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Privacy Policy

Last updated: October 12, 2026

Healing Journey Psychotherapy (“the Practice,” “we,” or “our”) is a private counseling practice owned and operated by Frances Jacobs Smith, MEd, MSW, LCSW, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the State of North Carolina. Your privacy matters to us. This policy explains how we handle information when you visit our website, contact our office, or become a client. Trust is the foundation of therapy, and protecting your personal information is part of the care we provide.

1. Our Commitment to Confidentiality

As a licensed clinical social worker, Frances Jacobs Smith is bound by the ethical standards of the social work profession and by North Carolina law to keep client information confidential. What you share in session, and the fact that you are a client at all, is private. We will not disclose identifying information about you to anyone without your written consent, except in the limited situations described in this policy.

2. Information We May Collect

We collect only the information we need to respond to you and to provide care. Depending on how you interact with us, this may include:

  • Contact information: your name, phone number, email address, and mailing address, when you call, email, or submit a form to request an appointment or a free 15-minute consultation.
  • Clinical information: health history, background, and details you share during intake and sessions, which are kept in your confidential client record.
  • Billing and insurance information: insurance company and member details, and payment information, when needed to process claims or fees.
  • Website information: basic technical data such as your browser type, device, pages visited, and approximate location, collected automatically when you use our site.
3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information you give us to schedule and conduct appointments, respond to your questions, provide counseling services, maintain required clinical records, process payments and insurance claims, and meet our professional and legal obligations. We use website information only to keep the site working properly and to understand how it can be improved. We do not sell your personal information, and we do not use it for third-party advertising.

4. Limits of Confidentiality

Confidentiality is a core part of therapy, but there are a few situations in which the law or professional ethics require or permit disclosure. These include:

  • When there is a serious risk that you may harm yourself or another person, and disclosure is needed to protect safety.
  • When there is reasonable suspicion of abuse or neglect of a child, an older adult, or a person with a disability, which we are required by law to report.
  • When a court orders the release of records or testimony, or when otherwise required by law.
  • When you give us written permission to share information with another provider, family member, or person you designate.

If a disclosure is ever necessary, we will share only the minimum information required, and we will discuss it with you whenever it is possible and appropriate to do so.

5. Health Information and HIPAA

Information related to your care is considered protected health information. We handle it in accordance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and applicable North Carolina law. Clients receive a separate Notice of Privacy Practices at the start of services, which describes in more detail how your health information may be used and disclosed and explains your rights, including the right to request access to your records, to ask for corrections, and to request an accounting of certain disclosures.

6. Insurance, Billing, and Payments

If you use your insurance benefits, we share only the information your plan requires to process a claim, which typically includes your identifying details, dates of service, and a diagnosis. Insurance companies require a diagnosis for reimbursement, and that information then becomes part of your insurance record. If you choose to pay out of pocket, we will not submit claims on your behalf. Payments by credit card, debit card, or Health Savings Account card are processed through secure payment services, and we do not store your full card number on this website.

7. Email, Text, and Phone Communication

Email and text messages are not fully secure and can potentially be intercepted. For your privacy, we recommend limiting electronic communication to scheduling and other non-clinical matters, and we ask that you not send detailed personal or clinical information by regular email or text. If you contact us by phone and we are unable to answer, please leave only the minimum information needed for us to return your call, since voicemail may be accessible to others. Please let us know if you would prefer that we not leave messages at a particular number.

8. How We Protect Your Information

We take reasonable administrative, technical, and physical precautions to protect your information from unauthorized access, loss, or misuse. Client records are stored securely, and access is limited to those who need it to provide your care or administer the Practice. While we work hard to safeguard your information, no method of storage or transmission over the internet is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

9. Who This Website Is For

Our services and this website are intended for adults. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 18 through this website. If you believe a minor has provided us with information, please contact us so that we can remove it.

10. Your Choices and Rights

You may ask to review or request a copy of your clinical records, ask us to correct information you believe is inaccurate, and request limits on how certain information is used or shared. You may also withdraw a previously signed authorization at any time, in writing, with effect for future disclosures. Records are retained for the period required by North Carolina law and professional standards, after which they are securely destroyed.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, or legal requirements. When we do, we will post the revised policy on this page and update the date at the top. We encourage you to review it periodically.

Questions or concerns? If you have questions about this policy or about how your information is handled, please contact us here.