Privacy Policy

The short version

This website is here to share my writing, my book, my trainings and my services. It is a marketing and education site, not a healthcare service. I collect only what you choose to send me, plus basic information about how the site is used. I don't sell your information to anyone.

This site is not part of your health record

Please don't send health information, symptoms, diagnoses or anything you'd want kept confidential through this website's contact form, its mailing list or email. Those tools are built for general questions and scheduling, not for private health information, and they are not a secure channel for it.

If you become my client, your clinical information is handled separately, under the privacy rules that apply to therapy records. You'll receive my Notice of Privacy Practices at that time, and it, not this page, governs your care.

What I collect

When you contact me. The contact form asks for your first name, email address, an optional phone number, the reason you're reaching out, and your message. It is stored securely and emailed to me so I can reply. The form uses a spam check (Cloudflare Turnstile) that may look at your browser and connection to tell people from bots.

When you join my mailing list. I collect your email address. My newsletter is sent through Kit (ConvertKit), and every email has an unsubscribe link.

When you buy something. Purchases are processed by Stripe. I receive your name, email address and what you bought so I can deliver it. I never see or store your card number.

When you browse. I use Google Analytics to understand which pages are read and how people find the site: pages visited, the site that sent you, your device and browser, and your approximate location (city or region). Google Analytics sets cookies to do this. It is never loaded on the contact page. Like most websites, the site's hosting also keeps short-lived technical logs, such as IP addresses, to keep the site secure and working.

How I use it

To reply to you, send the emails you signed up for, deliver what you bought, keep the site safe, and understand what's useful so I can write more of it. I don't sell, rent or trade your personal information, and I don't use it for targeted advertising.

Services that help run this site

Your information passes through a small number of companies that provide the tools this site runs on: the website platform and its hosting and database providers, Kit (mailing list), Stripe (payments), Google (analytics), Cloudflare (spam protection) and an email delivery service. Each handles your information only to provide its service and under its own privacy policy.

Links to other sites

Some links lead to other websites, including Amazon. Some Amazon links are affiliate links: if you buy through them, I may earn a small fee at no cost to you. Once you leave this site, that site's own privacy policy applies.

Cookies

The site uses cookies for analytics (Google Analytics) and to remember what's in your shopping cart. You can block or delete cookies in your browser settings; the site will still work, though the cart won't remember your items.

How long I keep it

Contact messages are kept as long as I need them to respond and for my records. Mailing list information is kept until you unsubscribe. Purchase records are kept as long as tax and accounting rules require.

Your choices

You can ask me to show you, correct or delete the personal information I hold about you, and you can unsubscribe from my emails at any time. If you live in California, you have these rights under state law as well. Email me and I'll take care of it; I won't treat you differently for asking.

Children

This site is meant for adults and isn't directed to children under 13. I don't knowingly collect information from children.

Changes to this policy

If I change this policy, I'll update it here and change the date at the top.

Questions

Email me at sofia@sofiamendozalcsw.com.