Privacy Policy

Christina G. Whitney, LMFT

Effective Date: October 12, 2026
Last Updated: October 12, 2026

1. Commitment to Your Privacy

I respect your privacy and recognize the importance of protecting personal information, particularly when individuals are exploring mental health and wellness services.

This Privacy Policy explains how information may be collected, used, processed, and shared when you visit my professional website, including through website hosting, analytics, advertising, and related technologies.

My website provides information about my professional background, therapeutic approach, and clinical services. I also serve as CEO of Northern California Family Counseling & Wellness Center, through which my clinical services are provided.

This policy applies to my public professional website. Information collected and maintained in connection with clinical treatment through Northern California Family Counseling & Wellness Center is subject to separate privacy and confidentiality requirements, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), California's Confidentiality of Medical Information Act (CMIA), and other applicable laws.

My website privacy practices are informed by applicable federal and California privacy laws, including the California Online Privacy Protection Act (CalOPPA) and, where applicable, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), as amended by the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA).

2. Information Collected Through This Website

This website is primarily informational and provides details about my clinical experience, professional background, therapeutic services, and approach to mental health care.

The website does not collect patient intake information, medical histories, diagnoses, treatment records, or other clinical information through online forms.

However, the website and its technology providers may automatically process certain technical and usage information, including:

Internet Protocol (IP) addresses
Browser type and device information
Operating system
General geographic location derived from network information
Pages visited and website navigation activity
Dates and approximate times of website visits
Referring websites and search engines
Advertising interactions and traffic sources
Cookie identifiers and similar online identifiers
Website performance and diagnostic information

Some of this information may qualify as personal information under California law, even when it does not directly identify an individual by name.

I do not intentionally collect confidential clinical information through website analytics or advertising technologies.

3. How Website Information Is Used

Information processed through this website may be used to:

Maintain website functionality, availability, and security.
Understand general website traffic and performance.
Improve website accessibility, navigation, and content.
Evaluate how visitors discover the website.
Measure the effectiveness of informational and advertising campaigns.
Identify and resolve technical issues.
Comply with applicable legal obligations.

Website analytics are not used to create patient records, make clinical decisions, or determine whether an individual is receiving mental health treatment.

I do not intentionally use website browsing activity to identify individuals according to mental health diagnoses or treatment histories.

4. Squarespace Website Hosting

This website is built and hosted using Squarespace.

Squarespace provides website hosting, content delivery, security, and related technical services. In providing these services, Squarespace may process information such as IP addresses, browser characteristics, device information, cookies, and website activity.

Certain technical information may be processed as necessary to operate and secure the website, regardless of optional cookie preferences.

Squarespace's handling of information is governed by its applicable terms and privacy practices.

For additional information, visit the Squarespace Privacy Policy.

5. Google Analytics 4

This website uses Google Analytics 4 (GA4) to understand general website traffic and improve website performance.

Google Analytics may process information about website visits, device characteristics, browser information, general geographic location, referral sources, and website interactions, depending on its configuration and applicable privacy preferences.

This information is used to evaluate general traffic patterns, identify website improvements, and understand how visitors interact with the website's content.

Google Analytics is not used as a patient records system.

I do not intentionally transmit patient names, diagnoses, medical records, treatment histories, or confidential clinical communications to Google Analytics.

Because browsing activity on a mental health website may be sensitive, I seek to limit analytics collection to appropriate website measurement purposes and avoid transmitting sensitive information through tracking events, URLs, or other technical mechanisms.

For additional information, visit the Google Privacy Policy.

6. Google Ads and Advertising Measurement

This website uses Google Ads to help individuals searching for counseling and wellness services discover my professional services and the resources available through Northern California Family Counseling & Wellness Center.

Google Ads may process information about advertisement interactions, campaign performance, and certain website activities, depending on the advertising features enabled and applicable privacy preferences.

Advertising activities are intended to promote awareness of services and measure general advertising effectiveness.

I do not intentionally:

Upload patient records or clinical information to advertising platforms.
Create advertising audiences using patient treatment histories.
Target individuals based on known mental health diagnoses.
Use confidential clinical information to personalize advertising.
Create remarketing audiences based on sensitive mental health interests.
Transmit protected health information through advertising conversion tracking.

Certain advertising technologies may process online identifiers and website activity. Depending on their configuration, these activities may be subject to additional California privacy requirements.

7. Google Tag Manager

This website uses Google Tag Manager (GTM) to administer website measurement and tracking technologies.

Google Tag Manager helps organize and manage authorized website scripts, including technologies associated with analytics and advertising measurement.

The information processed through these technologies depends on the tags installed and their configuration.

I seek to limit tracking to appropriate website performance and advertising measurement purposes and avoid transmitting confidential clinical information.

8. Google Search Console

This website uses Google Search Console to monitor visibility and technical performance in Google Search.

Google Search Console provides information about search queries, impressions, clicks, indexing, and website performance.

This information is used to improve website accessibility, discoverability, and search engine performance.

Google Search Console is not used to collect patient records or confidential clinical communications.

9. Cookies and Consent Preferences

This website uses cookies and similar technologies to support website functionality, security, analytics, and advertising measurement.

Squarespace's cookie consent management system provides visitors with information and choices concerning categories of cookies.

The website's cookie preferences include:

Necessary Cookies

These cookies support essential website functionality, security, and the preservation of certain visitor preferences. Necessary cookies remain enabled to support the operation of the website.

Performance and Analytics Cookies

These cookies support website traffic measurement, visitor statistics, and performance analysis. They help identify general website usage patterns and opportunities for improvement.

Advertising Cookies

These cookies may support advertising measurement and related advertising functions, depending on the technologies enabled.

Visitors can manage available cookie categories through the website's cookie preferences interface.

Visitors may also manage or delete cookies through their browser settings.

Some third-party technologies may process limited technical information independently of cookies. Their operation depends on the applicable service and website configuration.

Cookie preferences do not constitute authorization for the disclosure of protected health information where separate legal authorization is required.

10. California Consumer Privacy Rights

California residents may have privacy rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), as amended by the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), where those laws apply.

These laws apply to qualifying businesses and certain categories of personal information. Some information governed by healthcare privacy laws may be subject to statutory exemptions.

Depending on applicable law, California residents may have the following rights:

Right to Know: Request information about the categories and specific pieces of personal information collected and how that information is used or disclosed.

Right to Access: Request access to eligible personal information.

Right to Delete: Request deletion of eligible personal information, subject to applicable exceptions.

Right to Correct: Request correction of inaccurate personal information.

Right to Opt Out: Opt out of qualifying sales or sharing of personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising.

Right to Limit: Limit certain uses or disclosures of sensitive personal information where applicable.

Right to Non-Discrimination: Exercise applicable privacy rights without unlawful discrimination.

Privacy requests may be submitted using the contact information provided at the end of this policy.

Reasonable steps may be taken to verify identity before responding to requests involving personal information.

Requests will be evaluated and addressed according to applicable legal requirements.

11. California Notice at Collection

The following categories of information may be processed through this website:

Online Identifiers: IP addresses, cookie identifiers, and similar technical identifiers used for website functionality, security, analytics, and advertising measurement.

Internet or Electronic Network Activity: Website visits, navigation activity, referral sources, and general interactions used to evaluate website performance.

Approximate Geolocation Information: General geographic information derived from network activity and used for aggregate website analysis.

Device and Browser Information: Technical information used for compatibility, security, and website performance.

Advertising Interaction Information: Information associated with advertising engagement and campaign measurement.

This website does not collect patient intake forms, medical histories, or clinical records through online forms.

Information may be processed by Squarespace and Google services as described in this policy.

Information is retained according to its purpose, applicable service settings, and relevant legal requirements.

12. Sale and Sharing of Personal Information

I do not sell patient medical records, diagnoses, treatment information, or confidential clinical communications.

I do not authorize the use of protected health information for advertising audience development.

This website uses third-party analytics and advertising technologies that may process online identifiers and website activity.

Under California law, certain disclosures for cross-context behavioral advertising may qualify as sharing of personal information even when no monetary payment occurs.

Where applicable law requires an opportunity to opt out of qualifying sale or sharing activities, appropriate privacy controls must be provided.

I do not knowingly sell or share personal information belonging to individuals under 16 for cross-context behavioral advertising.

13. Global Privacy Control and Do Not Track

Some browsers and devices offer privacy preference signals, including Global Privacy Control (GPC).

Where legally required, qualifying opt-out preference signals must be honored for applicable sale or sharing activities.

This website provides cookie preference controls through Squarespace. The treatment of additional browser-based signals depends on applicable legal requirements and technical configuration.

Traditional Do Not Track settings do not have a universally adopted technical standard.

Visitors may also manage certain tracking technologies through their browser settings.

14. Healthcare Privacy and Confidentiality

I provide clinical mental health services through Northern California Family Counseling & Wellness Center.

Patient information collected and maintained in connection with those services is subject to applicable healthcare privacy laws and professional confidentiality requirements.

These may include HIPAA, California's Confidentiality of Medical Information Act (CMIA), and other applicable laws.

Clinical records, diagnoses, treatment plans, psychotherapy notes, and confidential therapeutic communications are managed through the Center's clinical systems and procedures.

This website Privacy Policy does not replace Northern California Family Counseling & Wellness Center's Notice of Privacy Practices governing protected health information.

General website cookie consent does not authorize the disclosure of confidential medical information for advertising or other purposes requiring separate legal authorization.

Patients and prospective patients are encouraged to review the Center's Notice of Privacy Practices for additional information about healthcare confidentiality and patient privacy rights.

15. Information Sharing With Third-Party Service Providers

This website uses third-party technology providers to support website hosting, analytics, advertising measurement, search visibility, and technical operations.

These providers include:

Squarespace
Google Analytics
Google Ads
Google Tag Manager
Google Search Console

Depending on their functions and configurations, these providers may process technical website information and online identifiers.

Information may also be disclosed when legally required, including in response to valid legal process or to address security incidents, subject to applicable law.

These website service providers are not authorized to access confidential clinical treatment records through this public website.

16. Information Security

Reasonable steps are taken to protect information associated with this website against unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction.

These measures may include secure website connections, account authentication, restricted administrative access, website security configurations, and review of third-party technologies.

No method of electronic transmission or storage can be guaranteed completely secure.

Security practices are evaluated in light of the information involved and applicable legal requirements.

17. Data Retention

Website information may be retained for different periods depending on the service provider, the type of information, and the purpose for which it is processed.

Google Analytics information is retained according to configured data retention settings and Google's applicable policies.

Squarespace may retain certain technical information in accordance with its service operations, security requirements, and privacy practices.

Advertising performance information may be retained according to applicable Google Ads settings and policies.

I seek to limit retention of information under my control to periods reasonably necessary for website operations, security, analytics, advertising measurement, and applicable legal obligations.

Clinical records maintained through Northern California Family Counseling & Wellness Center are governed by separate healthcare record-retention requirements.

18. Children's Privacy

My clinical work includes services for individuals and families, including children and adolescents, through Northern California Family Counseling & Wellness Center.

This public website is primarily intended to provide general information to adults, parents, guardians, and individuals exploring services.

The website does not knowingly collect children's clinical information through online forms.

I do not knowingly use children's treatment information for advertising audience development.

I do not knowingly sell or share the personal information of individuals under 16 for cross-context behavioral advertising.

Clinical information concerning minors is governed by applicable federal and California confidentiality and consent laws.

19. External Websites

This website may contain links to third-party websites, professional resources, or external services, including Northern California Family Counseling & Wellness Center.

These websites may have privacy policies and security practices that differ from those described here.

I am not responsible for the privacy practices of independently operated third-party websites.

Visitors are encouraged to review the privacy policies of external services before providing personal information.

20. International Visitors

This website primarily serves individuals interested in counseling and wellness services in California.

If you access this website from outside the United States, certain technical information may be processed in the United States or other jurisdictions where service providers operate.

Privacy protections in those jurisdictions may differ from those in your country of residence.

Website information is handled in accordance with applicable legal requirements.

21. Changes to This Privacy Policy

I may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in website technology, service providers, information practices, or applicable laws.

When updates are made, the Last Updated date at the beginning of this policy will be revised.

Where required by law, additional notice of material changes will be provided.

22. Contact Information

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, website technologies, or applicable privacy rights, please contact:

Christina G. Whitney, LMFT

c/o Northern California Family Counseling & Wellness Center

2395 Bechelli Lane, Suite B
Redding, CA 96002

Phone: (530) 768-7397
Fax: (530) 285-2000
Email: contact@northerncaliforniafamily.com

California LMFT License #11050

Please do not include confidential medical or clinical information in an initial unsecured email.

23. Separate Notice of Privacy Practices

This Privacy Policy governs my personal professional website and its associated technologies.

Clinical services are provided through Northern California Family Counseling & Wellness Center and are subject to the Center's separate Notice of Privacy Practices.

That notice describes the use, disclosure, and protection of health information in connection with clinical services.