Privacy Policy

Effective Date: August 25, 2026

Stephanie Mata Therapy ("Stephanie Mata Therapy," "we," "us," or "our") respects your privacy and is committed to protecting the information you provide when you visit our website, www.stephaniematatherapy.com (the "Website").

This Privacy Policy explains what information we may collect through our Website, how we may use that information, how we protect it, and the choices you may have regarding your information.

This Privacy Policy applies to information collected through our Website. It does not replace our Notice of Privacy Practices, which explains how protected health information is used and disclosed in connection with therapy services.

1. Information We Collect

Depending on how you interact with our Website, we may collect information such as:

  • Your name

  • Email address

  • Phone number

  • Information you provide when requesting a consultation or appointment

  • Information you provide through a contact or inquiry form

  • Information you voluntarily provide in an email or other communication

  • Technical information about your visit to our Website, such as your IP address, browser type, device type, pages visited, and general website usage information

Please do not submit sensitive or confidential information about your mental health, medical history, trauma history, relationship, sexuality, or other personal matters through a website contact form.

A website contact form or email should not be considered a secure method for communicating protected health information.

2. How We Use Information

We may use information collected through the Website to:

  • Respond to questions and requests

  • Respond to consultation or appointment inquiries

  • Communicate with prospective or current clients

  • Provide information about our services

  • Schedule or coordinate services

  • Improve the Website and user experience

  • Maintain the security and functionality of the Website

  • Comply with applicable legal and regulatory requirements

  • Protect the rights, safety, and property of our practice, clients, and others

We do not sell your personal information.

3. Therapy and Health Information

Information you provide as part of receiving therapy services may constitute protected health information ("PHI") and may be subject to the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act ("HIPAA") and applicable Texas privacy laws.

Our use and disclosure of PHI is governed by our Notice of Privacy Practices, not solely by this Website Privacy Policy.

HIPAA generally requires covered healthcare providers to explain their privacy practices and patients' rights through a Notice of Privacy Practices.

You can request a copy of our Notice of Privacy Practices at any time.

4. Information Submitted Through the Website

If you voluntarily provide information through the Website—for example, by completing a contact form, requesting a consultation, or subscribing to communications—we may receive the information you submit.

Please use discretion when submitting information through the Website.

The Website is not intended for emergency or crisis communication. If you are experiencing a mental health emergency or believe you may be in immediate danger, call 911, go to the nearest emergency department, or call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

5. Cookies and Website Analytics

Our Website may use cookies, analytics tools, or similar technologies to help us understand how visitors use the Website and to improve its functionality.

These technologies may collect information such as:

  • Pages visited

  • Time spent on the Website

  • Browser and device information

  • General geographic information

  • Referring websites

  • Website interactions

Depending on the tools used on the Website, third-party providers may collect or process certain technical information on our behalf.

Healthcare providers should take particular care with tracking technologies because information collected through websites can, in some circumstances, constitute protected health information or otherwise implicate HIPAA requirements.

For this reason, we seek to use website analytics and tracking technologies in a manner consistent with applicable privacy and security requirements.

6. Third-Party Services and Links

Our Website may contain links to third-party websites or services, including scheduling platforms, payment platforms, social media pages, educational resources, or other websites.

When you leave our Website and access a third-party website or service, that third party's privacy policy and terms may apply.

We are not responsible for the privacy practices, security, or content of third-party websites or services.

Before submitting personal or health information to a third-party service, we encourage you to review that provider's privacy practices.

7. Online Scheduling

If you use an online scheduling system linked through our Website, information submitted through that system may be collected and processed by the scheduling platform.

The scheduling platform's privacy practices may apply to information collected through its system.

Please refer to the applicable scheduling platform's privacy documentation for additional information about how information is collected, stored, and protected.

8. Email Communications

If you contact us by email, we may retain your email address and the contents of your communication so that we can respond to your request and maintain appropriate business or clinical records.

Please be aware that ordinary email may not be completely secure.

For your privacy, please avoid sending highly sensitive information through standard email unless we have specifically provided you with a secure method for doing so.

9. How We Protect Information

We take reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational measures to protect information within our control against unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction.

However, no method of transmitting information over the internet or storing electronic information can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

Accordingly, we cannot guarantee absolute security of information transmitted through the Website.

10. Children's Privacy

Our Website is intended for adults and individuals seeking information about mental health services.

We do not knowingly collect personal information from children through the Website for purposes unrelated to providing or coordinating services.

If a parent or legal guardian contacts us regarding therapy services for a child, information may be collected as necessary to respond to the inquiry and provide services.

11. Your Privacy Choices

Depending on the information involved and applicable law, you may have choices regarding your personal information.

You may:

  • Choose not to submit information through the Website

  • Contact us to ask questions about information you have provided

  • Unsubscribe from non-clinical marketing or informational communications

  • Adjust cookie or browser settings where applicable

  • Request information about our privacy practices

Privacy rights relating to protected health information are described in our Notice of Privacy Practices.

Texas law also provides protections relating to medical privacy, including protections under the Texas Medical Records Privacy Act.

12. Texas Privacy Law

Stephanie Mata Therapy is located in Texas and seeks to comply with applicable federal and Texas privacy requirements.

The Texas Data Privacy and Security Act ("TDPSA") became effective July 1, 2024. The Texas Attorney General explains that the Act contains exemptions for certain entities governed by HIPAA and for certain health information. Whether a particular practice or activity is subject to the Act depends on the circumstances and the type of information involved.

We will comply with applicable privacy requirements governing information collected through our Website and our provision of healthcare services.

13. Data Retention

We retain information for as long as reasonably necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this Privacy Policy, provide services, maintain appropriate business and clinical records, comply with legal and professional obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements.

Retention periods may vary depending on the type of information and the reason it was collected.

14. Data Breaches

If we become aware of a breach involving protected health information or other information for which notification is required by applicable law, we will provide notification as required by federal or Texas law.

Texas law provides privacy protections for medical information and includes breach-notification requirements concerning certain health information.

15. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or services.

When we make changes, we will update the Effective Date at the top of this policy.

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically.

16. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact:

Stephanie Mata Therapy
Stephanie Mata, LMFT, LPC
Pflugerville, Texas
Email: office@stephaniematatherapy.com

For questions regarding your protected health information or your HIPAA rights, please contact the practice directly using the information above.

You may also have the right to file a privacy complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights. HIPAA protects an individual's right to file a complaint regarding potential privacy violations, and a provider may not retaliate against an individual for filing a complaint.

Last Updated: August 25, 2026