Privacy Policy for Brooklyn Integrative Psychological Services, PLLC (BK Integrative)
Effective Date: January 1st, 2025
At BK Integrative, we respect your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal and health information in compliance with all applicable New York State laws, including the New York State Mental Hygiene Law, the New York State Education Law, HIPAA, and the NY SHIELD Act. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and safeguard your personal information, including your Protected Health Information (PHI), in adherence to state and federal regulations.
1. Information We Collect
We collect personal information when you interact with our website or use our services, including but not limited to:
Personal Information: Your name, email address, phone number, and any other details provided via contact forms, emails, or communications with us.
Health Information: As a psychotherapy practice, we may collect mental health-related information that is classified as Protected Health Information (PHI) under HIPAA, which includes information about your mental health, treatment plans, and therapy notes.
Important Notice:
In accordance with the New York State Mental Hygiene Law (Article 33.13 & 33.16), all personal and health information related to mental health treatment is confidential, and we will not disclose such information without your consent, except in certain legally defined situations (such as emergencies or when required by law).
2. Use of Information
We use the information we collect for the following purposes:
To provide you with psychotherapy and counseling services.
To maintain and improve the quality of care and service.
To comply with New York State laws and regulations, including the New York State Mental Hygiene Law.
To send appointment reminders, updates, and other information relevant to your therapy.
To process billing, insurance claims, and payments in compliance with HIPAA and other applicable regulations.
We will not use or share your PHI without your written consent, except in cases where disclosure is required or permitted by law, such as for treatment coordination, payment, and healthcare operations, as outlined under HIPAA.
3. Data Security
BK Integrative is committed to ensuring the security of your personal and health information. In compliance with the NY SHIELD Act, we implement reasonable physical, administrative, and technical safeguards to protect your data, including encrypted electronic records and secure transmission protocols for all online communications.
Protected Health Information (PHI) is handled with the utmost care and in accordance with HIPAA and New York State laws. We ensure that your PHI is only accessible to authorized individuals and is securely stored, both digitally and physically.
4. Confidentiality of Mental Health Records
In compliance with New York State Mental Hygiene Law (Article 33.13 & 33.16), all records relating to your mental health treatment are confidential. Your mental health records will not be shared with anyone without your explicit consent, unless required by law. Specific exceptions to confidentiality include:
Duty to Warn/Protect: If we determine there is a risk of harm to yourself or others, we may be required to break confidentiality to ensure safety.
Court Orders: We may disclose information when required by a court order or subpoena.
Public Health and Safety: In rare instances, disclosure may be made if required to comply with health laws or regulations.
You have the right to request access to your mental health records and to request amendments, in accordance with New York State Mental Hygiene Law and HIPAA.
5. Your Rights and Choices
Under New York State and HIPAA regulations, you have several rights concerning your personal and health information:
Access: You can request a copy of your personal and health information that we maintain, including your mental health records.
Correction: If you believe any information we have about you is incorrect, you have the right to request corrections.
Deletion: In certain circumstances, you may request that we delete your information. However, this may not be possible for records that are legally required to be retained.
Consent Withdrawal: You can withdraw your consent for certain uses of your personal data, including for marketing or non-treatment-related purposes, at any time.
For any of the above requests, please contact us at the information below. We will respond to your request in a timely manner, as required by law.
6. Data Breach Notification
In the event of a data breach involving your personal or health information, we will notify you in accordance with the NY SHIELD Act and any applicable regulations. We will inform you within the required timeframe and provide details of the breach, including steps we are taking to mitigate any potential harm.
7. Third-Party Service Providers
We may use third-party service providers to help manage our website or provide services (e.g., hosting, analytics, billing). We ensure these third parties are compliant with data protection laws, including the NY SHIELD Act, HIPAA, and the confidentiality requirements outlined in the New York State Mental Hygiene Law.
We do not sell, rent, or share your personal or health information with third parties, except as required for treatment, payment, healthcare operations, or as otherwise permitted or required by law.
8. Children’s Privacy
Our services are not intended for minors under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal or health information from children. If you believe we have inadvertently collected data from a minor, please contact us, and we will take immediate steps to remove that data.
9. Changes to This Privacy Policy
BK Integrative may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to ensure compliance with new legal or regulatory requirements. Any changes to this policy will be posted on our website with an updated effective date.
10. Contact Us
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or your rights under New York State law, HIPAA, or other applicable laws, please contact us:
BK Integrative
Email: coordinator@bkintegrative.com
Phone: 646-881-0305
Address: 117 Dobbin Street, Brooklyn, NY 11222