Privacy & Policy

Welcome to The Next Step Counseling Center ("we," "us," or "our"). We are committed to protecting your personal information and your right to privacy. If you have any questions or concerns about this privacy notice, please contact us at 321-805-4850.

The law protects the relationship between a client and a psychotherapist, and information cannot be disclosed without written permission.

Exceptions include:

• Suspected child abuse or dependent adult or elder abuse, for which I am required by law to report this to the appropriate authorities immediately.
• If a client is threatening serious bodily harm to another person/s, I must notify the police and inform the intended victim.
• If a client intends to harm himself or herself, I will make every effort to enlist their cooperation in ensuring their safety. If they do not cooperate, I will take further measures without their permission that are provided to me by law in order to ensure their safety.

1. Information We Collect

We collect personal information that you voluntarily provide to us when you fill out contact forms, schedule an appointment. This includes: 

• Personal Identifiers: Names, email addresses, phone numbers, and physical addresses.
• Sensitive Data: Health information, medical history, and counseling notes (as permitted by law).
• Financial Data: Payment information to process services.
• Automatic Data: IP addresses, browser types, and website usage data collected through cookies. 

2. How We Use Your Information

We use personal information collected to manage your treatment, operate our practice, and comply with legal obligations. Specific uses include: 

• Treatment: Providing counseling services and coordinating care with other health professionals.
• Billing: Processing payments and submitting claims to insurance providers.
• Communication: Sending appointment reminders, newsletters, and marketing materials (you may opt-out).
• Compliance: Maintaining records for legal or regulatory audits. 

3. Sharing Your Information

We do not sell your personal data. We only share information: 

• With your explicit consent.
• To comply with legal obligations, such as subpoenas, court orders, or mandatory reporting of abuse/threats.
• With trusted third-party service providers (e.g., electronic health record systems) under confidentiality agreements. 

4. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational security measures to protect your information.

5. Your Data Protection Rights

You have the right to: 

• Access and receive a copy of your personal data.
• Request rectification or erasure of your data.
• Restrict or object to the processing of your data.
• Withdraw consent at any time.

6. Children's Privacy

We do not collect personal identifiable information from children under the age of eighteen (18) without verifiable parental consent. If it is determined that such information has been collected without verifiable parental consent, then AHHCC will take the immediate necessary steps to ensure that such information is deleted from our system’s database.

7. Updates to This Policy

We reserve the right to update and/or change the terms of our privacy policy, and as such we will post those changes to our website homepage so that our users and/or visitors are always aware of the type of information we collect, how it will be used, and under what circumstances, if any, we may disclose such information. If at any point in time The Next Step Counseling Center decides to make use of any personally identifiable information on file, in a manner vastly different from that which was stated when this information was initially collected, the user or users shall be promptly notified by email. Users at that time shall have the option as to whether to permit the use of their information in this separate manner.

8. Links to Other Web Sites

Our website does contain links to affiliates and other websites. AHHCC does not claim nor accept responsibility for any privacy policies, practices and/or procedures of other such websites. Therefore, we encourage all users and visitors to be aware when they leave our website and to read the privacy statements of each website that collects personally identifiable information. The Privacy Policy Agreement applies only and solely to the information collected by our website.

9. Acceptance of Terms

By use of this website, you are hereby accepting the terms and conditions stipulated within the Privacy Policy Agreement. If you are not in agreement with our terms and conditions, then you should refrain from further use of our site. In addition, your continued use of our website following the posting of any updates or changes to our terms and conditions shall mean that you agree and accept any changes.