+1 914 355 2440
Privacy Policy
Effective Date: 10/05/2026
Our Commitment to Your Privacy
Alssaro Counseling Services, PLLC is committed to responsibly collecting, using, and safeguarding your Protected Health Information (PHI) and other personal information. This Privacy Policy and Notice of Privacy Practices (“Notice”) explains how we may use and disclose your information, your rights regarding that information, and our legal obligations under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), applicable federal regulations, and New York State law, including the Mental Hygiene Law.
This Notice applies to all personal and mental health information created, received, maintained, or transmitted by Alssaro Counseling Services, whether in paper or electronic form.
When This Notice Applies
This Notice applies when you:
Receive or seek mental health services
Complete intake, scheduling, billing, or administrative processes
Communicate with us by phone, email, portal, or secure messaging
Participate in programs, events, or services offered by Alssaro Counseling Services
Visit our website or online platforms, if applicable
Summary of Key Points
We collect and use personal and mental health information only as permitted by law
We do not sell your information or use PHI for marketing
We use secure electronic systems to store and transmit PHI
You have specific rights under HIPAA and New York law
We are required to notify you if a data breach occurs
Our Legal Responsibilities
Alssaro Counseling Services is required to:
Maintain the privacy and security of your PHI
Provide you with this Notice describing our privacy practices
Abide by the terms of this Notice
Notify you of breaches of unsecured PHI
Accommodate reasonable requests for confidential communications
Notify you if we are unable to agree to a requested restriction
We reserve the right to revise this Notice and make changes effective for all PHI we maintain. When material changes occur, we will notify you by mail, email, or other appropriate means.
What Information We Collect
We may collect the following information when you interact with us:
Identifying Information: Name, address, phone number, email address, and date of birth
Health Information: Mental health history, diagnoses, treatment plans, and progress notes
Billing Information: Insurance details, payment methods, and billing records
Demographic Information: Information relevant to treatment and permitted by law
Communications: Messages, forms, feedback, and communication preferences
You are responsible for ensuring that the information you provide is accurate and current.
Your Counseling Record
Each interaction with Alssaro Counseling Services creates a counseling record. While the physical record is the property of Alssaro Counseling Services, the information within it belongs to you.
Your record may include:
Clinical assessments and treatment plans
Progress notes and observations
Billing and claims-related information
Care coordination documentation
You are responsible for ensuring that the information you provide is accurate and current.
How We May Use and Disclose Your Information
Treatment
We may use and share your information among clinicians and service providers involved in your care to coordinate and deliver treatment.
Payment
We may use and disclose information to bill and receive payment from insurance companies or other payers.
Healthcare Operations
We may use information for quality assurance, supervision, audits, compliance activities, training, and business operations.
Other Permitted or Required Uses
Public health reporting
Court orders, subpoenas, or legal processes
Workers’ compensation or disability determinations
Health oversight activities
Serious threats to health or safety
Electronic Systems and Technology
Your PHI may be stored, accessed, or transmitted using secure electronic systems, including:
Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems
Telehealth platforms
Scheduling and intake systems
Billing and claims processing systems
Secure messaging and patient portals
Access to these systems is role-based, logged, and monitored in compliance with federal and New York State security standards.
SMS Communications and Privacy
Alssaro Counseling Services may collect and use mobile phone numbers and message content when clients, prospective clients, or other individuals choose to communicate with us by SMS/text message. Mobile phone numbers are used solely to provide communications related to our services, including scheduling, appointment reminders, administrative communications, office notifications, and other service-related communications.
You may opt out of SMS communications at any time by replying STOP to any text message or by contacting Alssaro Counseling Services at (914) 355-2440. Opting out of SMS communications will not affect your ability to receive services from Alssaro Counseling Services.
SMS communications and associated information are retained in accordance with applicable federal and New York State legal, clinical, documentation, and record-retention requirements and are securely deleted or disposed of when retention is no longer required.
Alssaro Counseling Services complies with applicable requirements of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) and maintains records of requests from individuals who have opted out of receiving applicable text messages.
Text messaging originator opt-in data and consent will not be shared with third parties for their own marketing or promotional purposes. This information may be shared only with aggregators, telecommunications carriers, and service providers involved in providing and supporting the text messaging services.
Sensitive Health Information
Certain types of information receive heightened protections under federal and New York State law and will not be disclosed without valid written authorization unless otherwise required by law. This includes, but is not limited to:
Mental health information
Sexual and reproductive health information
STI testing and treatment, including HIV-related information
Contraception and pregnancy-related care
Sexual orientation and gender identity information
Trauma history
Domestic or intimate partner violence information
Substance use information not protected under 42 CFR Part 2
This may also include demographic or identity-related information, such as a preferred name or pronouns, when such information is documented in connection with care, treatment planning, or clinical communication. Disclosure of this information is limited, justified, and documented in accordance with applicable privacy laws.
HIPAA Privacy Rights
You have the right to:
Access and obtain copies of your PHI in electronic or paper form
Request amendments or corrections to your record
Receive an accounting of disclosures of your PHI
Request restrictions on certain uses or disclosures
Request confidential communications by alternative means or locations
Receive breach notification if your PHI is compromised
Obtain a copy of this Notice at any time
File a complaint without fear of retaliation
Requesting Restrictions
You may request limits on:
Disclosures to insurance companies, where permitted by law
Electronic sharing or portal access
Use or disclosure of specific parts of your record
All requests are reviewed and documented, though not all restrictions can be granted due to legal or operational requirements.
Breach Notification
If your PHI is involved in a security or privacy breach, you will be notified in accordance with federal and New York State law. Notifications will include:
A description of what occurred
The types of information involved
Steps taken to investigate and mitigate the issue
Steps you may take to protect yourself
Data Retention
We retain records for the period required by New York State and federal law, generally a minimum of seven (7) years, or longer where required by law, including records for minors, or as otherwise necessary for legal, clinical, or risk-management purposes. Records are securely archived or disposed of when no longer required.
Prohibition on Sale or Marketing
Alssaro Counseling Services does not sell your personal information and does not use PHI for marketing purposes.
Do Not Track and Cookies (If Applicable)
If we operate online platforms that use cookies or analytics tools, you may manage preferences through browser settings. We honor Do Not Track signals where technically feasible.
How to Contact Us
Alssaro Counseling Services, PLLC
481 Main Street, Suite 401
New Rochelle, NY 10801
Phone: (914) 355-2440
Filing Complaints and Civil Rights Protections
If you believe your privacy rights or civil rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with Alssaro Counseling Services or with the appropriate government agency. Filing a complaint will not affect your access to services and there will be no retaliation.
You may file a complaint with:
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
Office for Civil Rights (OCR)
200 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20201
OCR enforces HIPAA privacy, security, and breach notification rules, as well as federal civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination in healthcare on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including sexual orientation, gender identity, and pregnancy-related conditions), age, or disability.
You may also file a complaint with applicable New York State oversight or civil rights agencies, including the New York State Office of Mental Health or the New York State Division of Human Rights, as appropriate.
Grievance Procedure
Discuss concerns with your provider, if appropriate
Submit a written complaint to administration or the Clinical Director
An investigation will be conducted and acknowledged
A written response will be provided within a reasonable timeframe