Privacy Policy

Angelica Emery-Fertitta, LICSW is committed to protecting your privacy and handling your personal information with care, transparency, and respect. This Privacy Policy describes how information is collected, used, stored, and protected when you visit therapywithangelica.com or contact us to inquire about therapy, trauma-sensitive yoga, restorative practice, or consultation services.

By using this website, you agree to the practices described in this policy.

1. About This Website and HIPAA

This website is an informational site, not a clinical platform. It is not HIPAA-compliant, and you should not submit protected health information (PHI), mental health history, diagnoses, or details about a current crisis through any contact form on this site.

All clinical records, session notes, and protected health information gathered during the course of therapy are handled separately, stored securely, and managed in accordance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), the NASW Code of Ethics, and all applicable Massachusetts and Rhode Island state laws, including:

• Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 112, Section 129A — confidentiality protections for psychologist-patient communications
• Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 233, Section 20B — psychotherapist-patient privilege in legal proceedings
• Rhode Island Mental Health Law (R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-37.3) — confidentiality of health care communications

2. What Information We Collect Through This Website

When you use this website or reach out via its contact form, you may voluntarily provide:

• Your name
• Email address
• Phone number
• A brief description of the support you are seeking
• Insurance information (if relevant to your inquiry)

We do not collect sensitive health data, clinical information, or protected health information through this website. Please keep any inquiry general and avoid sharing details that feel private or clinical in nature.

3. How We Use Your Information

Information submitted through this website is used only to:

• Respond to your inquiry about services
• Schedule a free initial consultation
• Follow up if you have expressed interest in working together

Your information will never be used for marketing purposes, sold to third parties, or shared with advertisers.

4. Confidentiality in Therapy

Confidentiality is a cornerstone of the therapeutic relationship and a professional and legal obligation. Everything shared within a therapy session is held in strict confidence. Information from therapy sessions will not be disclosed without your written consent, except in the following legally or ethically mandated circumstances:

• Imminent risk of harm: If there is credible reason to believe you are at risk of harming yourself or others, disclosure may be required to ensure safety.
• Mandated reporting: As a licensed social worker, Angelica is a mandated reporter and is required by law to report suspected abuse or neglect of a child, elder, or dependent adult.
• Court order: If legally compelled by a court of law, limited disclosure may be required.
• Insurance billing: If using insurance, basic information (such as diagnosis codes and dates of service) may be shared with your insurer as required for reimbursement. Detailed session notes (psychotherapy notes) are protected separately under HIPAA and are not accessible to insurance companies.

Outside of these exceptions, your information will never be disclosed without your explicit written consent.

5. Psychotherapy Notes

Psychotherapy notes (session process notes kept separately from your general clinical record) receive a higher level of protection under HIPAA. They are not accessible to insurance companies and require a specific written authorization from you before they can be released to anyone, including other providers.

6. How We Store and Protect Your Information

Website inquiry information (submitted via contact forms) is received through our website host and email systems. Clinical records are stored securely through HIPAA-compliant practice management systems. Reasonable administrative, physical, and technical safeguards are in place to protect your data from unauthorized access or disclosure.

If you are a therapy client and have questions about how your clinical records are stored, please ask directly during a session or via secure email.

7. Cookies and Website Analytics

This website is hosted on WordPress.com, which may use basic cookies or third-party analytics tools (such as WordPress Stats or Google Analytics) to understand general website traffic and improve user experience. These tools collect aggregated, non-identifying usage data — they do not collect personal health information. You can control cookie preferences through your browser settings.

8. Third-Party Sharing

Your personal information is never sold, rented, or traded. Information may only be shared with third parties in the following limited circumstances:

• As required by law or for legal compliance
• With essential service providers (e.g., website hosting, scheduling platforms) who operate under appropriate data security agreements
• With your written consent for coordination of care with other providers

9. Your Rights

As a client or website visitor, you have the right to:

• Request access to personal information we hold about you
• Request correction or deletion of your information
• Receive a copy of your clinical records (with limited exceptions)
• Request restrictions on certain uses or disclosures of your protected health information
• Withdraw consent for communication at any time
• File a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) at www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/complaints if you believe your privacy rights have been violated

To exercise any of these rights, please contact Angelica directly via the information on the contact page.

10. Children’s Privacy

This website is intended for adults. Therapy services are offered to adult individuals and couples. We do not knowingly collect personal information from individuals under the age of 18 through this website.

11. Telehealth and Virtual Sessions

Virtual therapy and yoga sessions are conducted through HIPAA-compliant video platforms. Clients will be informed of the platform used prior to beginning services. Please ensure you are in a private, confidential location during all virtual sessions to protect your own privacy.

12. Updates to This Policy

This Privacy Policy may be updated periodically to reflect changes in law, technology, or practice. Any updates will be posted on this page with a revised effective date.

If you have questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy, please reach out directly.

Effective Date: April 1, 2026