Privacy Policy

Last Updated 29 May 2026

Garis Counseling (“Practice,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) respects your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we may collect, use, store, and share information when you visit our website, contact us through the website, use linked scheduling or payment tools, or interact with our online content.

By using this website, you agree to the terms of this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with this Privacy Policy, please do not use this website.

1. This Policy Applies to Website Use

This Privacy Policy applies to information collected through this website and related online tools, including contact forms, scheduling links, website analytics, and general browsing activity.

This Privacy Policy does not replace the clinical privacy protections that apply if you become a therapy client. If you become a client, your protected health information may also be governed by HIPAA, applicable state confidentiality laws, your informed consent documents, and our Notice of Privacy Practices. HIPAA establishes federal standards for how covered entities may use and disclose protected health information.

2. Information We May Collect

We may collect information you voluntarily provide through this website, including:

  • Your name, email address, phone number, preferred method of contact, general reason for reaching out, and any other information you choose to include in a contact form or message.

  • We may also collect limited technical information automatically when you visit the website, such as:

  • Your IP address, browser type, device type, pages visited, referring website, approximate location based on IP address, date and time of visit, and general website usage data.

If this website uses third-party tools, such as scheduling software, payment processors, embedded forms, analytics, hosting platforms, or spam protection, those tools may collect information according to their own privacy policies.

3. Please Limit Sensitive Information in Website Forms

Please do not submit detailed clinical information, crisis information, diagnosis details, trauma history, or other highly sensitive personal information through general website forms or standard email. Website forms and standard email may not be fully secure or appropriate for confidential clinical communication. A therapist-client relationship is not created by submitting a contact form, leaving a voicemail, sending an email, or visiting this website. If you are experiencing an emergency, call 911, go to the nearest emergency room, or contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988.

4. How We Use Information

We may use information collected through the website to:

Respond to inquiries, schedule consultations, determine whether services may be a good fit, provide information about services, maintain and improve the website, monitor website performance, protect against spam or misuse, comply with legal or ethical obligations, and manage basic business operations. We do not sell your personal information.

5. Contact Forms and Email Communication

If you contact us through a website form or email, we may use the information you provide to respond to your inquiry. We may retain your message for administrative, legal, ethical, or recordkeeping purposes. Because electronic communication can carry privacy risks, please use discretion when deciding what to include in messages. If you become an established client, communication expectations and confidentiality practices will be addressed in your intake paperwork and informed consent.

6. Cookies and Analytics

This website may use cookies, pixels, analytics tools, or similar technologies to help the website function, understand visitor behavior, improve user experience, and monitor site performance. Cookies are small files stored on your device. You can usually adjust your browser settings to refuse or delete cookies. Some parts of the website may not function properly if cookies are disabled. Analytics tools may collect aggregated or de-identified information about how visitors use the website. Depending on your website platform and settings, analytics providers may collect information such as device type, browser type, pages visited, and general location information. The Federal Trade Commission emphasizes that businesses should be clear and truthful about how they collect, use, share, and protect personal information.

7. Third-Party Services

This website may link to or integrate with third-party services, such as:

Scheduling platforms, client portals, telehealth platforms, payment processors, website hosting providers, analytics providers, email providers, social media platforms, embedded maps, spam protection tools, or external resource links. We are not responsible for the privacy practices, security, content, or policies of third-party websites or services. When you use a third-party service, your information may be governed by that service’s privacy policy and terms of use. You are encouraged to review the privacy policies of any third-party tools you choose to use.

8. How Information May Be Shared

We may share information only as reasonably necessary for business, legal, ethical, or operational purposes. This may include sharing information with:

Website hosting providers, scheduling or client portal platforms, email service providers, analytics providers, payment processors, legal or compliance professionals, technology support providers, or other service providers who help us operate the website or practice. We may also disclose information if required by law, court order, subpoena, legal process, licensing board requirement, ethical obligation, or to protect safety, rights, property, or security.

If you become a therapy client, clinical information is subject to additional confidentiality protections and limits described in the Notice of Privacy Practices and informed consent documents. Oklahoma LPC rules state that LPCs must maintain confidentiality of information received about a client unless authorized in writing or otherwise permitted or required by law.

9. Data Security

We take reasonable steps to protect information submitted through this website from unauthorized access, misuse, loss, or disclosure. However, no website, email system, online form, or electronic transmission can be guaranteed to be completely secure. Please use caution when submitting information online. If you prefer not to use a website form, you may contact us through another method listed on the website.

10. Data Retention

We may retain website inquiries, contact form submissions, emails, analytics data, and administrative records for as long as reasonably necessary for business, legal, ethical, security, or recordkeeping purposes. If you become a client, clinical records are retained according to applicable law, ethical requirements, licensing rules, and practice policies.

11. Children’s Privacy

This website is not directed toward children under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children through this website. If you believe a child has submitted personal information through this website, please contact us so we can review and delete the information when appropriate.

12. Social Media

If you interact with us through social media, your activity may be visible to others depending on your privacy settings and the platform’s policies. Social media is not a confidential way to communicate with a therapist or therapy practice. Please do not use social media to share clinical information, request crisis support, or communicate about therapy-related matters.

13. Your Choices

You may choose not to submit information through the website. You may also adjust your browser settings to block or delete cookies. You may contact us to request that we update or delete information you submitted through the website, though we may need to retain certain information when required or permitted by law, ethical obligations, security needs, or business recordkeeping.

14. Do Not Track Signals

Some browsers allow users to send “Do Not Track” signals. Because there is no consistent industry standard for responding to these signals, this website may not respond to them automatically.

15. Links to Other Websites

This website may contain links to external websites or resources. These links are provided for convenience or education only. We do not control and are not responsible for the privacy practices, content, accuracy, or security of external websites.

16. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Updates will be posted on this page with a revised effective date. Your continued use of the website after updates are posted means you accept the revised Privacy Policy.

17. Contact Information

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact:

Garis Counseling
Provider: Kody Garis, LPC, MCMHC
Email: kody@gariscounseling.com
Location: Norman, Oklahoma
Website: www.gariscounseling.com

18. Clinical Privacy Notice

If you become a client, you will receive or have access to additional clinical privacy documents, including the Practice’s Notice of Privacy Practices and informed consent materials. HHS provides model Notice of Privacy Practices templates to help covered entities communicate patient privacy rights and provider obligations.