Privacy Policy

Privacy & Teen Confidentiality Policy

Emotion Lab Therapy

Emotion Lab Therapy (“we,” “our,” or “us”) is committed to protecting the privacy, confidentiality, and security of individuals who visit our website or seek information about our services. This policy explains how information is collected, used, protected, and disclosed, with particular attention to services involving adolescents in the State of Maryland, NV, and CA.

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1. Information We Collect

a. Information You Voluntarily Provide

We may collect personal information you choose to submit, including:

• Name

• Email address

• Information submitted through contact or inquiry forms

• Requests for consultations or services

Submitting information through this website does not establish a therapist-client relationship.

b. Health-Related Information

If you voluntarily include information related to emotional, behavioral, or mental health concerns, we treat that information with heightened care and confidentiality.

Please note: Website forms and standard email communications are not guaranteed to be HIPAA-secure. Sensitive clinical information should not be submitted through the website.

c. Automatically Collected Information

We may collect limited technical data such as:

• IP address

• Browser type

• Device information

• Pages visited

• Date and time of access

This information is used for security, analytics, and website performance purposes only.

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2. How We Use Information

Information collected through our website may be used to:

• Respond to inquiries or requests

• Provide information about services

• Schedule consultations or appointments

• Improve website functionality and user experience

• Comply with applicable legal and regulatory obligations

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

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3. Legal & Regulatory Compliance (Maryland)

Emotion Lab Therapy complies with all applicable federal and Maryland privacy laws, including:

• The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)

• The Maryland Confidentiality of Medical Records Act (MCMRA)

• Applicable Maryland mental health and child-protection statutes

Once an individual becomes a client, privacy practices are governed by our Notice of Privacy Practices, which is provided during the intake process.

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4. Teen Confidentiality & Parental Involvement (Maryland)

Emotion Lab Therapy primarily serves children, adolescents and families. Confidentiality is a foundational element of effective teen therapy and is handled in accordance with Maryland law and professional ethical standards.

a. Purpose of Confidentiality in Teen Therapy

Adolescents are more likely to engage honestly in therapy when they feel emotionally safe. Appropriate confidentiality supports therapeutic effectiveness while still prioritizing safety and parental involvement.

b. What Parents Can Expect to Be Informed About

Parents or legal guardians are generally informed about:

• Treatment goals and overall progress

• Attendance and participation

• Clinical recommendations

• Safety-related concerns

• Situations requiring parental involvement

We aim for collaborative treatment and meaningful parental involvement whenever clinically appropriate.

c. What May Remain Confidential

Certain session-level details may remain confidential, including:

• Day-to-day emotions and internal experiences

• Peer or social concerns

• Sensitive personal disclosures

This does not mean parents are excluded. Information is shared thoughtfully and clinically rather than verbatim.

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5. Limits of Confidentiality (Mandatory Exceptions)

Confidentiality cannot be maintained if there is:

• Risk of serious harm to the teen or others

• Suicidal intent or severe self-harm risk

• Suspected abuse or neglect of a minor or vulnerable person

• A legal requirement such as a court order

Emotion Lab Therapy is a mandated reporter under Maryland law and must report suspected abuse or neglect.

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6. Parental Access to Records

Parents or legal guardians may request access to records; however:

• Access may be limited when disclosure would be clinically inappropriate or harmful

• Certain records may be protected under Maryland law

• Requests are reviewed on a case-by-case basis

We encourage open discussion regarding questions or concerns about records.

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7. Cookies & Tracking Technologies

Our website may use cookies or similar technologies to:

• Analyze website traffic

• Improve functionality

• Enhance user experience

You may disable cookies through your browser settings, though some features may not function properly.

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8. Third-Party Services

We may use reputable third-party providers such as:

• Website hosting services

• Scheduling or form platforms

• Analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics)

These providers are permitted to access information only as necessary to perform services on our behalf and are required to maintain appropriate confidentiality and security measures.

Emotion Lab Therapy is not responsible for the privacy practices of third-party websites linked from our site.

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9. Data Security

We implement reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect information. While no system can be guaranteed to be completely secure, we take privacy and data protection seriously and regularly review our practices.

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10. Children’s Privacy

This website is intended for parents, guardians, and adults seeking services for themselves or their children. We do not knowingly collect personal information directly from children under the age of 13 without parental consent.

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11. Your Rights

Depending on applicable law, you may have the right to:

• Request access to personal information

• Request correction of inaccurate information

• Request deletion where legally permissible

• Withdraw consent for future communications

Requests may be submitted using the contact information below.

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12. Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy periodically. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated effective date.

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