PRIVACY POLICY
Conexión Counseling PLLC
Effective Date: September 2026
Last Updated: September 2026
Conexión Counseling PLLC respects your privacy and is committed to protecting the personal information you provide when using our website.
This Website Privacy Policy explains the types of information that may be collected through our website, how that information may be used and protected, and the choices available to you.
This Website Privacy Policy applies primarily to information collected through our public website. Protected health information created, received, maintained, or transmitted in connection with counseling and healthcare services may also be governed by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), applicable Texas law, and our Notice of Privacy Practices.
Use of this website does not create a therapist-client relationship.
WHAT IS PERSONAL INFORMATION?
Personal information is information that identifies, relates to, describes, or may reasonably be associated with an identifiable person.
Depending upon how you use our website, this information may include:
Name
Email address
Telephone number
Mailing address
Information submitted through our website contact form
Appointment-request information
Billing or payment-related information
Communications you send to us
Internet Protocol (IP) address
Browser and device information
Website usage and navigation information
Other information you voluntarily provide
Information concerning counseling, mental health, diagnosis, treatment, appointments, billing, or other healthcare services may constitute health information or protected health information and will be handled in accordance with applicable federal and Texas law.
INFORMATION WE COLLECT
We may collect information when you:
Submit a contact or inquiry form
Request information about our counseling services
Request or schedule an appointment
Communicate with us by email, telephone, or text message
Submit information through our secure client portal
Make a payment through an authorized payment processor
Interact with our website
Otherwise voluntarily provide information to us
You may generally browse the public portions of our website without directly identifying yourself.
Please do not include confidential, medical, diagnostic, or other sensitive health information in the general contact form on our website. The contact form is intended for general inquiries. If you are seeking counseling services, Conexión Counseling will provide an appropriate method for communicating additional information.
HEALTH AND SENSITIVE INFORMATION
As a counseling practice, Conexión Counseling may receive and maintain health and other sensitive information in connection with providing professional services.
Health information received or created as part of the therapist-client relationship is handled in accordance with applicable privacy and confidentiality requirements, including HIPAA when applicable, Texas law, professional licensing requirements, and our Notice of Privacy Practices.
Our public website should not be used as a substitute for our secure client portal or other approved method of clinical communication.
COMMUNICATION INFORMATION
If you contact Conexión Counseling through our website, email, telephone, text message, or another communication method, we may retain information necessary to:
Respond to your inquiry
Schedule or manage services
Maintain appropriate business or clinical records
Provide requested information
Protect applicable legal rights and interests
Comply with legal and regulatory requirements
The privacy and security of communications may vary depending upon the method being used.
WEBSITE AND TECHNICAL INFORMATION
Our website or website service providers may automatically collect limited technical information concerning how visitors use the website.
Depending upon the website's configuration, this may include:
IP address
Browser type
Device type
Operating system
Pages viewed
Approximate time spent on pages
Referring website
General website navigation information
Cookie or similar technology information
This information may be used to operate, maintain, secure, and improve the website.
COOKIES AND WEBSITE TECHNOLOGIES
Our website may use cookies or similar technologies that support basic website functionality, security, analytics, and user preferences.
You may be able to control or disable cookies through your browser settings. Disabling certain cookies may affect the operation of some website features.
Conexión Counseling evaluates website technologies with consideration for the privacy obligations applicable to healthcare providers. We do not authorize website technologies to collect or disclose protected health information in a manner prohibited by applicable law.
HOW WE USE INFORMATION
Information collected through our website may be used to:
Respond to inquiries
Provide information about counseling services
Facilitate appointment requests
Communicate regarding services
Provide administrative support
Process authorized transactions
Maintain appropriate records
Operate and secure our website
Improve website functionality and accessibility
Comply with legal, regulatory, and professional obligations
Protect the rights, safety, and security of our clients, visitors, staff, and practice
Protected health information will not be used or disclosed in a manner prohibited by applicable privacy law.
DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION
Conexión Counseling does not sell protected health information.
We may disclose or provide access to information to vendors or service providers that assist us in operating our website or practice, such as website hosting, information technology, electronic health record, scheduling, payment-processing, communication, or security providers, when appropriate and permitted by law.
When a vendor's services involve protected health information and applicable law requires a Business Associate Agreement or other privacy safeguards, appropriate contractual and privacy protections will be used.
Information may also be disclosed when permitted or required by law, including circumstances involving legal obligations, regulatory requirements, required reporting, or protection of health or safety.
Uses and disclosures of protected health information are more fully described in our Notice of Privacy Practices.
SMS AND TEXT MESSAGE COMMUNICATION
If you voluntarily consent to receive text messages from Conexión Counseling PLLC, messages may include:
Appointment confirmations
Appointment reminders
Scheduling or cancellation information
Administrative communications
Responses to inquiries
Other communications related to services you have requested
Consent to receive text messages is not a condition of receiving counseling services.
Message frequency may vary. Message and data rates may apply depending upon your wireless carrier and service plan.
When supported by the messaging service, you may reply STOP to discontinue eligible automated SMS communications and HELP for assistance.
We do not sell or share mobile telephone information obtained through the SMS consent process with third parties for their own marketing purposes.
Text messaging may not always provide the same privacy or security protections as a secure client portal. Clients should avoid sending highly sensitive clinical information by ordinary text message when a secure alternative is available.
EMAIL COMMUNICATION
Email may be used for administrative purposes, inquiries, scheduling, or other appropriate communications.
Ordinary email may not always be secure. Please avoid sending highly sensitive health information through unsecured email when a secure alternative is available.
If Conexión Counseling offers optional informational or marketing email communications, you may unsubscribe from those communications using the unsubscribe mechanism provided or by contacting us.
Opting out of optional communications does not prevent the practice from sending communications necessary for treatment, payment, healthcare operations, appointment administration, or other permitted purposes.
DATA SECURITY
Conexión Counseling uses reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards appropriate to the nature of the information maintained.
These safeguards are intended to protect information against unauthorized access, use, alteration, loss, or disclosure.
No internet transmission or electronic storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure. If a breach involving protected information occurs, Conexión Counseling will respond and provide notifications as required by applicable law.
DATA RETENTION
Conexión Counseling retains information for the period reasonably necessary to accomplish the purpose for which it was collected and to satisfy applicable legal, clinical, professional, accounting, insurance, and regulatory requirements.
Clinical and health records are retained in accordance with applicable federal and Texas law and professional record-retention requirements.
Website and administrative information may have different retention periods from clinical records.
THIRD-PARTY WEBSITES
Our website may contain links to third-party websites or services.
A link does not necessarily mean that Conexión Counseling endorses or controls the third party. Third-party websites maintain their own privacy and security practices.
Visitors are encouraged to review the privacy policies of external websites before providing personal information.
YOUR PRIVACY RIGHTS
Depending upon the type of information involved and applicable law, you may have rights concerning information maintained about you.
For protected health information, these may include rights to:
Request access to certain health information
Obtain copies of certain records
Request amendment of certain information
Request certain restrictions
Request confidential communications
Request an accounting of certain disclosures
Receive a copy of our Notice of Privacy Practices
File a complaint regarding privacy practices
The availability and scope of these rights are governed by applicable law.
TEXAS CONSUMER HEALTH RECORD ACCESS & COMPLAINT INFORMATION
Texas law requires certain healthcare entities to provide consumers with instructions for requesting healthcare records, contacting the entity's licensing or disciplinary authority, and filing an applicable consumer complaint.
1. HOW TO REQUEST YOUR HEALTH CARE RECORDS
You may request access to or a copy of healthcare records maintained about you by Conexión Counseling PLLC.
Records requests may be directed to:
Conexión Counseling PLLC
1414 North Meadow Avenue, Suite 1
Laredo, TX 78040
Telephone: (956) 439-8553
Email: info@conexioncounseling.com
A written request may be required. Conexión Counseling may request information reasonably necessary to verify your identity and determine the records being requested.
When submitting a request, please identify, when possible:
Your full name
Date of birth or other appropriate identifying information
Records or date range requested
Preferred method for receiving the records
Where the records should be sent, if applicable
Records will be provided within the timeframe required by applicable law.
Any fee charged for providing records will be limited to amounts permitted by applicable law.
Records Available for Access
Individuals generally have a right to access protected health information maintained about them in a designated record set, subject to limited exceptions permitted by law.
This may include clinical records, treatment plans, progress notes, billing records, and other information used to make decisions about an individual's care.
Psychotherapy notes, as specifically defined under HIPAA and maintained separately from the remainder of the medical record, are excluded from HIPAA's general right of access. This exclusion does not automatically apply to ordinary progress notes, treatment plans, diagnoses, or other information maintained as part of the clinical record.
Requests for access will be evaluated under applicable federal and Texas law. Any restriction or denial of access will be based upon a legally permitted reason, and applicable review rights will be provided.
2. TEXAS LICENSING AUTHORITY
Professional counseling services provided by:
Gustavo Salazar II, PhD, LPC-S, NCC
Texas Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor
Texas LPC License #64539
are regulated by the:
Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council (BHEC)
Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors
Consumers may contact BHEC for information regarding counselor licensure, professional standards, or the complaint process.
Current BHEC contact and complaint information is available through the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council's official website.
3. TEXAS CONSUMER COMPLAINT INFORMATION
Consumers may have the right to file a complaint regarding violations of applicable Texas consumer health-information law with the appropriate Texas governmental authority.
Information concerning consumer complaints is available from the:
Office of the Texas Attorney General
Consumer Protection Division
Consumers should use the Texas Attorney General's official Consumer Protection resources for current instructions regarding submitting a complaint.
Submitting a complaint does not prevent a consumer from exercising other rights or remedies available under applicable law.
HIPAA NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES
This Website Privacy Policy does not replace Conexión Counseling PLLC's Notice of Privacy Practices.
Our Notice of Privacy Practices provides additional information regarding:
How protected health information may be used and disclosed
Your rights concerning protected health information
Conexión Counseling's responsibilities concerning protected health information
How to exercise your HIPAA privacy rights
How to submit a privacy complaint
How to contact the practice regarding privacy concerns
You may request a paper or electronic copy of the Notice of Privacy Practices by contacting Conexión Counseling.
CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS
Counseling services provided to minors involve additional privacy, consent, access, and parent or guardian considerations under applicable Texas and federal law.
The rights of a minor and the rights of a parent, guardian, or other legally authorized representative may vary depending upon the circumstances and applicable law.
At the beginning of counseling, confidentiality and its limitations are discussed as appropriate so that adolescents and their parents or guardians understand what information may remain private and circumstances in which information may need to be disclosed.
Questions regarding access to a minor's records should be directed to Conexión Counseling.
CHANGES TO THIS POLICY
Conexión Counseling PLLC may revise this Website Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices, technology, services, or applicable law.
When material changes are made, the revised policy will be posted on our website with an updated revision date.
CONTACT CONEXIÓN COUNSELING
Questions regarding this Website Privacy Policy, privacy practices, protected health information, or health-record requests may be directed to:
Conexión Counseling PLLC
1414 North Meadow Avenue, Suite 1
Laredo, TX 78040
Telephone: (956) 439-8553
Email: info@conexioncounseling.com
Gustavo Salazar II, PhD, LPC-S, NCC
Texas Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor
Texas LPC License #64539