
4. The Right to See and Get Copies of Your PHI. Other than “psychotherapy notes,” you have the right to get an electronic or paper copy of your medical record and other information that I have about you. I will provide you with a copy of your record, or a summary of it, if you agree to receive a summary, within 30 days of receiving your written request, and I may charge a reasonable cost based fee for doing so.
5. The Right to Get a List of the Disclosures I Have Made. You have the right to request a list of instances in which I have disclosed your PHI for purposes other than treatment, payment, or health care operations, or for which you provided me with an Authorization. I will respond to your request for an accounting of disclosures within 60 days of receiving your request. The list I will give you will include disclosures made in the last six years unless you request a shorter time. I will provide the list to you at no charge, but if you make more than one request in the same year, I will charge you a reasonable cost based fee for each additional request.
6. The Right to Amend or Update Your PHI. If you believe that there is a mistake in your PHI, or that a piece of important information is missing from your PHI, you have the right to request that I amend the existing information or add the missing information. Should I be in agreeance with your request, an addendum note will be made to reflect your request and no portion of the record will be deleted. I may say “no” to your request, but I will tell you why in writing within 60 days of receiving your request.
7. The Right to Get a Paper or Electronic Copy of this Notice. You have the right get a paper copy of this Notice, and you have the right to get a copy of this notice by e-mail. And, even if you have agreed to receive this Notice via e-mail, you also have the right to request a paper copy of it.
VII. QUESTIONS AND COMPLAINTS
If you have questions about this Notice, complaints about my privacy practices, or need information on how to file a compliant or written request, please contact Aligning With Self, LLC, Stephanie L. George, 670 Meridian Way STE 148, Westerville, OH 43082, 614.964.2900. If you believe that your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights by sending a letter to 200 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20201, calling 1-877-696-6775, or visiting www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/complaints/. I will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.
EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS NOTICE
This notice went into effect on 10/28/2020. This notice was updated on 1/6/2023 to reflect updated practice location address for Stephanie L. George and Aligning With Self, LLC. This notice was reviewed and updated on 1/7/2025.
VIII. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF RECEIPT OF PRIVACY NOTICE
Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), you have certain rights regarding the use and disclosure of your protected health information.
Clients of Aligning With Self™, LLC will receive and sign a copy of this Notice of Privacy Practices (HIPAA) form as part of their onboarding process.
End of Notice of Privacy Practices.