Privacy Policy
Last Updated: May 6, 2026
Panahi Counseling, PC respects your privacy and is committed to protecting the information you share with us through our website. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect when you visit panahicounseling.com, how we use it, and the choices you have.
This policy applies to information we collect through this website. If you become a client of our practice, additional privacy protections and documents apply to your clinical care. We will explain that section below.
Who This Policy Applies To
This Privacy Policy applies to visitors who browse our website, prospective clients who submit an intake request through the website, and anyone who contacts us through the website’s email or phone links.
This Privacy Policy does not govern your clinical care once you become a client. Once you are an active client of the practice, the privacy of your health information is governed by our Notice of Privacy Practices and the consent documents you sign at intake. Those documents are provided to all clients before treatment begins.
What We Collect
We collect different types of information depending on how you use our website.
Information You Provide: When you fill out our intake request form, we ask for your name, your email address, your phone number, the type of service you are interested in (such as individual, couples, or teen therapy), whether you plan to use insurance (yes or no, and carrier type), your general scheduling preferences, and whether you prefer in-person or telehealth sessions.
We deliberately do not ask for sensitive health information through our website forms. We do not collect diagnoses, medical history, medication details, insurance policy numbers, or descriptions of your concerns through web forms. This information is gathered privately during a phone conversation with our intake coordinator and stored securely in our clinical records system.
Information Collected Automatically: Like most websites, ours collects basic technical information when you visit. This includes the pages you view and how long you spend on them, the general region you are visiting from (such as state or city), the type of device, browser, and operating system you use, and how you found our site (such as a search engine or referring link).
This information helps us understand how visitors use the site so we can improve it. It is not used to identify you personally and is not connected to your name or contact information.
How We Use Your Information
We use the information you provide through our intake form to contact you to schedule an initial consultation, to match you with a therapist who fits your needs, to verify scheduling and insurance details before your first appointment, and to respond to questions you submit through the website.
We use the technical information collected automatically to understand which pages and resources are most useful to visitors, to improve the design and content of the website, and to identify and resolve technical issues.
What We Do Not Do
We want to be clear about what we do not do with your information. We do not sell your information to anyone. We do not share your information with advertisers or marketing companies. We do not use your information to send promotional emails or marketing messages. We do not share your information with third parties for their own purposes. We do not track your activity across other websites for advertising purposes.
Cookies and Analytics
Our website uses Google Analytics to help us understand how visitors use our site. Google Analytics uses cookies and similar technology to collect general usage data, such as which pages are visited and how long visitors stay.
We have configured Google Analytics with privacy in mind. Specifically, advertising features are turned off, personalized advertising data sharing is disabled, we do not use Google Analytics to identify individual users, and we do not link analytics data to your name, email, or phone number.
If you prefer not to be measured by Google Analytics, most browsers allow you to block cookies or install browser extensions that prevent analytics tracking. Doing so will not affect your ability to use our website.
We do not use third-party advertising trackers, social media pixels, or cross-site tracking tools.
How We Store and Protect Your Information
Information you submit through the website is stored in our website’s secure database and is accessed only by authorized members of our practice.
We protect your information by using encrypted connections between your browser and our website, limiting access to website data to authorized personnel only, using a web application firewall and security monitoring tools, keeping our website software current with security updates, and regularly reviewing our security practices.
We make a clear distinction between information you submit through the website and information collected during your clinical care. Once you become a client, your clinical records are stored in our HIPAA-compliant electronic health records system, which provides enhanced security protections specifically designed for healthcare information.
An Important Note About Web Forms
Web forms are not the right place for sensitive health information. Please do not submit diagnoses, medical history, medication information, insurance member numbers, or other protected health information through any form on our website or through general email.
If you need to share sensitive information with us, please wait until your phone intake or first session, when proper privacy protections are in place. Our intake coordinator will gather what we need to know in a secure setting.
If You Become a Client of Our Practice
Once you become a client of Panahi Counseling, PC, your relationship with us is governed by additional privacy documents that go beyond this website Privacy Policy. These include a Notice of Privacy Practices, an Informed Consent for Psychotherapy, a Consent for Telehealth (if applicable), and our Practice Policies.
The Notice of Privacy Practices is a HIPAA-required document that explains how we use and disclose your protected health information, the rights you have regarding your records, and our legal duties to protect your privacy. The other documents explain the therapeutic relationship, the limits of confidentiality, telehealth considerations, and our operational policies.
These documents are provided to you through our secure client portal before therapy begins, and are available upon request at any time. Please contact us at info@panahicounseling.com or (630) 447-8818 if you would like to review any of these documents.
Your Choices
You have the following choices regarding the information you share through our website.
If You Submit an Intake Request: If you have submitted an intake request and would like us to delete the information you provided, please contact us at info@panahicounseling.com. We will delete your intake form data within a reasonable time, except where we are required to keep records by law.
If we have already opened a client record for you in our clinical system, the records of your care are governed by HIPAA and Illinois state law, which generally require us to retain records for a defined period of time.
If You Want to Opt Out of Analytics: Most web browsers allow you to block cookies or install extensions that prevent analytics tracking. You can also install the Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on. Choosing to opt out will not affect your ability to use our website or contact us.
Children’s Privacy
Our website is not directed to children under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 through our website. We provide therapy services to teens, but those services are arranged by a parent or legal guardian, who provides any required information through our intake process.
If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child under 13 has submitted information through our website, please contact us at info@panahicounseling.com so we can address the matter.
Links to Other Websites
Our website may contain links to other websites we think you may find helpful, such as professional organizations or educational resources. Once you click on those links, you are no longer on our website, and our Privacy Policy no longer applies. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any other website you visit.
Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will revise the Last Updated date at the top of this policy and post the updated version on our website.
If we make material changes, we will provide additional notice, such as a notice on our homepage. Your continued use of our website after the updated policy is posted means you accept the changes.
Governing Law
This Privacy Policy is governed by the laws of the State of Illinois and applicable federal law, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) where it applies. Any disputes related to this Privacy Policy will be handled in accordance with Illinois law.
How to Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or about how we handle information collected through our website, please contact us:
By email: info@panahicounseling.com
By phone: (630) 447-8818
By mail: Panahi Counseling, PC
128 S County Farm Rd Suite C
Wheaton, IL 60187