Privacy Policy
Effective Date: September 25, 2026
Last Updated: September 25, 2026
Positive Start Counseling Services, Inc. (“Positive Start Counseling Services,” “PSCS,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) respects your privacy and is committed to protecting the confidentiality and security of the information entrusted to us.
This Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, disclose, and protect information through our website, positivestartcounseling.com, and in connection with our communications and services.
Because Positive Start Counseling Services provides behavioral health and counseling services, certain information we maintain may constitute Protected Health Information (“PHI”) under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”). Information relating to counseling and treatment is also subject to applicable federal and Florida confidentiality requirements.
This Privacy Policy should be read together with our HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices, which provides additional information regarding the use and disclosure of protected health information and your rights under HIPAA.
1. About Positive Start Counseling Services
Positive Start Counseling Services, Inc. provides counseling and psychotherapy services to children, individuals, couples, and families. Services may be provided in person or through online/telehealth services, as applicable.
Our office is located at:
Positive Start Counseling Services, Inc.
11440 Okeechobee Blvd., Suite 205B
Royal Palm Beach, Florida 33411
Phone: 954-817-5825
Website: https://positivestartcounseling.com
2. Information We Collect
Depending on how you interact with us, we may collect information including:
Information You Provide
This may include:
- Name
- Date of birth
- Address
- Telephone number
- Email address
- Emergency contact information
- Insurance and billing information
- Information submitted through appointment requests or contact forms
- Information you voluntarily provide when communicating with us
Health and Counseling Information
When you receive counseling services, we may collect and maintain information necessary to provide and coordinate your care, including:
- Mental and behavioral health history
- Medical history relevant to treatment
- Counseling and treatment information
- Treatment plans
- Clinical notes and records
- Information concerning medications or other healthcare services
- Information received from other healthcare providers
- Information provided by parents, guardians, or other authorized individuals
- Information necessary for payment, insurance claims, and healthcare operations
Health information is handled in accordance with HIPAA and other applicable federal and Florida laws.
Website Information
When you visit our website, certain information may automatically be collected, including:
- IP address
- Browser type
- Device type
- Operating system
- Pages viewed
- Date and time of visits
- Referring website or webpage
- General website usage information
This information may be used to operate, maintain, secure, and improve our website.
3. How We Use Information
We may use information collected from or about you for purposes including:
- Providing counseling and behavioral health services
- Scheduling and managing appointments
- Communicating with clients and prospective clients
- Developing and managing treatment plans
- Coordinating care with other healthcare providers
- Processing payments and insurance claims
- Conducting healthcare and business operations
- Maintaining clinical and administrative records
- Improving our services and website
- Maintaining website and information security
- Responding to inquiries
- Complying with legal and regulatory requirements
- Protecting the health and safety of clients and others when permitted or required by law
Uses and disclosures of PHI are governed by applicable HIPAA requirements and our Notice of Privacy Practices.
4. Protected Health Information
Positive Start Counseling Services recognizes that information concerning mental health treatment is particularly sensitive.
We maintain appropriate administrative, physical, and technical safeguards designed to protect PHI against unauthorized access, use, disclosure, alteration, or destruction.
We will use and disclose PHI only as permitted or required by applicable law, including HIPAA.
Florida law also provides confidentiality protections for certain clinical records and mental health information.
5. Disclosure of Information
We may disclose information when permitted or required by applicable law.
For PHI, permitted disclosures may include disclosures:
- For treatment, payment, and healthcare operations
- To healthcare providers involved in your care
- To individuals involved in your care when permitted by law
- When you provide appropriate authorization
- When required by federal, state, or local law
- For certain public health activities
- To report certain suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation when legally required
- To prevent or lessen a serious and imminent threat to health or safety when permitted by law
- For certain judicial or administrative proceedings
- To comply with valid legal process
- To government authorities when disclosure is legally required
- For other purposes permitted under HIPAA or applicable law
We do not sell protected health information.
6. Privacy of Children and Minors
Positive Start Counseling Services provides counseling services to minors.
We recognize that privacy and confidentiality involving children and adolescents may involve additional legal and clinical considerations.
Depending on the circumstances, a parent, legal guardian, or other authorized representative may have rights to participate in treatment and receive information concerning a minor’s care. However, federal and Florida law contain circumstances in which a minor may consent to certain healthcare services or in which a parent or guardian may not have unrestricted access to particular information.
Accordingly, access to a minor’s counseling information will be handled on a case-by-case basis in accordance with applicable federal and Florida law, the minor’s legal status, applicable consent requirements, professional judgment, and the circumstances of treatment.
HIPAA generally treats a parent or guardian as a minor’s personal representative, but federal law contains important exceptions.
Positive Start Counseling Services will make reasonable efforts to protect the privacy of minors while complying with applicable legal requirements concerning parental or guardian access.
7. Website Forms and Electronic Communications
Our website may provide methods for requesting information, contacting our office, or requesting an appointment.
Information submitted through website forms, email, text messages, or other electronic communications may be received by Positive Start Counseling Services or by service providers that support our communications systems.
Please do not submit highly sensitive, urgent, or emergency mental health information through a website contact form, ordinary email, or text message.
Electronic communications may carry privacy and security risks, and we cannot guarantee that communications transmitted over the internet or cellular networks will be completely secure.
For emergencies, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
8. Telehealth and Online Services
Positive Start Counseling Services may provide counseling services through telehealth or other electronic platforms.
When telehealth is used, we take reasonable steps to use appropriate technology and procedures designed to protect the confidentiality and security of information.
Telehealth communications may nevertheless involve risks associated with internet connectivity, electronic devices, software, and third-party technology.
Additional terms, consent requirements, and privacy information may apply to particular telehealth services or platforms.
9. Cookies and Website Analytics
Our website may use cookies, analytics tools, and similar technologies to operate the website, understand website traffic, improve functionality, and maintain security.
These technologies may collect information such as:
- IP address
- Browser and device information
- Pages visited
- Approximate usage information
- Referring pages
- Date and time of website activity
You may be able to control cookies through your browser settings. Disabling certain cookies may affect website functionality.
If we use third-party analytics, advertising, or tracking technologies that collect information beyond ordinary website functionality, we may provide additional disclosures or choices as required by applicable law.
10. Third-Party Service Providers
We may use third-party service providers to support our business and healthcare operations, including providers involved in:
- Electronic health records
- Telehealth
- Appointment scheduling
- Billing and payment processing
- Insurance claims
- Website hosting
- Information technology
- Cybersecurity
- Cloud storage
- Email and communications
- Administrative services
When required by HIPAA, appropriate agreements and safeguards will be used to protect PHI handled by service providers.
11. Information Security
We use reasonable administrative, physical, and technical safeguards designed to protect information in our possession.
Despite these safeguards, no electronic system, website, email transmission, or internet-connected service can be guaranteed to be completely secure.
If a breach of unsecured protected health information occurs that requires notification under applicable law, Positive Start Counseling Services will provide the required notifications.
12. Your Privacy Rights
Depending on the information involved and applicable law, you may have rights to:
- Request access to certain health information we maintain about you
- Request correction or amendment of certain information
- Request restrictions on certain uses or disclosures
- Request confidential communications
- Request an accounting of certain disclosures
- Receive a copy of our Notice of Privacy Practices
- File a complaint concerning our privacy practices
- Receive information regarding how your protected health information may be used and disclosed
Some requests may be subject to limitations or exceptions under federal or Florida law.
Additional information concerning these rights is contained in our HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices. HHS requires covered healthcare providers to make their Notice of Privacy Practices available to patients and prominently available on qualifying websites.
13. Third-Party Websites
Our website may contain links to websites or services operated by third parties.
Positive Start Counseling Services is not responsible for the privacy practices, security, or content of third-party websites.
We encourage you to review the privacy policy of any third-party website before providing personal information.
14. Children’s Website Privacy
Our counseling services are available to children and adolescents. Our website, however, is primarily intended to provide information about our services and facilitate communication with our practice.
We do not knowingly use our website to solicit unnecessary personal information from children.
Information concerning a minor that is submitted to us in connection with requesting or receiving counseling services will be handled in accordance with applicable privacy laws and our clinical and legal obligations.
15. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices, services, technology, or applicable laws.
When we make changes, we will update the “Last Updated” date at the top of this policy.
Material changes will be communicated as required by applicable law.
16. Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact us:
Positive Start Counseling Services, Inc.
11440 Okeechobee Blvd., Suite 205B
Royal Palm Beach, Florida 33411
Phone: 954-817-5825
Website: https://positivestartcounseling.com
For questions concerning protected health information or to exercise an applicable privacy right, please contact our office and request to speak with the person responsible for privacy matters.
17. HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices
This Privacy Policy is intended primarily to explain our general privacy and website practices. It does not replace our HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices.
Patients and their legally authorized representatives should review our separate HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices for detailed information about:
- How Positive Start Counseling Services may use and disclose PHI
- Patient privacy rights
- Access to records
- Requests for amendments
- Confidential communications
- Restrictions on disclosures
- Complaints
- Our legal duties concerning PHI
Our Notice of Privacy Practices will be provided as required by HIPAA and applicable law. HHS’s current model notices were updated in February 2026, including provisions concerning certain substance-use-disorder records where applicable.