Privacy Policy
Grand Slam Psychological Services
Effective Date: 07/02/2026
Last Updated: : 07/02/2026
1. Introduction
At Grand Slam Psychological Services (referred to as “we,” “us,” “our,” or “Grand Slam Psych”), we are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring you have a positive experience on our website. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website at grandslampsych.com (the “Website”) and when you interact with our practice.
This policy applies to information we collect through:
- Our Website contact form
- Email communications
- Phone calls
- In-person or virtual therapy sessions
- Any other touchpoints with Grand Slam Psychological Services
Because we provide mental health services, your privacy is not just important to us – it’s a legal obligation. We comply with applicable privacy laws, including HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act), state psychology licensing board regulations, and federal privacy standards.
2. What Information We Collect
2.1 Information You Provide Directly
When you contact us through our Website, phone, or email, we may collect the following information:
Name
We collect your full name to identify you and maintain records of your inquiry or therapy relationship. Your name helps us personalize our communication and ensure we’re discussing the correct client file.
Email Address
Your email address is used to:
- Send you appointment confirmations and reminders
- Provide you with responses to your inquiry
- Share important practice updates or policy changes (only if you consent)
- Communicate securely about your care (encrypted communications when appropriate)
We will never share your email with third parties without your explicit permission, except as required by law.
Phone Number
Your phone number is collected to:
- Schedule your initial consultation or therapy appointment
- Send appointment reminders (via text or call, depending on your preference)
- Contact you about your inquiry in a timely manner
- Reach you in the event of appointment changes
Your phone number is kept confidential and is not shared with outside parties except with your permission or as required by law.
Service Type
When you select a service from our dropdown menu, we collect information about what type of service interests you:
- Free Initial Consultation (15 Minutes)
- Individual Therapy
- Group Therapy
- DBT Therapy Intensive
- Sports Performance Therapy Intensive
- Identity Exploration Intensive
- Relationship Therapy Intensive
This helps us understand your needs and route your inquiry to the appropriate provider or resource. This information helps us assess fit and may inform our response to your inquiry.
Insurance Provider or Private Pay Status
We ask whether you plan to use insurance or pay privately (cash) to:
- Determine billing procedures
- Verify insurance coverage (if applicable)
- Provide accurate cost estimates
- Set up appropriate billing arrangements
If you provide insurance information, we will use it only for verification, claims submission, and billing purposes. We keep insurance details secure and do not share them with unauthorized parties.
How Did You Find Our Practice?
Your referral source helps us understand which marketing channels and word-of-mouth networks are most effective. This information helps us reach people who need our services and improve our practice visibility. We do not use this information to track you for marketing purposes beyond confirming the source of your inquiry.
Message or Questions
Any message or questions you submit in this field are treated as the start of your therapeutic inquiry. We read, analyze, and respond to your message carefully. We ask that you do not include confidential clinical details in the contact form – save sensitive information for our secure intake process after you’ve scheduled your initial consultation.
Consent Checkbox
By checking the consent box, you acknowledge that you agree to have Grand Slam Psych store your submitted information so we can respond to your inquiry and determine if we’re a good fit to work together.
2.2 Automatic Information Collection
When you visit our Website, we may automatically collect certain information about your device and browsing behavior:
- IP Address: The unique identifier for your internet connection
- Browser Type and Version: Information about what browser you’re using
- Operating System: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, etc.
- Pages You Visit: Which pages on our Website you view and how long you spend there
- Referring Website: Where you came from before landing on our site
- Cookies and Tracking: Small files stored on your device to remember your preferences
This information is collected to improve our Website functionality, understand user behavior, and enhance your experience. We use this data in aggregate form and do not connect it to your identity unless you’ve filled out a form.
2.3 Information from Third Parties
We may receive information about you from:
- Insurance companies (for verification and billing)
- Referral sources (therapists, doctors, or trusted contacts who refer you)
- Third-party service providers (email hosts, scheduling platforms, payment processors)
This information is used only for the purposes for which it was provided and is treated with the same confidentiality as information you provide directly.
3. How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect for the following purposes:
3.1 Providing Services
- Responding to your inquiry and scheduling appointments
- Conducting intake assessments and providing therapy services
- Billing and payment processing
- Maintaining accurate clinical and administrative records
- Communicating with you about your care
3.2 Clinical and Administrative Operations
- Treatment planning and clinical decision-making
- Consultation with other providers (with your consent)
- Quality improvement and clinical supervision
- Compliance with legal and regulatory obligations
3.3 Communication
- Sending appointment reminders and confirmations
- Following up on your inquiry
- Providing educational information about our services
- Notifying you of changes to our privacy practices or policies
3.4 Website Improvement
- Analyzing how users interact with our Website
- Improving Website functionality and user experience
- Fixing technical issues
- Understanding which services are most sought-after
3.5 Legal and Compliance
- Fulfilling legal obligations under HIPAA, state psychology laws, and other regulations
- Protecting the rights, safety, and privacy of our clients and staff
- Responding to subpoenas, court orders, or government requests (as required by law)
- Fraud detection and prevention
We will never use your information for marketing purposes without your explicit, separate consent.
4. Legal Basis for Processing Your Information (HIPAA & Privacy Laws)
4.1 HIPAA Compliance
Grand Slam Psychological Services operates under HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act), which is a federal law that protects the privacy and security of health information. Under HIPAA:
- Your therapy information is considered Protected Health Information (PHI) once you have an established therapy relationship or undergo an intake assessment
- We may use and disclose your PHI for:
- Treatment: Providing you with therapy services
- Payment: Billing and insurance claims
- Healthcare Operations: Appointment scheduling, quality improvement, training, and compliance
4.2 Your Rights Under HIPAA
You have the right to:
- Access your medical records within 30 days of request
- Request corrections to your health information if you believe it’s inaccurate
- Request restrictions on how we use or disclose your information (though we may not always be able to agree)
- Request confidential communications (e.g., receiving information at an alternative email or address)
- Receive an accounting of disclosures of your health information
- Obtain a copy of this privacy notice at any time
To exercise these rights, contact Dr. El McCabe at elmccabe@grandslampsych.com or 856-607-2291.
4.3 State Psychology Licensing Laws
Additionally, we comply with New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and PsyPact state psychology licensing board regulations, which impose strict confidentiality requirements on licensed psychologists. Your information is protected under these state-level privacy laws, which are often more restrictive than HIPAA.
5. Who We Share Your Information With
We understand the sensitivity of mental health information and limit sharing strictly.
5.1 We DO Share Information With:
Insurance Companies (if you’re using insurance)
- We must share information with your insurance provider to process claims and verify coverage
- Insurance companies receive only the minimum information necessary for billing purposes
Billing and Payment Processors
- We use secure third-party payment processing to handle payments
- Payment processors do not retain your information beyond what’s necessary for the transaction
Therapists or Providers You Authorize
- With your written consent, we may share information with other providers involved in your care (your primary care doctor, psychiatrist, etc.)
Emergency Situations
- If there is an imminent risk of harm to yourself or others, we may disclose information to emergency services, family members, or other appropriate parties to protect safety
Legal Requirements
- If required by court order, subpoena, or law enforcement request, we will disclose information as mandated by law
5.2 We DO NOT Share Information With:
- Marketing or advertising companies
- Data brokers or aggregators
- Social media platforms
- Employers or schools (without your written consent)
- Anyone not directly involved in your care or billing
6. Contact Form Data & Storage
6.1 How We Store Your Contact Form Information
When you submit the contact form on our Website, your information is stored securely in our practice management system. This system:
- Uses SSL encryption to protect data in transit
- Requires secure authentication (username and password) to access
- Is backed up regularly to prevent loss
- Is compliant with HIPAA security standards
6.2 How Long We Keep Your Information
- Contact inquiries without a therapy relationship: We retain this information for 1 year to follow up on referrals or potential future contact. After 1 year, we securely delete it.
- Once you become a therapy client: Your clinical records are maintained according to HIPAA retention requirements, typically for 7 years after the last session. Some states require longer retention periods; we follow the most stringent requirement that applies to you.
- Billing records: We retain billing records for 7 years for tax and legal compliance purposes.
6.3 Secure Disposal
When we dispose of your information, we:
- Shred paper records containing personal information
- Securely delete digital files using data destruction software
- Destroy storage media that contained your information
- Ensure no employee has access to disposed records
7. Your Privacy Rights & Choices
7.1 Opt-Out of Non-Essential Communications
You have the right to:
- Opt out of appointment reminders (though we recommend keeping them)
- Opt out of educational emails or practice updates
- Request that we communicate with you only by a specific method (phone, email, etc.)
To adjust your communication preferences, contact us at elmccabe@grandslampsych.com or 856-607-2291.
7.2 Accessing Your Information
You may request access to your complete clinical record, contact information, and billing history. Requests must be made in writing and will be fulfilled within 30 days under HIPAA.
7.3 Correcting or Amending Your Information
If you believe any information we have about you is inaccurate or incomplete, you may request a correction or amendment. We will respond within 30 days.
7.4 Revoking Consent
If you have consented to sharing your information with another provider or for a specific purpose, you may revoke that consent at any time by notifying us in writing.
8. Website Cookies & Analytics
8.1 What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files placed on your device that help us recognize you and remember your preferences when you return to our Website.
8.2 How We Use Cookies
We use cookies to:
- Remember your login information (if applicable)
- Track which pages you visit to understand user behavior
- Improve Website functionality and load times
- Provide a personalized browsing experience
8.3 Third-Party Analytics
We may use analytics services (such as Google Analytics) to understand how visitors use our Website. These services may place their own cookies on your device. They collect data about:
- Pages you visit
- Time spent on each page
- Links you click
- Geographic location (country/city level, not precise)
This data is anonymized and not linked to your identity.
8.4 Your Cookie Choices
Most browsers allow you to:
- Disable cookies entirely
- Delete existing cookies
- Receive warnings before a cookie is stored
Note: Disabling cookies may affect your ability to use certain Website features. We do not require cookies for basic navigation or form submission.
9. Children’s Privacy
Grand Slam Psychological Services does not knowingly collect information from children under the age of 13 without parental consent. Our Website and services are intended for adults seeking therapy.
If you are under 18 and interested in therapy, we encourage your parent or guardian to contact us directly so we can discuss appropriate informed consent and privacy protections.
If we become aware that a child under 13 has submitted information to us, we will delete that information and contact the parent or guardian.
10. Data Security
10.1 Security Measures
We implement industry-standard security practices to protect your information:
- Encryption: All data transmitted to and from our Website uses SSL/TLS encryption
- Access Controls: Only authorized employees can access your clinical and personal records
- Passwords: We require strong passwords and regular updates for all staff accounts
- Firewalls: Our systems are protected by firewalls and intrusion detection
- Regular Audits: We conduct regular security audits to identify and address vulnerabilities
- Employee Training: All staff receive training on HIPAA compliance and data security
10.2 Limitations of Security
While we use reasonable security measures, no method of transmission over the Internet is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security. However, we are committed to following industry best practices and HIPAA requirements.
10.3 Reporting a Security Breach
If we discover that your information has been compromised, we will notify you as required by HIPAA and applicable state laws. Notification will occur within 60 days of discovery of the breach.
11. Your Rights Related to Automated Processing
We do not currently use automated decision-making systems (such as AI algorithms) to make clinical decisions about your therapy. Any decisions about your care are made by Dr. El McCabe based on clinical judgment and your input.
If we implement automated systems in the future, we will update this policy and obtain your consent before using them in any way that affects your care.
12. Third-Party Links
Our Website may contain links to third-party websites (social media, insurance company websites, etc.). We are not responsible for the privacy practices of those websites. We encourage you to read the privacy policies of any third-party sites before providing your information.
13. How Long We Retain Your Data
| Type of Information | Retention Period |
| Contact form inquiry (no therapy relationship) | 1 year |
| Clinical records (active therapy) | Duration of therapy + 7 years |
| Clinical records (after therapy ends) | 7 years minimum; longer if required by state law |
| Billing records | 7 years |
| Insurance communications | 7 years |
| Cookies | Until deleted by you or automatically after 1-2 years |
| Website analytics data | 26 months (anonymized) |
14. International Privacy (If Applicable)
If you are accessing our Website from outside the United States, please be aware that your information will be transferred to, stored in, and processed in the United States. The United States does not have the same data protection laws as some other countries (such as the EU). By using our Website and services, you consent to this transfer and processing.
Note: If you are in the EU and subject to GDPR, we can discuss additional protections and rights. Contact us directly.
15. Updates to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors.
- Major changes will be announced to you via email if you are an active client
- Minor changes will be posted on this page with an updated “Last Updated” date
- Your continued use of our Website or services after changes constitute acceptance of the updated policy
We encourage you to review this policy periodically to stay informed.
16. Contact Us About Privacy
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, want to exercise your privacy rights, or have concerns about how we handle your information, please contact us:
Dr. El McCabe, Ph.D.
Grand Slam Psychological Services
Email: elmccabe@grandslampsych.com
Phone: 856-607-2291
Address: Lawrence Township, NJ
Response Time: We will respond to privacy inquiries within 10 business days.
17. Complaints & Your Rights
If you believe we have violated your privacy rights or HIPAA, you have the right to file a complaint with:
The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
Office for Civil Rights (OCR)
hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/complaints
Toll-free: 1-800-368-1019
You may also file a complaint with your state’s psychology licensing board.
18. Acknowledgment
Thank you for entrusting Grand Slam Psychological Services with your mental health journey. We take your privacy seriously and are committed to maintaining the highest standards of confidentiality and ethical practice.
At Grand Slam Psych, you’ll experience warmth, genuine care, and professional expertise – and privacy protection that matches our commitment to your well-being.
Ready to take the first step? Contact Us
Document Version: 1.0 | Last Updated: 07/02/26
