Privacy Policy

Last updated: July 2026

This Privacy Policy explains how Wallman Therapy, operated by Ben Wallman, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, LMFT #148757 (“I,” “me,” or “my”), collects, uses, protects, and shares information obtained through this website.

This policy applies to information collected through the Wallman Therapy website and communications related to website inquiries. It does not replace the HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices provided to therapy clients.

If you become a client, protected health information and clinical records will be handled according to the HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices, informed consent documents, applicable professional requirements, and state and federal law.

Information I Collect

Depending on how you use this website, I may collect the following types of information.

Information You Provide

You may voluntarily provide information when you:

  • Submit a contact or consultation request

  • Send an email or call the practice

  • Schedule an initial consultation

  • Complete forms through the SimplePractice client portal


This information may include:

  • Your name

  • Email address

  • Phone number

  • Scheduling preferences

  • General information about the services you are seeking

  • Any additional information you choose to provide

Information Collected Through SimplePractice

If you schedule a consultation or become a client, you may be directed to SimplePractice to complete intake forms, communicate securely, attend telehealth appointments, manage scheduling, or access other client services.

Information submitted through SimplePractice is governed by SimplePractice’s privacy and security practices as well as Wallman Therapy’s HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices and client agreements.

Information Collected Automatically

When you visit this website, Squarespace and other website service providers may automatically collect limited technical information, such as:

  • Internet Protocol address

  • Browser and device type

  • Operating system

  • General geographic location

  • Referring website

  • Pages visited

  • Date and time of access

  • Website activity and performance information

  • Cookie or similar technology identifiers

This information is generally used to operate, secure, and improve the website. It is not intended to identify your mental health concerns or create a clinical record.

Contact Forms and Sensitive Information

The website contact form and ordinary email are not intended for confidential clinical communications.

Please do not submit detailed medical information, diagnoses, treatment history, Social Security numbers, policy or member ID numbers, or other highly sensitive information through the website contact form or standard email. Selecting your general insurance carrier from the contact form's dropdown is fine; more specific insurance or billing details can be confirmed securely once we're in contact.

A brief description of what you are looking for is enough. More sensitive information can be discussed by phone or through the secure SimplePractice client portal.

How I Use Your Information

I may use information collected through this website to:

  • Respond to your inquiry

  • Schedule or coordinate a consultation

  • Communicate with you about services and availability

  • Determine whether my services may be an appropriate fit

  • Direct you to the SimplePractice client portal

  • Maintain basic administrative records

  • Operate, maintain, and improve the website

  • Monitor website performance and security

  • Prevent fraud, misuse, or unauthorized access

  • Comply with legal and professional obligations

  • Protect my rights, safety, property, or the safety of others

I will not use information submitted through the website to send marketing emails unless you have separately and affirmatively agreed to receive them.

How Information May Be Shared

I do not sell or rent your personal information.

I do not share personal information with third parties for their own direct marketing purposes or for cross-context behavioral advertising.

Information may be disclosed in limited circumstances to the following categories of recipients.

Website and Practice Service Providers

Information may be processed by service providers that help operate the website or practice, including:

  • Squarespace, which hosts and supports this website

  • SimplePractice, which provides scheduling, intake, client portal, telehealth, billing, secure communication, and electronic health record services

  • Headway and Alma, which process insurance billing for clients using accepted insurance plans

  • Email, information technology, security, analytics, or administrative service providers used to support the website or practice

These providers may access information only as necessary to provide their services and are subject to their own contractual, privacy, and security obligations.

Legal and Safety Reasons

Information may be disclosed when I reasonably believe disclosure is necessary to:

  • Comply with a law, regulation, subpoena, court order, or other legal process

  • Respond to a lawful government request

  • Protect the rights, property, safety, or security of Wallman Therapy or another person

  • Investigate suspected fraud, security threats, or misuse of the website

  • Enforce applicable website terms or agreements

Additional confidentiality rules and legal exceptions may apply after a therapist-client relationship has been established. Those rules are explained in the HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices and client consent documents.

With Your Permission

Information may also be shared when you request or authorize me to do so.

Cookies and Website Analytics

This website may use cookies and similar technologies to operate correctly, maintain security, remember preferences, and understand general website traffic.

Squarespace may place necessary, functional, and analytics cookies on your device. These technologies may collect information about your browser, device, website activity, and approximate location.

You may be able to manage nonessential cookies through the cookie banner displayed on this website. You can also adjust your browser settings to block or remove cookies. Disabling cookies may affect how certain parts of the website function.

Website analytics are intended to provide general information about website performance and visitor activity. They are not intended to collect personally identifiable health information.

Do Not Track Signals

Some internet browsers offer a “Do Not Track” setting that sends a signal to websites you visit.

Because there is not currently a universally accepted standard for responding to these signals, this website may not respond to browser “Do Not Track” requests.

You can manage cookies through your browser settings and any cookie preference tools available on this website. Wallman Therapy does not sell personal information or use it for cross-context behavioral advertising.

Data Retention

I retain information collected through the website only for as long as reasonably necessary to:

  • Respond to inquiries

  • Maintain appropriate administrative records

  • Provide requested services

  • Resolve disputes

  • Protect website and practice security

  • Meet legal, tax, insurance, or professional obligations

Information that becomes part of a client’s clinical or billing record may be subject to different retention requirements. Those records are governed by applicable law, professional standards, client agreements, and the HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices.

When information is no longer reasonably necessary, I may securely delete, anonymize, or otherwise dispose of it.

Data Security

I use reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect information from unauthorized access, loss, misuse, alteration, or disclosure.

However, no website, email system, electronic storage system, or method of internet transmission can be guaranteed to be completely secure. You submit information through the website and standard email at your own discretion.

For sensitive client communications, please use the secure SimplePractice client portal or another communication method agreed upon as part of the therapy relationship.

Your Choices and Privacy Rights

Depending on where you live and which privacy laws apply, you may have the right to request:

  • Access to personal information I maintain about you

  • Correction of inaccurate personal information

  • Deletion of certain personal information

  • Information about how your personal information has been used or disclosed

  • Withdrawal of consent when information is processed based on consent

You may also have the right not to receive discriminatory treatment for exercising an applicable privacy right.

These rights are not absolute. A request may be limited or denied when information must be retained to comply with legal, clinical, professional, contractual, insurance, or recordkeeping obligations.

Requests involving clinical records or protected health information may be governed by HIPAA and other health privacy laws rather than this website policy.

To submit a privacy request, contact me at ben@wallmantherapy.com. I may need to verify your identity before responding to a request.

Third-Party Websites and Embedded Content

This website may contain links to third-party websites or may include content provided by third-party services.

When you visit another website or interact with embedded content, that third party may collect information according to its own privacy policy. I do not control and am not responsible for the privacy, security, availability, or content of third-party websites.

You should review the privacy practices of any third-party service before providing personal information.

Children’s Privacy

This website is intended for a general adult audience and is not directed toward children under 13.

I do not knowingly collect personal information directly from children under 13 through this website. If I learn that such information has been submitted without appropriate authorization, I will take reasonable steps to delete it.

A parent or legal guardian who believes a child has submitted personal information through this website may contact me at ben@wallmantherapy.com.

Changes to This Policy

I may update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in the website, practice services, technology, legal requirements, or privacy practices.

Updates will be posted on this page with a revised “Last updated” date. Your continued use of the website after an updated policy is posted indicates that you have reviewed the revised policy.

Contact

Questions or requests regarding this Privacy Policy may be directed to:

Ben Wallman, LMFT #148757
Wallman Therapy
ben@wallmantherapy.com
P.O. Box 51
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401