Privacy Policy

Last updated: December 05, 2025]

Gemstone Wellness, LLC (“Gemstone Wellness,” “we,” “our,” “us”) respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard information when you visit our website, https://gemstonewellness.com (the “Site”), contact us, or receive services from us online or in person.

By using our Site or submitting information to us, you agree to the practices described in this Privacy Policy.

1. Who We Are

Business Name: Gemstone Wellness, LLC
Website: https://gemstonewellness.com
Phone: (312) 291-1730
Email: admin@gemstonewellness.com
Address: 53 W Jackson Blvd. #838, Chicago, IL 60604

Gemstone Wellness provides therapy and counseling services to individuals, couples, and non-traditional relationships in Chicago and virtually across Illinois, as well as immigration psychological evaluations and consultation services.

2. Scope of This Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy applies to:

  • Visitors to our website
  • Individuals who contact us by phone, email, or contact form
  • Current, former, or prospective clients of Gemstone Wellness

This Policy does not replace any separate privacy practices, consent forms, or HIPAA Notices of Privacy Practices that you may receive as a client. If you become a therapy client, you will receive additional documents that explain how your Protected Health Information (PHI) is used and disclosed in accordance with applicable law.

If there is any conflict between this Privacy Policy and our HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices, the HIPAA Notice will control with respect to PHI.

3. Information We Collect

We may collect the following categories of information:

3.1 Information You Provide Directly

When you use our Site, contact us, or engage in services, you may provide:

  • Contact information
    • Name
    • Email address
    • Phone number
    • Mailing address (if provided)
  • Appointment / inquiry information
    • Type of service you’re interested in
    • Preferred appointment times
    • Basic information about your concerns or goals (if you choose to share them in a form or email)
  • Client information (if you become a client)
    • Intake forms and questionnaires
    • Demographic information (e.g., age, pronouns, relationship status, etc., if you choose to share)
    • Clinical and health information related to your therapy
    • Insurance information (if applicable)

Clinical / therapy-related information is generally treated as Protected Health Information under HIPAA and is stored and managed through secure systems separate from the public website.

3.2 Information Collected Automatically (Website Usage)

When you visit our Site, certain information may be collected automatically, such as:

  • IP address
  • Browser type and version
  • Device type and operating system
  • Pages viewed and links clicked
  • Date/time of visits and referring URLs

This information is typically collected using cookies and similar tracking technologies. It helps us understand how visitors use our Site, improve performance, and maintain security.

You can usually control or disable cookies through your browser settings, but some features of the Site may not function properly if you do so.

4. How We Use Your Information

We may use the information we collect for the following purposes:

  • Provide and coordinate services
    • Respond to your inquiries and schedule appointments
    • Match you with a therapist
    • Provide therapy services, immigration evaluations, and consultation services
  • Operate and improve our Site
    • Maintain and secure the Site
    • Analyze how visitors use the Site to improve content and user experience
  • Communicate with you
    • Respond to emails, calls, or contact form submissions
    • Send appointment confirmations and reminders (if you opt-in or consent)
    • Send updates about policies or important changes related to your care or our services
  • Comply with legal and ethical obligations
    • Maintain records as required by law or professional ethics
    • Respond to lawful requests from courts or regulatory agencies when necessary

We do not sell your personal information.

5. How We Share Your Information

We may share your information in limited circumstances, including:

5.1 Service Providers

We may share information with trusted third-party vendors who help us operate our practice and Site, such as:

  • Practice management / electronic health record (EHR) systems
  • Telehealth platforms
  • Scheduling or payment processors
  • Secure email or messaging services
  • Website hosting and analytics providers

These third parties are only authorized to use your information as necessary to provide services to us and are expected to protect your information appropriately.

5.2 Professional Collaborations

With your consent, or when appropriate and consistent with ethical/clinical standards, we may coordinate care with other professionals (e.g., other healthcare providers, attorneys for immigration evaluations). This is usually done under applicable privacy and confidentiality rules.

5.3 Legal Requirements & Safety

We may disclose information when we reasonably believe it is necessary to:

  • Comply with applicable laws, regulations, or legal processes
  • Respond to valid requests from law enforcement or court orders
  • Protect the rights, safety, or property of you, our clients, our staff, or others

In a mental health context, this may include situations where there is a concern of serious harm to self or others, abuse/neglect reporting obligations, or other mandated limits of confidentiality, as required by law.

6. Email, Forms, and Online Communication

Please be aware:

  • Standard email is not considered a fully secure method of communication.
  • If you contact us by email or through the Site’s contact forms, we may use your information to reply and follow up.
  • For clinical communication and sessions, we strive to use secure platforms that meet applicable privacy and security standards.

Do not include highly sensitive, detailed clinical or financial information in regular email or form messages.

7. Telehealth & Online Services

If you participate in therapy or evaluations online (telehealth), we may use secure video platforms and related tools provided by third-party vendors.

These tools may collect basic technical information (e.g., IP address, device type) to establish and maintain the telehealth session. We select platforms that commit to privacy and security standards appropriate for healthcare and behavioral health, whenever possible.

8. Cookies & Analytics

Our Site may use cookies and similar technologies to:

  • Remember preferences and improve site functionality
  • Understand how visitors use the Site (e.g., which pages are most visited)

We may use third-party analytics tools (such as Google Analytics or similar services) that collect aggregated, anonymized data about website usage. These tools may use cookies and other identifiers to analyze website traffic and trends.

You can control cookies through your browser settings, and some analytics services allow you to opt out of data collection.

9. Data Retention

We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary to:

  • Provide services
  • Comply with applicable laws, regulations, and professional obligations
  • Maintain business records and documentation

Client therapy records are generally kept in accordance with Illinois law and professional licensing requirements, which often require retention for a specific number of years after services end. The exact timeframe may depend on age, type of service, and other factors.

Non-clinical website and inquiry data may be kept for a shorter period, depending on our legitimate business needs and security practices.

10. How We Protect Your Information

We take reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect your information from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure. These safeguards may include:

  • Use of secure, password-protected systems
  • Limiting access to information to staff who need it to perform their roles
  • Using secure platforms for telehealth and EHR where applicable

However, no system can be guaranteed 100% secure. We cannot promise that transmissions over the internet, or electronic storage methods, will never be accessed or used in ways that are inconsistent with this Policy.

11. Children’s Privacy

Our services are generally directed toward adults and, in some cases, older adolescents, depending on the therapist and service offering.

  • We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 13 via the Site.
  • If you believe we have collected information from a child under 13 without appropriate consent, please contact us at admin@gemstonewellness.com so we can review and address the situation.

12. Your Choices & Rights

Depending on your location and applicable laws, you may have certain rights related to your personal information, such as:

  • The right to access or request a copy of certain information we hold about you
  • The right to request that we correct or update inaccurate information
  • The right to request limitations on how your clinical information is used or disclosed (as explained in our HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices, if you are a client)

To make a request regarding your information, please contact us using the information at the end of this Policy. We may need to verify your identity and, in some cases, we may not be able to fulfill a request if it conflicts with legal, ethical, or clinical requirements.

13. Links to Other Websites

Our Site may contain links to third-party websites, resources, or social media platforms. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of those sites.

If you follow a link to another website, that site’s privacy policy will apply. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit.

14. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, services, or applicable laws.

When we update the Policy, we will revise the “Last updated” date at the top. Significant changes may be highlighted on our Site or communicated through other appropriate means.

Your continued use of the Site or services after any changes are posted indicates your acceptance of the revised Policy.

15. Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy, or about how your information is handled, please contact us:

Gemstone Wellness, LLC
Website: https://gemstonewellness.com
Phone: (312) 291-1730
Email: admin@gemstonewellness.com
Address: 53 W Jackson Blvd. #838, Chicago, IL 60604