Effective Date: October 8, 2026
Last Updated: October 8, 2026

Welcome to the website of Essence Counseling Services, LLC (“Essence Counseling Services,” “we,” “us,” or “our”). This Website Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, maintain, protect, and disclose information obtained through our website, essencecounsel.com, and through communications initiated through the website.

This Privacy Policy applies to information collected through our website and does not replace or supersede our Notice of Privacy Practices, which separately describes how protected health information (“PHI”) is handled in connection with healthcare services. If you become a client of Essence Counseling Services, additional privacy protections and legal requirements may apply to your health information under HIPAA and applicable federal and state laws.

Please read this Privacy Policy carefully. By accessing or using this website, you acknowledge that you have read and understand this Privacy Policy.

This website is provided for general informational, educational, and administrative purposes.

The website does not provide emergency mental health services, crisis intervention, diagnosis, treatment, or medical advice through the website itself.

Information contained on this website should not be interpreted as creating a therapist client relationship.

Submitting a contact form, sending an email, leaving a voicemail, or otherwise contacting Essence Counseling Services does not establish a therapist client relationship. A therapist client relationship is established only when Essence Counseling Services has formally agreed to provide services and the applicable intake, consent, and professional requirements have been completed.

Depending on how you use our website, we may collect information that you voluntarily provide to us.

This may include:

• Your name;
• Email address;
• Telephone number;
• Preferred method of contact;
• General information regarding the services you are interested in;
• Information you voluntarily provide when submitting a general inquiry;
• Information you provide when requesting information about appointments, insurance, self-pay services, or other practice-related matters; and
• Other information that you voluntarily submit through the website.

You are not required to provide more information than is reasonably necessary for us to respond to your inquiry. Please do not submit sensitive clinical information through the general website contact form.

For your protection, please do not submit detailed information regarding:

• Mental health diagnoses;
• Symptoms;
• Trauma history;
• Medication;
• Substance use;
• Substance-use-disorder treatment;
• Suicidal thoughts or behavior;
• Self-harm;
• Abuse;
• Detailed medical history;
• Insurance identification numbers;
• Social Security numbers;
• Financial account information; or
• Other highly sensitive health information.

The general website contact form is intended for general inquiries and administrative communication only.

When you visit our website, certain information may be collected automatically by the website platform, hosting provider, or technology used to operate the website. Depending on the technology and services enabled on the website, this information may include:

• Internet Protocol (“IP”) address;
• Browser type;
• Device type;
• Operating system;
• Date and time of access;
• Pages viewed;
• Referring website or webpage;
• General geographic information;
• Website usage information; and
• Other technical information necessary to operate, secure, maintain, and improve the website.

This information may be used for website functionality, security, troubleshooting, performance monitoring, and understanding general website usage. We do not intentionally request sensitive clinical information through automatically collected website analytics.

Our website may use cookies, pixels, analytics technologies, or similar technologies that are provided by the website platform or third party service providers. Cookies are small data files that may be stored on your device when you visit a website. Depending on the technology being used, cookies may help us:

• Operate the website;
• Remember certain website preferences;
• Understand general website traffic;
• Improve website performance;
• Detect security issues; and
• Improve the user experience.

You may be able to control or disable cookies through your internet browser settings.

Disabling certain cookies may affect some website functionality. Because the specific cookies and technologies used by a website can change, the actual technologies active on our website may vary over time.

Our website may use third-party service providers to provide website hosting, website functionality, scheduling, communications, analytics, security, payment processing, or other administrative services.

Third-party providers may process certain information on our behalf or collect information directly through their technology.

We seek to use service providers that provide appropriate privacy and security protections consistent with the nature of the services they provide and applicable legal requirements. The privacy practices of third party websites and services are governed by their own privacy policies. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of third party services before providing information to them.

Essence Counseling Services provides professional behavioral health services primarily through telehealth.

Telehealth services may involve separate secure technology, electronic health records, scheduling systems, client portals, and other healthcare technology.

Our telehealth and clinical services may involve Session Health or other technology selected by the practice.

Information collected and maintained as part of your clinical care is subject to additional privacy and security requirements and may be governed by our Notice of Privacy Practices and applicable federal and state healthcare privacy laws. The website itself should not be used to provide clinical information or participate in a telehealth session.

Our website may provide a contact form for prospective clients and other individuals who wish to contact Essence Counseling Services.

The contact form is intended for general inquiries such as:

• Requesting information about services;
• Asking about availability;
• General insurance questions;
• General self-pay questions;
• Scheduling inquiries; or
• Other administrative questions.

Please do not include detailed mental health, medical, trauma, substance-use, medication, or other sensitive health information. Information submitted through the contact form may be transmitted to the practice's designated business email system so that we can respond to your inquiry. Because electronic communications may present privacy and security risks, you should use discretion when deciding what information to submit electronically.

Essence Counseling Services may use email to communicate with prospective clients, current clients, referral sources, insurance representatives, and other individuals when appropriate. The practice uses a business email system for administrative communications. However, email is not guaranteed to be completely secure. For this reason, we recommend that you avoid sending highly sensitive clinical or financial information through ordinary email unless you have been specifically instructed to use an appropriate secure communication method. For established clients, please use the secure communication method designated by Essence Counseling Services for clinical communications whenever available.

Essence Counseling Services is committed to protecting the privacy and security of health information as required by applicable federal and state law. When information is protected health information under HIPAA, our handling of that information is governed by HIPAA and our Notice of Privacy Practices, in addition to applicable state privacy and confidentiality requirements. This Website Privacy Policy does not replace or modify our Notice of Privacy Practices. If there is a conflict between this Website Privacy Policy and legally applicable HIPAA requirements concerning PHI, the applicable HIPAA requirements and other applicable law will control.

Essence Counseling Services may provide behavioral health counseling involving substance use or substance use related concerns. Information obtained through the general website should not include detailed substance use history or substance use disorder treatment information. Where information is protected by additional federal or state confidentiality requirements, including 42 CFR Part 2 when applicable, those requirements will apply. The website Privacy Policy does not waive or reduce any legal protections applicable to substance-use-disorder records.

 INFORMATION WE DO NOT INTENTIONALLY COLLECT THROUGH THIS WEBSITE

We do not intentionally request the following through the general website contact form:

• Social Security numbers;
• Passwords;
• Credit card numbers;
• Bank account numbers;
• Detailed medical histories;
• Detailed psychiatric histories;
• Detailed substance-use histories;
• Psychotherapy notes;
• Crisis information; or
• Other highly sensitive clinical information.

If you voluntarily submit information that we did not request, we will handle it according to applicable law and our privacy and security procedures.

Information collected through the website may be used to:

• Respond to inquiries;
• Contact individuals who request information;
• Provide information regarding services;
• Respond to appointment or availability inquiries;
• Respond to insurance or self-pay questions;
• Maintain website functionality;
• Improve website performance;
• Protect the website against fraud, abuse, or security threats;
• Comply with legal obligations;
• Maintain appropriate business and administrative records; and
• Perform other purposes disclosed at the time information is collected or otherwise permitted by applicable law.

We do not use information submitted through the general contact form to provide emergency services.

Essence Counseling Services does not sell personal information obtained through its website.

We may share information collected through the website when reasonably necessary to:

• Provide website functionality;
• Respond to your request;
• Maintain website security;
• Operate the business;
• Use service providers that assist us with website or administrative functions;
• Comply with applicable law;
• Respond to valid legal process;
• Protect the rights, safety, and property of the practice or others; or
• Prevent fraud or other unlawful activity.

When applicable law requires additional authorization or protection, we will follow those requirements.

Essence Counseling Services may use third-party service providers to support website operations and business administration.

Examples may include providers supporting:

• Website hosting;
• Website development and maintenance;
• Email;
• Scheduling;
• Telehealth;
• Electronic health records;
• Payment processing;
• Website security;
• Information technology;
• Data storage;
• Analytics; and
• Other administrative functions.

Where a service provider receives protected health information on behalf of Essence Counseling Services and is a business associate under HIPAA, the practice will obtain a Business Associate Agreement when required by law. Not every third-party website or service provider is a HIPAA business associate. The privacy and security requirements applicable to a provider depend upon the services it performs and the information it receives.

Depending upon the type of information involved and applicable law, you may have rights concerning information collected through our website, including the right to:

• Request information about how your information is handled;
• Request correction of certain information;
• Request deletion of certain information where applicable;
• Withdraw certain communications or permissions where applicable;
• Exercise rights provided under applicable state privacy law; and
• File a complaint concerning privacy practices.

Some information may be retained when retention is necessary for legal, regulatory, professional, contractual, security, accounting, or other legitimate purposes.

Rights concerning protected health information are addressed more specifically in our Notice of Privacy Practices.

Essence Counseling Services provides telehealth services to clients located in states in which the provider is appropriately licensed or otherwise legally authorized to provide the applicable service. Clients may have privacy rights under the laws of their state of residence or the state in which services are provided.

Florida residents may have privacy and confidentiality protections under applicable Florida laws governing healthcare providers, behavioral health services, communications, and personal information.

Virginia residents may have additional rights under applicable Virginia privacy and consumer data protection laws. Certain information maintained in connection with professional healthcare services may be subject to federal or state healthcare privacy laws that apply separately from general consumer privacy laws.

Massachusetts residents may have additional privacy and information-security protections under Massachusetts law, including requirements concerning the safeguarding of certain personal information.

Essence Counseling Services maintains administrative, technical, and physical safeguards appropriate to the nature and sensitivity of information maintained by the practice and applicable legal requirements.

When Massachusetts law applies to personal information maintained by Essence Counseling Services, the practice will take reasonable measures appropriate to the nature and sensitivity of the information to protect against unauthorized access, use, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. Massachusetts regulations require businesses that own or license covered Massachusetts personal information to maintain a comprehensive written information security program with appropriate administrative, technical, and physical safeguards. Our privacy and security practices are designed to address applicable legal and professional requirements.

Essence Counseling Services takes reasonable administrative, technical, and physical measures designed to protect information against unauthorized access, use, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. Security measures may include, as appropriate:

• Access controls;
• Password protections;
• Authentication measures;
• Device security;
• Secure technology platforms;
• Limited access to information;
• Security monitoring;
• Appropriate vendor controls;
• Workforce privacy and security practices; and
• Secure disposal practices.

No website, electronic communication, computer system, or method of transmitting information over the internet can be guaranteed to be completely secure. Therefore, while we take reasonable precautions, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

We retain information for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes for which it was collected and as necessary to comply with applicable legal, regulatory, professional, accounting, insurance, contractual, and record retention requirements. Different categories of information may be retained for different periods.

Healthcare records are maintained according to applicable professional, federal, and state record-retention requirements and are addressed separately from ordinary website information.

If Essence Counseling Services determines that a security incident or breach involving protected information has occurred, the practice will respond in accordance with applicable federal and state breach-notification requirements. Where HIPAA applies, the HIPAA Breach Notification Rule will govern applicable breach-notification obligations. Other federal or state laws may impose additional requirements depending on the type of information involved and the individuals affected.

This website is intended primarily for adults and is not designed to knowingly collect personal information from children through the website for purposes unrelated to providing services. If a parent, guardian, or legally authorized representative contacts Essence Counseling Services regarding services for a minor, information may be collected as reasonably necessary to respond to the inquiry and provide services when legally appropriate. Because laws concerning minors' privacy and confidentiality vary depending upon the circumstances and jurisdiction, applicable federal and state laws will govern.

LINKS TO OTHER WEBSITES

Our website may contain links to third party websites, including websites of professional organizations, resources, referral sources, healthcare organizations, insurance companies, or other services.

Essence Counseling Services does not control and is not responsible for the privacy practices, security, content, or policies of third-party websites. You should review the privacy policy of any third party website before submitting information to that website.

Essence Counseling Services may maintain social media or other online professional profiles.

Communicating with the practice through social media does not create a therapist-client relationship and should not be used to disclose confidential clinical information. The practice will not intentionally disclose client-identifying clinical information through public social media. Please do not post confidential information about yourself or your treatment in public comments, reviews, or social media communications.

Essence Counseling Services respects the privacy and confidentiality of clients. The practice will not disclose that an individual is or has been a client for marketing or testimonial purposes without the authorization required by applicable law. Individuals who voluntarily post public reviews or comments about the practice should understand that the practice may be unable to confirm or deny whether the individual is a client because doing so could disclose protected information.

We may update this Website Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or services. When changes are made, the revised Privacy Policy will be posted on this page with a new “Last Updated” date. Your continued use of the website after a revised Privacy Policy is posted constitutes acknowledgment of the revised policy to the extent permitted by law. Changes to our HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices will be handled according to applicable HIPAA requirements.

Although Essence Counseling Services takes reasonable steps to protect information, no website, electronic communication system, internet transmission, or storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure. By using the website, you acknowledge the inherent risks associated with transmitting information electronically. Nothing in this Privacy Policy is intended to limit any privacy rights or protections that cannot lawfully be waived.

Information presented on this website is provided for general educational and informational purposes.

Website content is not a substitute for professional mental health treatment, medical advice, emergency services, legal advice, or individualized professional consultation. Accessing or using this website does not create a therapist-client relationship.

DO NOT USE THIS WEBSITE, CONTACT FORM, OR EMAIL FOR EMERGENCIES.

Essence Counseling Services is a private outpatient telehealth practice and does not provide 24-hour emergency or crisis services through this website. If you are experiencing an emergency, believe you are at immediate risk of harming yourself or another person, or require immediate assistance:

Call 911, go to the nearest emergency department, or call/text 988.

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

Essence Counseling Services, LLC
Miscaline Presume, MS, LMHC
Telephone: 813-530-6061
Email: miscaline.presume@essencecounsel.com

For questions specifically concerning your protected health information or HIPAA rights, please also review our:

Notice of Privacy Practices