Privacy Policy – Katie Newman, LMFT
 
Introduction
Effective date: October 5, 2026
This Privacy Policy explains how Katie Newman, LMFT ("I," "me," or "my") collects, uses, and protects information when you visit www.katienewmanlmft.com (the "Website") or contact me through it. I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (California LMFT #162232) providing therapy in Santa Cruz, California and via telehealth within California.
By using this Website, you agree to the practices described in this policy. If you do not agree, please do not use the Website or submit information through it.

Information I Collect
Information you provide. When you use the contact form to request a free consultation or ask a question, I collect your first and last name, email address, the service you are inquiring about (such as couples therapy, premarital counseling, individual therapy, or walk and talk therapy), and anything you choose to write in the message field. If you email or call me directly, I receive your contact details and whatever you share in that communication.
Information collected automatically. Like most websites, this Website and its hosting platform (Wix.com) may automatically collect technical information when you visit. This can include your IP address, browser type, device type, pages viewed, time spent on pages, referring website, and general location (such as city or region).
This technical information is collected by Wix through its standard site tools and cookies, under Wix's own privacy policy. I do not control what Wix collects about website visits, and I do not use it to identify you or connect it to any inquiry or therapy record.
Please limit what you share. The contact form is intended only for scheduling and general questions. Please do not include detailed clinical, medical, or mental health information in the form or by email. We can discuss what's bringing you in during your consultation call.

How I Use Your Information
I use the information you provide only to respond to your inquiry, schedule a consultation, answer questions about my services, and communicate with you about starting therapy. I use automatically collected information to keep the Website running, understand how visitors use it, and improve its content and security.
I do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. I do not use information you send me through the contact form, email, or phone for advertising, and I will not add you to a marketing or newsletter list without your permission.

Website Inquiries vs. Therapy Records
This policy covers information collected through the Website and initial inquiries only. Contacting me through the Website does not by itself create a therapist-client relationship.
If you become a client, your health information and therapy records are protected under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), the California Confidentiality of Medical Information Act (CMIA), and my professional and ethical obligations as a licensed therapist. How I use and disclose that information, and your rights regarding it, are described in my separate Notice of Privacy Practices, which you will receive at intake and may request at any time.

Cookies and Analytics
The Website is built on Wix.com, which uses cookies and similar technologies to operate the site, maintain security, remember preferences, and provide basic visitor statistics. Cookies are small text files stored in your browser. You can set your browser to refuse or delete cookies, though some parts of the Website may not work properly if you do.
Do Not Track. Some browsers offer a "Do Not Track" setting. Because there is no uniform standard for how websites should respond to these signals, the Website does not currently respond to Do Not Track signals.
Advertising. I may at times run online ads, for example through Google or social media platforms, to let people know about my services. These platforms may use cookies or similar technologies to measure how ads perform, such as whether someone who clicked an ad visited the Website. That data is collected and controlled by the ad platforms under their own privacy policies. I do not share your contact form submissions or any therapy information with advertising platforms. You can limit personalized ads through your browser settings or the ad settings of the platforms you use.

Service Providers and Sharing
I rely on a small number of trusted service providers to run the Website and my practice, such as Wix.com for website hosting and form submissions, and my email provider for correspondence. Wix has signed a HIPAA Business Associate Agreement with me covering contact form submissions. These providers process information on my behalf and only as needed to provide their services. You can review Wix's privacy practices at wix.com/about/privacy.
I will not share your information with anyone else except when:

• You give me written permission

• Disclosure is required by law, subpoena, or court order

• I believe disclosure is necessary to prevent serious and imminent harm to you or someone else, as permitted or required by California law

• I am a mandated reporter and the information involves suspected abuse or neglect of a child, elder, or dependent adult
   

Security and Communication Risks
I take reasonable administrative, technical, and physical steps to protect your information. The Website uses encrypted (HTTPS) connections, and contact form submissions are handled under a HIPAA Business Associate Agreement with Wix. However, no website, form, email, or text message is completely secure, and I cannot guarantee the security of information sent over the internet.
Standard email and text messaging are not fully confidential. If you choose to contact me this way, you accept that risk. For more sensitive matters, please call me or wait until we can speak directly.

Data Retention
If you do not become a client, I keep inquiry information only as long as reasonably needed to respond to you and for ordinary business records, and then delete it. If you become a client, your records are kept as required by California law and professional standards, as described in my Notice of Privacy Practices.
If you have questions about information you have shared with me, please contact me through the Website.

Children, Emergencies, and Outside Links
Children. The Website is intended for adults. I do not knowingly collect personal information online from children under 13. If you believe a child has submitted information through the Website, please contact me and I will delete it.
Not for emergencies. The contact form, email, and voicemail are not monitored around the clock and are not for emergencies. If you are in crisis or thinking about harming yourself or someone else, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), call 911, or go to your nearest emergency room.
Outside links. The Website may link to other websites. I am not responsible for the content or privacy practices of those sites, and I encourage you to read their privacy policies.

Changes and Questions
I may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Changes take effect when posted on this page, and the effective date at the top will be updated.
If you have questions about this policy or your information, please contact me through the Website.