Privacy Policy

Online Therapy Tools ("we," "our," "us") is developed and operated by The Counseling Palette, owned by Jennie Lannette Bedsworth, LCSW. We respect your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal information.

This Privacy Policy explains:

• What information we collect
• How we use it
• How we protect it
• Your rights as a user

By using Online Therapy Tools, you agree to this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, please discontinue use of the Platform.

1. Information We Collect

We collect only the information necessary to operate and improve our Platform, provide memberships, and communicate with you regarding promotions and offers. This includes:

• Account Information: Name, email address, membership status, and billing details (if applicable).
• Payment Information: Processed securely by Stripe or PayPal; we do not store full credit card details on our servers.
• Marketing & Communication Preferences: Opt-ins and unsubscribes for email communications.
• Incoming Affiliate Tracking Data: If you arrive via an affiliate link, we may store referral information for tracking purposes.
• Outgoing Affiliate Tracking Data: If we partner with other services as an affiliate they may track your visits from our site or emails.
• Website Usage Data: General analytics data (page visits, clicks) to improve user experience, collected in a privacy-conscious manner.

2. Client Privacy

• We serve therapists and mental health professionals, not their clients.
• We do not collect or store client-identifying information.
• You are responsible for ensuring that no personal client data is entered into the Platform.
• For client-facing use, we provide secure expiring links so clients can access activities without creating accounts or sharing personal information.
• We have taken steps to avoid unnecessary tracking by choosing Azure hosting rather than platforms that track visitors by default (such as many standard hosts).

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your data to:

• Provide and maintain your membership and account access
• Process payments and manage subscriptions
• Send you service updates, feature announcements, and marketing communications (unless you opt out)
• Monitor performance and improve features
• Track affiliate referrals when applicable

We do not sell or rent your personal information.

4. Third-Party Services

We may share limited information with trusted third-party service providers to operate the Platform, including:

• Stripe (payment processing)
• PayPal (payment processing)
• Kit.com (email marketing and communication management)
• Affiliate tracking software (to credit partners for referrals)

Each third party is bound by their own privacy policies and compliance requirements.

5. Cookies and Tracking

We use minimal tracking technologies, such as:

• Essential cookies for site functionality (required for login, membership access)
• Affiliate tracking cookies when you access the site via an affiliate link
• Performance analytics in aggregated form, without storing personal client data

You can manage cookie preferences through your browser settings.

6. Data Security

We use appropriate security measures to protect your information, including:

• Hosting on Microsoft Azure with enhanced privacy settings
• Encryption in transit (HTTPS)
• Secure authentication for accounts
• Limited data retention policies

While we take strong precautions, no method of transmission or storage is 100% secure.

7. Your Rights

Depending on your location, you may have rights regarding your personal data:

For California Residents (CCPA):

• Right to know what personal data we collect and how it is used
• Right to request deletion of your personal data (with certain exceptions)
• Right to opt out of the sale of personal data (we do not sell personal data)

For EU/UK Residents (GDPR):

• Right to access, correct, or delete personal data
• Right to withdraw consent for marketing communications at any time
• Right to restrict or object to processing in certain circumstances

To exercise your rights, contact us at jennie@thecounselingpalette.com.

8. Data Retention

We retain your account data only as long as necessary to provide services, comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce agreements. Payment records may be retained for tax and accounting purposes.

9. Beta Status Notice

The Platform is currently in beta, meaning features may change or be updated frequently. While we strive to protect your privacy at all times, some functionality may be experimental and subject to improvement.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. Any changes will be posted here with a revised effective date. Continued use of the Platform after changes means you accept the updated policy.

11. Contact Us

The Counseling Palette / Online Therapy Tools
Email: jennie@thecounselingpalette.com
Location: Missouri, USA