Privacy Policy
Last updated: October 11, 2025
1. Purpose of This Policy
This Privacy Policy describes how Cecelia Satterly, LCSW (“I,” “me,” or “my practice”) collects, uses, and protects personal information through this website and in the course of providing professional psychotherapy services.
It covers two areas:
Privacy related to use of this website and electronic communication.
Privacy and confidentiality as governed by professional ethics, HIPAA, and state laws regulating licensed mental health professionals.
2. Privacy and Confidentiality in Therapy
All information shared in therapy is treated as confidential and protected by law. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, I am bound by state and federal confidentiality laws, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
A. Your Privacy Rights
You have the right to:
Receive a Notice of Privacy Practices (HIPAA form) explaining how your health information may be used and disclosed.
Access or request a copy of your treatment records (with exceptions defined by law such as instances where said access could cause harm).
Request corrections or limitations on how your information is shared.
Withdraw consent to release information, except where disclosure is required by law.
B. Limits of Confidentiality
There are specific situations where I am legally and ethically required to share information without your written consent. These include, but are not limited to:
If there is reasonable suspicion or evidence of child abuse, elder abuse, or abuse of a vulnerable adult.
If you make a credible threat to harm yourself and disclosure is necessary to protect your safety.
If you make a credible threat to harm someone else and disclosure is necessary to protect that person.
If your records are lawfully subpoenaed or court-ordered.
If required for supervision, consultation, or quality review, in which case identifying details are minimized and confidentiality is maintained to the fullest extent possible.
Outside of these situations, information you share in therapy will not be disclosed without your written authorization. If you ever have questions about your privacy, please do not hesitate to inquire further at any point in time.
3. Privacy Related to Website Use
This website is intended for informational purposes only. You are welcome to browse the site without submitting personal information. If you choose to contact me through the website, some limited data may be collected.
A. Information You Provide
If you fill out a contact form or send an email, you may provide:
Your name, email address, or phone number.
Any message you include in your submission.
Please do not share sensitive health information through the contact form or by regular email. These communications are not encrypted or HIPAA-secure. Once therapy begins, all clinical communication occurs through a secure client portal (“SimplePractice Client Portal”). You are encouraged to download this application for clinical communication between sessions.
B. Automatically Collected Information
This website may collect anonymous technical data such as:
Browser type and version
Device type (mobile/desktop)
IP address (used only for security and analytics)
Pages visited and duration of visit
General location in which you visited website (i.e. Saint Petersburg, Florida)
This information helps maintain website performance and accessibility. It does not personally identify you.
C. Cookies and Analytics
The website may use cookies or analytic tools (such as Google Analytics) to monitor traffic and improve usability. These tools collect anonymous, aggregated information about how the site is used. You can disable cookies in your browser settings if you prefer.
4. How Information Is Stored and Protected
I take reasonable administrative and technical measures to protect information submitted through this site from unauthorized access or misuse. However, no online transmission is completely secure. By using this website, you acknowledge and accept these inherent limitations.
If you become a therapy client, all Protected Health Information (PHI) is stored and managed through a HIPAA-compliant electronic health record (EHR) platform, which provides encrypted communication and documentation. If you are using insurance, all PHI is also transmitted through a HIPAA compliant platform for billing purposes.
5. Use and Disclosure of Information Collected Online
Information submitted through this website is used only to:
Respond to your inquiry.
Schedule or confirm an appointment.
Provide requested information about services.
Your personal information will not be sold, rented, or shared with third parties for marketing or commercial purposes.
If a third-party service is used for analytics, scheduling, or hosting (e.g., Squarespace, SimplePractice, or Alma), those vendors are required to protect your information in accordance with their own privacy and security policies.
6. Communication by Email or Text
Email and text messages are not secure forms of communication. While I take steps to protect your information, confidentiality cannot be guaranteed when using these methods.
Email and text should be limited to administrative issues (e.g., scheduling, billing) and not for therapeutic discussions or emergencies. If you receive an email or text in error, please delete it and notify me immediately. Please see my Terms and Conditions Policy for more information.
7. Mandatory Reporting and Legal Disclosures
As required by law and ethical standards, I may disclose limited personal information without consent if:
You disclose actual or suspected abuse or neglect of a child, elder, or vulnerable adult.
You are at imminent risk of seriously harming yourself or another person.
Your records are subpoenaed or otherwise legally required.
Disclosure is necessary to comply with applicable state or federal law.
In all cases, only the minimum necessary information will be disclosed, and you will be informed of such disclosures when legally permissible.
8. External Links
This website may contain links to external websites or resources. These links are provided for educational purposes only. I am not responsible for the content, accuracy, or privacy practices of external sites. Visiting those sites is at your discretion and subject to their own privacy policies.
9. Changes to This Policy
This policy may be updated periodically to reflect legal requirements or practice changes.
The “Last Updated” date at the top of this page will indicate when modifications were made.
Your continued use of the website after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.
10. Contact Information
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or the handling of your information, please contact:
Cecelia Satterly, LCSW
1615 Pasadena Ave S
727-485-0864