Effective Date: November 2, 2024

1. Introduction

Couples TLC Counseling, Inc. (“Couples TLC,” “we,” “our,” or “us”) is a California nonprofit organization providing affordable counseling services to individuals, couples, and families.
We respect your privacy and recognize the importance of protecting personal information, particularly when individuals are seeking counseling or other mental health services.
This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect personal information obtained through our website, online communications, Facebook and Instagram advertising campaigns, and general service inquiries.

Our website is located at https://www.couplestlc.org.

2. Information We Collect

When you contact Couples TLC, visit our website, or respond to our advertisements, we may collect the following information:

Contact information

Full name
Email address
Telephone number
Information voluntarily provided in general inquiries

Website and technical information

Depending on the technologies enabled on our website, we may collect information such as:

Browser and device information
Internet Protocol (IP) address
Pages visited and website interactions
Referral sources
Cookies and similar technical information

Advertising inquiries

When you submit an inquiry through Facebook or Instagram, we may receive the contact information you choose to provide through Meta’s lead-generation forms.
We request only the information reasonably necessary to respond to your inquiry and assist with scheduling.
We ask that you do not include diagnoses, medical histories, descriptions of mental health symptoms, or other confidential clinical information in social media advertising forms.

3. How We Use Your Information

We may use the information collected to:

• Respond to questions about our counseling services.

• Contact individuals who request information or appointments.

• Explain available counseling options, fees, and appointment availability.

• Help prospective clients start the intake and scheduling process.

• Provide administrative communications related to requested services.

• Maintain and improve our website’s functionality.

• Evaluate advertising effectiveness using the limited information available.

• Maintain organizational records and comply with applicable legal obligations.

Contact information submitted through an advertising inquiry may be used by authorized Couples TLC personnel to follow up regarding that inquiry.

Submitting an inquiry does not establish a therapist-client relationship.

We do not use information submitted through an initial counseling inquiry to independently diagnose individuals or make clinical determinations.

4. Facebook and Instagram Advertising

Couples TLC may advertise its counseling services on Facebook and Instagram, which are operated by Meta Platforms.

When you voluntarily submit a lead form through one of these platforms, Meta may provide Couples TLC with your name, email address, telephone number, and any other information you choose to submit.

We use this information to respond to your request for information about our services and available appointments.

Meta may independently process information according to its own privacy policies and platform practices.

For additional information, please review Meta’s Privacy Policy:

https://www.facebook.com/privacy/policy/

Participation in our advertising campaigns is voluntary. You may contact Couples TLC directly, not through social media.

5. Confidentiality of Counseling Services

Couples TLC recognizes that counseling information requires heightened privacy protections.

We handle information obtained during clinical intake, assessment, and treatment separately from general advertising and marketing inquiries, in accordance with applicable professional, ethical, and legal requirements.

Clinical information may be subject to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), California medical privacy laws, professional confidentiality requirements, or other applicable protections.

When required, clients receive separate clinical privacy notices and informed-consent documents explaining how we use, disclose, retain, and protect their treatment information.

This website Privacy Policy does not replace those documents.

We encourage prospective clients to use our designated confidential intake and clinical communication channels when discussing personal health information.

6. Sharing of Information

We may disclose limited personal information when reasonably necessary to:

• Authorized staff responsible for responding to inquiries and scheduling appointments.

• Service providers supporting our website, communications, scheduling, or administrative operations, subject to appropriate privacy and security arrangements.

• Professionals assisting with legal, regulatory, or compliance obligations.

• Government agencies or other parties when disclosure is required or permitted by applicable law.

Information is disclosed only as appropriate for its purpose and applicable legal requirements.

We do not disclose confidential clinical information to advertising platforms for advertising targeting or campaign optimization without an appropriate legal basis and any required authorization.

Information sales and advertising-related sharing: Couples TLC’s practices concerning the sale or sharing of personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising must be evaluated under applicable California law and the actual tracking technologies used on our website. Any required consumer notices and opt-out mechanisms will be provided where applicable.

7. Cookies and Google Analytics

Couples TLC Counseling uses Google Analytics to understand how visitors interact with our website and to help us improve website performance, accessibility, and the effectiveness of our informational outreach.

Google Analytics may collect information such as:

• Pages visited and time spent on the website.

• General geographic information.

• Browser and device characteristics.

• Website navigation and interaction patterns.

• Sources through which visitors arrive at our website.

Google Analytics uses cookies and similar technologies to collect and analyze website usage information. Google may process information received from our website according to its own privacy policies and applicable service terms.

Couples TLC uses website analytics for administrative and operational purposes. We do not intentionally transmit confidential counseling records, diagnoses, treatment information, or information entered into clinical intake forms to Google Analytics.

Google Analytics is not intended to function as a system for collecting or maintaining clinical records.

Visitors may manage or block certain cookies through their browser settings. Google also provides information about its privacy practices at:

https://policies.google.com/privacy

For information about how Google processes data from websites using its services, visit:

https://policies.google.com/technologies/partner-sites

We periodically review our website analytics configuration to reduce unnecessary collection of personal information and protect the privacy of individuals seeking counseling services.

8. Data Security

Couples TLC takes reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational measures appropriate to the nature of the information it handles.

These measures are intended to reduce the risk of unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or loss.

Access to inquiry information is limited according to operational responsibilities and applicable confidentiality requirements.

Nevertheless, no electronic communication or storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

For this reason, visitors should avoid submitting sensitive clinical information through general website contact forms, social media messaging, or advertising lead forms.

9. Retention of Information

We retain general inquiry information only for as long as reasonably necessary to respond to requests, administer our services, maintain appropriate records, and satisfy applicable legal obligations.

The specific retention period depends on the category of information, the purpose for which it was collected, and the applicable legal requirements.

Clinical treatment records are governed by separate record-retention requirements and professional obligations.

Individuals may contact us to request information about our applicable retention practices or request deletion of information, subject to any legal obligations requiring continued retention.

10. Your Privacy Choices and Rights

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

• Request information about personal information maintained by Couples TLC.

• Request correction of inaccurate personal information.

• Request deletion of certain personal information, subject to legal exceptions.

• Request information about how your personal information is used or disclosed.

• Exercise applicable rights concerning advertising-related use or sharing of personal information.

• Withdraw permission for optional communications where applicable.

Certain privacy rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act apply only when an organization and the information involved fall within that law’s scope. Other rights may arise under California medical privacy laws or applicable professional regulations.

Couples TLC will evaluate privacy requests under the laws that apply to the organization and the information involved.

To submit a privacy-related request, please contact us using the information provided below.

11. Children’s Privacy

Our website and advertising inquiry forms are intended primarily for adults seeking information about counseling services.

Although Couples TLC may provide services involving children or adolescents, information concerning minors is handled in accordance with applicable California laws and clinical consent requirements.

Parents or legal guardians seeking counseling services for minors should contact our office directly to discuss appropriate intake procedures.

We do not intentionally request sensitive information about children through Facebook or Instagram lead-generation forms.

12. Third-Party Websites and Services

Our website may contain links to external websites, scheduling providers, social media platforms, or other third-party services.

These services may operate under their own privacy policies and security practices.

Couples TLC is not responsible for the independent privacy practices of third-party websites.

We encourage visitors to review the applicable privacy information before providing personal information to external services.

13. Email and Telephone Communications

When you provide your contact information and request information about Couples TLC services, authorized personnel may contact you by telephone or email regarding your inquiry.

We seek to limit these communications to the information necessary to respond to your request or assist with scheduling.

General email, telephone messages, and social media communications may not provide the same privacy protections as designated clinical communication systems.

Please avoid communicating sensitive treatment information through these channels unless Couples TLC has specifically authorized an appropriate secure method.

Submitting an inquiry does not constitute consent to receive unrelated promotional calls, automated marketing messages, or recurring promotional text messages.

14. Changes to This Privacy Policy

Couples TLC may revise this Privacy Policy as our services, technologies, administrative practices, or legal obligations change.

When revisions are made, the effective date at the beginning of this policy will be updated.

Material changes will be communicated when required by applicable law.

We encourage website visitors to review this page periodically.

15. Contact Information

For questions about this Privacy Policy or how Couples TLC handles personal information, please contact:

Couples TLC Counseling, Inc.
680 Langsdorf Drive, Suite 108
Fullerton, CA 92831
Telephone: 714-519-3944
Website: https://www.couplestlc.org

For privacy-related inquiries, please contact our office and request assistance with a privacy matter.

16. Emergency Communications

Our website, contact forms, and social media advertising channels are not intended for emergencies or immediate crisis intervention.

If you are experiencing an immediate emergency, call 911 or seek emergency assistance.

For mental health crisis support in the United States, call or text 988.

Submitting an online inquiry does not guarantee an immediate response.

This Privacy Policy describes Couples TLC’s general website, advertising, and inquiry practices. Confidential clinical treatment information is subject to separate privacy and professional requirements where applicable.