This Privacy Policy and Terms of Service (“Policy”) applies to the SamanthaBinstock.com website operated by Samantha Lubin (Binstock), LPC-Associate supervised by Sharon Bien LPCS, d/b/a Post Oak Family Wellness of Houston, Texas (“we,” “us,” or “our”). By accessing or using this website, you agree to the terms of this Policy. If you do not agree, please do not use the website.
This Policy combines our website privacy practices and our website terms of use. If you are a therapy client, your protected health information (“PHI”) is handled separately through HIPAA-compliant systems and is governed by our Notice of Privacy Practices and any applicable treatment or service agreement.
1. Website Purpose
This website is provided for general informational, educational, parenting, coaching, and administrative purposes only.
The website is not intended to:
- provide emergency services;
- provide a secure channel for transmitting sensitive, confidential, or clinical information; or
- create a therapist-client relationship solely by your use of the website, submission of a form, or receipt of information from the website.
If you are seeking therapy services, do not submit therapy-related details through unsecured website forms or ordinary email unless we specifically direct you to a secure, HIPAA-compliant method.
2. No Emergency Services
This website is not monitored for emergencies or crisis situations.
If you are experiencing a medical or mental health emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room immediately.
If you are in crisis and need immediate support, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, or contact your local emergency services.
3. No Professional Advice; Educational Content Only
Content on this website is provided for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice, mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment, unless expressly stated in a separate written agreement.
You should not rely on website content as a substitute for individualized evaluation, diagnosis, or care from a qualified professional.
4. Coaching Services
If we offer coaching, educational, consulting, or parenting support services, those services are distinct from psychotherapy and are not a substitute for mental health treatment, diagnosis, or clinical care.
Unless expressly stated in a separate written agreement, coaching services do not create a therapist-client relationship and are not governed by HIPAA as therapy services are.
5. Information We Collect Through the Website
We may collect the following categories of information when you use the website:
A. Information You Provide
- Name
- Email address
- Phone number
- Mailing address
- Messages or inquiries you submit
- Information submitted through contact forms, consultation requests, intake forms, newsletters, or appointment requests
B. Information Collected Automatically
- IP address
- Browser type
- Device type
- Operating system
- Pages viewed
- Time spent on pages
- Referring websites
- Approximate location data
- Cookies and similar tracking technologies
C. Information from Third Parties
We may receive information from service providers such as scheduling tools, email platforms, analytics providers, payment processors, advertising platforms, or social media platforms.
6. How We Use Website Information
We may use website-collected information to:
- respond to inquiries;
- schedule appointments or consultations;
- provide requested information;
- send administrative or operational messages;
- maintain and improve website functionality;
- analyze website traffic and performance;
- protect the security and integrity of the website;
- comply with legal obligations; and
- where permitted by law, deliver or measure marketing or remarketing activities.
7. HIPAA, Therapy Records, and Secure Systems
Therapy-related records, clinical notes, treatment information, and protected health information are handled separately from the website and are maintained through HIPAA-compliant systems or processes.
We do not intend for ordinary website forms, website chat features, or general email communications to serve as the primary method for transmitting PHI.
If you become a therapy client, your PHI will be governed by our Notice of Privacy Practices and any applicable consent or treatment documentation, not solely by this Policy.
8. How We Share Information
We may share website-collected information with:
- service providers and vendors that help us operate the website or provide business services;
- scheduling, payment, email, analytics, security, hosting, and customer support providers;
- advertising and social media platforms, where permitted by law and configured by us;
- professional advisors;
- legal, regulatory, or governmental authorities when required or permitted by law; and
- any successor in interest in connection with a business transaction, to the extent permitted by law.
We do not sell PHI through the website. Any sharing of therapy-related PHI is governed separately by HIPAA and applicable law.
9. Third-Party Vendors and Tools
We use third-party vendors to help operate the website and our business, which may include website hosting, analytics, scheduling, forms, email delivery, payment processing, security, and advertising tools.
These vendors may collect, process, or store website-collected information on our behalf. Their use of your information is governed by their own policies and terms, in addition to any applicable legal requirements.
If a vendor handles PHI on our behalf, we intend to use appropriate protections, including a Business Associate Agreement where required by law.
10. Cookies and Similar Technologies
We may use cookies, pixels, tags, and similar technologies to:
- remember preferences;
- improve website performance;
- understand usage patterns;
- support analytics; and
- measure or deliver advertising where permitted by law.
You may be able to control cookies through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect some website features.
11. Marketing and Remarketing
We may use website analytics and advertising tools to understand how visitors use the site and to support marketing, remarketing, or audience measurement, subject to applicable law.
We do not use the website to market therapy-related PHI in a manner that would violate HIPAA or other applicable law.
If you receive marketing emails from us, you may opt out by following the unsubscribe instructions in the email, subject to legal exceptions for transactional or administrative communications.
12. Data Retention
We retain website-collected information for as long as reasonably necessary to:
- fulfill the purposes described in this Policy;
- comply with legal, tax, accounting, or regulatory obligations;
- resolve disputes;
- enforce agreements; and
- maintain business records.
Retention periods may vary depending on the type of information and the purpose for which it was collected.
13. Security
We use reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect website-collected information.
However, no method of transmission over the internet or method of electronic storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.
14. Children’s Privacy
This website is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 through the website without appropriate parental or legal guardian involvement, where required.
If you believe a child has provided us personal information through the website, please contact us so we may review and delete it as appropriate.
15. Texas Data Privacy and Security Act Rights
If and to the extent the Texas Data Privacy and Security Act, Tex. Bus. & Com. Code §§ 541.001–.151 applies to our processing of your personal data, Texas residents may have rights to:
- confirm whether we process personal data;
- access personal data;
- correct inaccuracies;
- delete personal data;
- obtain a copy of personal data in a portable format; and
- opt out of targeted advertising, the sale of personal data, or profiling in furtherance of decisions that produce legal or similarly significant effects.
Requests may be submitted using the contact information below. We may need to verify your identity before responding.
These rights do not apply to information that is exempt under applicable law, including certain HIPAA-regulated information.
16. User Conduct
You agree not to use the website to:
- violate any applicable law or regulation;
- submit false, misleading, harassing, defamatory, obscene, or unlawful content;
- upload viruses, malware, or other harmful code;
- attempt unauthorized access to the website, systems, or accounts;
- interfere with the operation or security of the website; or
- submit therapy-related or highly sensitive information through unsecured website forms or ordinary email unless specifically authorized.
We may restrict or terminate access to the website if we determine that your use violates these Terms or threatens the website or its users.
17. Intellectual Property
All website content, including text, graphics, logos, images, videos, audio, design, and layout, is owned by or licensed to us and is protected by applicable intellectual property laws.
You may view and print content for personal, noncommercial use only, provided you do not modify the content and retain any copyright or proprietary notices. Any other use requires our prior written consent.
18. Third-Party Links and Services
The website may contain links to third-party websites, platforms, scheduling tools, payment processors, forms, or social media pages.
We are not responsible for the content, policies, practices, or security of third-party websites or services. Your use of third-party services is subject to their own terms and privacy policies.
19. Electronic Communications
By contacting us through the website or providing your email address, you consent to receive communications from us electronically, subject to applicable law.
You understand that internet and email communications may not be secure. Do not send sensitive clinical or emergency information through unencrypted website forms or ordinary email.
20. Disclaimer of Warranties
The website and all content are provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis, without warranties of any kind, express or implied, to the fullest extent permitted by law.
We disclaim all warranties, including implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement.
We do not warrant that the website will be uninterrupted, error-free, secure, or free from viruses or other harmful components.
21. Limitation of Liability
To the fullest extent permitted by law, we and our owners, employees, contractors, and agents will not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising out of or related to your use of, or inability to use, the website or any content on it.
To the fullest extent permitted by law, our total liability for any claim arising out of or related to the website will not exceed the amount, if any, you paid us to access the website, which is typically zero.
22. Indemnification
You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold us harmless and our owners, employees, contractors, and agents from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, and expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, arising out of or related to your use of the website or your violation of this Policy.
23. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Policy from time to time. The revised version will be posted on this page with a new effective date. Your continued use of the website after any changes become effective constitutes acceptance of the updated Policy.
24. Governing Law
This Policy is governed by the laws of the State of Texas, without regard to conflict-of-law principles.
25. Contact Us
If you have questions about this Policy, contact us via mail at:
Samantha Lubin, LPC-Associate
9639 Hillcroft St
Unit #5205
Houston, TX 77096