Privacy Policies (Website & PHI)

Effective Date: June 18, 2026

Sheryl Ford, LMFT, LPC
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Licensed Professional Counselor
Maison Vie, LLC
Virtual Services via SimplePractice
318-884-0448
SFord@MaisonVieNewOrleans.com

Sheryl Ford and Maison Vie, LLC respect your privacy. This Website Privacy Policy explains how information may be collected, used, and shared when you visit this website, use its scheduling or contact features, or otherwise communicate with this practice through the website.

This policy applies to website activity and online inquiries. It does not replace the practice’s separate Notice of Privacy Practices, which explains how protected health information may be used, disclosed, and protected in connection with mental health services.

Information We May Collect

Information You Provide Directly

You may choose to provide information when you contact the practice, request an appointment, schedule a consultation, or use an integrated SimplePractice form.

Depending on the form and the information you choose to provide, this may include:

Please provide only the information reasonably necessary to request a consultation or appointment. Do not submit highly sensitive, urgent, or detailed clinical information through a general website form.

Submitting a form, requesting an appointment, or emailing the practice does not establish a therapist-client relationship.

Information Collected Automatically

When you visit this website, limited technical and usage information may be collected automatically. This may include information such as:

This information is generally used to understand how visitors use the website, improve website performance, evaluate whether content is helpful, and make it easier for prospective clients to find relevant information.

Google Analytics

This website uses Google Analytics to better understand how visitors use the website.

Google Analytics may use cookies and similar technologies to collect information about website use, including pages visited, browser and device information, website interactions, and other usage data. Google states that Analytics uses first-party cookies and may process IP address information during collection, although Google Analytics does not log or store IP addresses. Google Analytics also uses a first-party cookie, commonly called _ga, to distinguish visitors and sessions.

The practice does not intentionally provide Google Analytics with names, email addresses, telephone numbers, appointment details, diagnoses, therapy notes, form responses, or other health information.

You may limit or block cookies through your browser settings. You may also use Google’s browser add-on to opt out of Google Analytics tracking. Please understand that blocking cookies may affect some website functionality.

For more information about how Google handles data, please review Google’s Privacy & Terms information.

SimplePractice Appointment Requests and Contact Forms

This website may include an integrated appointment-request form, contact form, or scheduling feature provided through SimplePractice.

When you use one of these features, the information you enter is submitted to and managed through the practice’s SimplePractice account. Depending on the form settings, you may be asked to provide contact information, appointment preferences, and limited information about the support you are seeking. Certain forms may also include optional prescreening questions.

Information submitted through the SimplePractice form is used to:

  • Respond to your inquiry

  • Evaluate whether the practice may be an appropriate fit

  • Communicate about scheduling or next steps

  • Create or manage a prospective-client inquiry

  • Provide information about available services

SimplePractice is used as the practice’s electronic practice-management and client-portal platform. Once you become a client, information related to your care is handled in accordance with the practice’s Notice of Privacy Practices and applicable law.

Please do not use the website, a contact form, appointment-request form, email, or voicemail for emergencies. If you are in immediate danger or experiencing a mental health emergency, call 911, go to the nearest emergency department, or call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

How We Use Information

The practice may use website and inquiry information to:

How Information May Be Shared

The practice does not sell information submitted through this website for money.

Information may be shared only as reasonably necessary with service providers that support the operation of the website or practice, such as:

When protected health information is involved, the practice will use and disclose that information as described in the Notice of Privacy Practices and as required or permitted by applicable law.

Cookies and Your Choices

Cookies are small files placed on your device that help websites function and help website owners understand how visitors use their sites.

You may control cookies through your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to block, delete, or limit cookies. Please note that disabling cookies may affect certain website features or the appearance of the website.

This website does not respond to browser “Do Not Track” signals in a standardized way because there is not currently a consistent industry standard for responding to those signals.

Data Security

The practice uses reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect information under its control. However, no website, email system, or electronic transmission can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

For your privacy, please avoid sending detailed therapy histories, diagnoses, account information, or urgent personal information through general website forms or standard email.

Third-Party Websites

This website may include links to third-party websites or resources, including educational resources, professional organizations, scheduling tools, or social-media platforms.

The practice is not responsible for the privacy practices, content, security, or policies of third-party websites. Please review the privacy policy of any third-party website before providing personal information.

Children’s Privacy

This website is intended for adults seeking information about mental health services. The practice does not knowingly collect personal information through this website from children under the age of 13 without appropriate permission.

Your Privacy Questions and Requests

You may contact the practice with questions about this Website Privacy Policy or to request information about personal information submitted through the website.

For website privacy questions, contact:

Sheryl Ford, LMFT, LPC
SFord@MaisonVieNewOrleans.com
318-884-0448

If you are a current or former client and your question concerns your clinical record or protected health information, please refer to the practice’s Notice of Privacy Practices or contact the practice directly.

Changes to This Policy

The practice may update this Website Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in website features, technology, legal requirements, or practice operations.

Any updated version will be posted on this website with a revised effective date. Your continued use of the website after an updated policy is posted means that you understand the updated policy applies to future website use.

Notice of Privacy Practices

If you receive mental health services from Sheryl Ford, LMFT, LPC, a separate Notice of Privacy Practices explains how protected health information may be used and disclosed, your rights regarding that information, and the practice’s legal duties.

The Notice of Privacy Practices is available upon request and through the client portal.

Sheryl Ford, LMFT, LPC Licensed Professional Counselor Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist Maison Vie, LLC Virtual Services via Simple Practice 318-884-0448 SFord@MaisonVieNewOrleans.com

EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS NOTICE

This notice went into effect on June 18th, 2026.

NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES

THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW HEALTH INFORMATION MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.

I. MY PLEDGE REGARDING HEALTH INFORMATION:

I understand that health information about you and your health care is personal. I am committed to protecting health information about you. I create a record of the care and services you receive from me. I need this record to provide you with quality care and to comply with certain legal requirements. This notice applies to all of the records of your care generated by this mental health care practice. This notice will tell you about the ways in which I may use and disclose health information about you. I also describe your rights to the health information I keep about you and describe certain obligations I have regarding the use and disclosure of your health information. I am required by law to:

·         Make sure that protected health information (“PHI”) that identifies you is kept private.

·         Give you this notice of my legal duties and privacy practices with respect to health information.

·         Follow the terms of the notice that is currently in effect.

·         I am also required by law to provide you with adequate notice of your rights and my legal duties if I create or maintain records protected by 42 C.F.R. Part 2.

·         I can change the terms of this Notice, and such changes will apply to all information I have about you. The new Notice will be available upon request, in my office, and on my website.

II. HOW I MAY USE AND DISCLOSE HEALTH INFORMATION ABOUT YOU:

The following categories describe different ways that I use and disclose health information. For each category of uses or disclosures I will explain what I mean and try to give some examples. Not every use or disclosure in a category will be listed. However, all of the ways I am permitted to use and disclose information will fall within one of the categories.

For Treatment, Payment, or Health Care Operations: Federal privacy rules (regulations) allow health care providers who have direct treatment relationship with the patient/client to use or disclose the patient/client’s personal health information without the patient’s written authorization, to carry out the health care provider’s own treatment, payment or health care operations. I may also disclose your protected health information for the treatment activities of any health care provider. This too can be done without your written authorization. For example, if a clinician were to consult with another licensed health care provider about your condition, we would be permitted to use and disclose your personal health information, which is otherwise confidential, in order to assist the clinician in diagnosis and treatment of your mental health condition.

If your records are protected under 42 C.F.R. Part 2, certain uses and disclosures permitted by HIPAA for treatment, payment, and health care operations are materially limited by the stricter standards of those regulations. Furthermore, information disclosed pursuant to these rules may be subject to redisclosure by the recipient and may no longer be protected by federal privacy standards.

Disclosures for treatment purposes are not limited to the minimum necessary standard. Because therapists and other health care providers need access to the full record and/or full and complete information in order to provide quality care. The word “treatment” includes, among other things, the coordination and management of health care providers with a third party, consultations between health care providers and referrals of a patient for health care from one health care provider to another.

Lawsuits and Disputes: If you are involved in a lawsuit, I may disclose health information in response to a court or administrative order. I may also disclose health information about your child in response to a subpoena, discovery request, or other lawful process by someone else involved in the dispute, but only if efforts have been made to tell you about the request or to obtain an order protecting the information requested. However, for records protected by 42 C.F.R. Part 2, such records or testimony relaying their content shall not be used or disclosed in civil, criminal, administrative, or legislative proceedings against you unless you provide specific written consent or a court order is issued in accordance with 42 C.F.R. Part 2.

III. CERTAIN USES AND DISCLOSURES REQUIRE YOUR AUTHORIZATION:

1.    Psychotherapy Notes. I do keep “psychotherapy notes” as that term is defined in 45 CFR § 164.501, and any use or disclosure of such notes requires your Authorization unless the use or disclosure is:

·         For my use in treating you.

·         For my use in training or supervising mental health practitioners to help them improve their skills in group, joint, family, or individual counseling or therapy.

·         For my use in defending myself in legal proceedings instituted by you.

·         For use by the Secretary of Health and Human Services to investigate my compliance with HIPAA.

·         Required by law and the use or disclosure is limited to the requirements of such law.

·         Required by law for certain health oversight activities pertaining to the originator of the psychotherapy notes.

·         Required by a coroner who is performing duties authorized by law.

·         Required to help avert a serious threat to the health and safety of others.

2.    Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Counseling Notes. I may also maintain “SUD counseling notes,” which are notes recorded by a substance use disorder provider documenting the contents of a counseling session. Any use or disclosure of these notes requires your separate written authorization, which cannot be combined with a consent for other types of records. You can revoke your consent at any time except to the extent that I have already acted upon it to disclose these notes in accordance with your initial authorization.

3.    Marketing Purposes. As a psychotherapist, I will not use or disclose your PHI for marketing purposes.

4.    Sale of PHI. As a psychotherapist, I will not sell your PHI in the regular course of my business.

IV. CERTAIN USES AND DISCLOSURES DO NOT REQUIRE YOUR AUTHORIZATION:

Subject to certain limitations in the law, I can use and disclose your PHI without your Authorization for the following reasons:

1.    When disclosure is required by state or federal law, and the use or disclosure complies with and is limited to the relevant requirements of such law.

2.    For public health activities, including reporting suspected child, elder, or dependent adult abuse, or preventing or reducing a serious threat to anyone’s health or safety.

3.    For health oversight activities, including audits and investigations.

4.    For judicial and administrative proceedings, including responding to a court or administrative order, although my preference is to obtain an Authorization from you before doing so.

5.    For law enforcement purposes, including reporting crimes occurring on my premises.

6.    To coroners or medical examiners, when such individuals are performing duties authorized by law.

7.    For research purposes, including studying and comparing the mental health of patients who received one form of therapy versus those who received another form of therapy for the same condition.

8.    Specialized government functions, including ensuring the proper execution of military missions; protecting the President of the United States; conducting intelligence or counter-intelligence operations; or helping to ensure the safety of those working within or housed in correctional institutions.

9.    For workers’ compensation purposes. Although my preference is to obtain an Authorization from you, I may provide your PHI in order to comply with workers’ compensation laws.

10. Appointment reminders and health related benefits or services. I may use and disclose your PHI to contact you to remind you that you have an appointment with me. I may also use and disclose your PHI to tell you about treatment alternatives, or other health care services or benefits that I offer.

V. CERTAIN USES AND DISCLOSURES REQUIRE YOU TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO OBJECT:

1.    Disclosures to family, friends, or others. I may provide your PHI to a family member, friend, or other person that you indicate is involved in your care or the payment for your health care, unless you object in whole or in part. The opportunity to consent may be obtained retroactively in emergency situations.

2.    Fundraising. If I intend to use or disclose your records protected by 42 C.F.R. Part 2 for fundraising for my benefit, I will provide you with a clear and conspicuous opportunity to opt-out before any such use or disclosure occurs.

VI. YOU HAVE THE FOLLOWING RIGHTS WITH RESPECT TO YOUR PHI:

1.    The Right to Request Limits on Uses and Disclosures of Your PHI. You have the right to ask me not to use or disclose certain PHI for treatment, payment, or health care operations purposes. I am not required to agree to your request, and I may say “no” if I believe it would affect your health care.

2.    The Right to Request Restrictions for Out-of-Pocket Expenses Paid for In Full. You have the right to request restrictions on disclosures of your PHI to health plans for payment or health care operations purposes if the PHI pertains solely to a health care item or a health care service that you have paid for out-of-pocket in full.

3.    The Right to Choose How I Send PHI to You. You have the right to ask me to contact you in a specific way (for example, home or office phone), or to send mail to a different address, and I will agree to all reasonable requests.

4.    The Right to See and Get Copies of Your PHI. Other than “psychotherapy notes” and “SUD counseling notes” you have the right to get an electronic or paper copy of your medical record and other information that I have about you. I will provide you with a copy of your record, or a summary of it, if you agree to receive a summary, within 30 days of receiving your written request, and I may charge a reasonable, cost-based fee for doing so.

5.    The Right to Get a List of the Disclosures I Have Made. You have the right to request a list of instances in which I have disclosed your PHI for purposes other than treatment, payment, or health care operations, or for which you provided me with an Authorization. I will respond to your request for an accounting of disclosures within 60 days of receiving your request. The list I will give you will include disclosures made in the last six years unless you request a shorter time. I will provide the list to you at no charge, but if you make more than one request in the same year, I will charge you a reasonable cost-based fee for each additional request. You also have the right to request an accounting of disclosures specifically for your substance use disorder records protected under 42 C.F.R. Part 2.

6.    The Right to Correct or Update Your PHI. If you believe that there is a mistake in your PHI, or that a piece of important information is missing from your PHI, you have the right to request that I correct the existing information or add the missing information. I may say “no” to your request, but I will tell you why in writing within 60 days of receiving your request.

7.    The Right to Get a Paper or Electronic Copy of this Notice. You have the right to get a paper copy of this Notice, and you have the right to get a copy of this notice by e-mail. And, even if you have agreed to receive this Notice via e-mail, you also have the right to request a paper copy of it.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF RECEIPT OF PRIVACY NOTICE

Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), you have certain rights regarding the use and disclosure of your protected health information.