FAQs

Therapy is good for everyone. We all have issues in our lives that challenge us. A certified mental health provider could be a great support to work through problems that appear too hard to handle independently. Having the right support in place could be the difference between surviving and thriving in a person’s life.

The initial phone call is commonly used to allow the potential client to ask questions to understand if it makes sense to schedule the initial mental health session. This is also an opportunity to ask questions regarding therapy, the practice, and payment/insurance. My website outlines specific areas I focus on to support clients, there is also a broad range of mental health diagnoses that are not listed.

On occasion it may be better for the client to consider working with another mental health provider that would be better equipped to support that person with their specialized needs. If that is the case, I could talk to you about referring you to another therapist that could be a better fit.

This session focuses on getting to know you better. It is asking many questions to understand what you are interested in working on in treatment. Many questions will be asked to help me understand the complexity of your issue. The following sessions will focus on more questions, looking at areas within your life story and present day. This allows me an opportunity to understand possible factors that could be contributing to the present issues. It is important during the time together for you to assess and understand if us working together makes sense. If you are not comfortable with our working relationship, I would be able to refer you to another counselor that may be a better fit for you.

It is common at the start of mental health therapy to meet weekly or by-weekly. A person can benefit most from therapy when our times together are frequent and consistent. The goal for everyone is to no longer rely on therapy as frequently. Based on what you are working on and the severity of the issue, it would make sense to have a conversation to understand what you would want for yourself regarding the frequency of therapy that best meets your needs.

My rate is $130.00 for an individual 60-minute session and $170.00 for 60-minute couples’ session.

Yes, I do in person or virtual depending on the specialized needs of the client.

I take some insurance: Aetna, Cigna and Evernorth, Oscar Health, Oxford, and United Healthcare UHC/UBH. I can also offer a receipt for those whose insurance I do not take, they submitting this to your insurance company for possible reimbursement.

Hungry Heart Mental Health
Last Updated: February 12, 2026

Overview

Hungry Heart Mental Health ("we," "us," or "our") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, and safeguard your personal information when you interact with us through our website, social media, contact forms, or advertising.

Information We Collect

Contact Information

When you submit an inquiry through our Facebook ads, Instagram ads, website forms, or other contact methods, we may collect:

• Your full name

• Email address

• Phone number

• Preferred contact time

• Any other information you voluntarily provide

Automatically Collected Information

When you visit our website, we may automatically collect:

• Browser type and version

• Device information

• IP address

• Pages visited and time spent

• Referring website

How We Use Your Information

We use your personal information to:

• Respond to your inquiries about therapy services

• Schedule and confirm consultation appointments

• Send appointment reminders and confirmations (for scheduled clients)

• Provide information about our counseling and therapy services

• Process payments for therapy services (for active clients)

• Improve our services and website

• Comply with legal obligations

What We DON'T Do

We do NOT:

• Sell or rent your personal information to third parties

• Share your contact information for marketing purposes

• Send unsolicited promotional communications unrelated to your service inquiry

• Use your information for purposes other than those described in this policy

HIPAA Compliance & Clinical Confidentiality

Before You Become a Client:
Information you provide through contact forms (name, email, phone) is treated as general contact information and is not protected health information (PHI) under HIPAA.

Once You Become a Client:
All information shared during therapy sessions, clinical records, and treatment information becomes protected health information (PHI) under:

• HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act)

• New York State Mental Hygiene Law §33.13

• New York State confidentiality regulations

Your clinical information remains strictly confidential except as required or permitted by law (such as imminent danger to self or others, child abuse reporting, or court orders).

Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational security measures to protect your personal information, including:

• Secure data storage with encryption

• Limited access to authorized personnel only

• Regular security assessments

• Compliance with HIPAA security standards for clinical information

However, no electronic transmission or storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

Third-Party Services

We may use trusted third-party service providers to help us operate our practice, including:

• Email Services: For appointment confirmations and communication

• Scheduling Software: For booking and managing appointments

• Practice Management Software: For client records and billing

• Website Hosting: For our website infrastructure

• Payment Processing: For secure payment transactions

• Analytics Tools: To understand how our website is used

These third parties are contractually obligated to maintain the confidentiality and security of your information and may only use it for the purposes we specify.

Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Our website uses cookies and similar tracking technologies to:

• Remember your preferences

• Understand how visitors use our site

• Improve website functionality and user experience

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to refuse cookies or alert you when cookies are being sent. Note that some website features may not function properly if you disable cookies.

Facebook Pixel

We use the Facebook Pixel on our website to measure the effectiveness of our advertising and provide relevant ads. The Facebook Pixel collects information about your visit, including pages viewed and actions taken. This information is subject to Facebook's Privacy Policy.

You can opt out of Facebook advertising at: https://www.facebook.com/ads/preferences

Your Privacy Rights

You have the right to:

Access and Correction

• Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you

• Ask us to correct inaccurate information

Deletion

• Request that we delete your contact information from our systems (subject to legal retention requirements)

Opt-Out

• Unsubscribe from marketing or informational emails at any time

• Request that we stop contacting you

Restrict Processing

• Request that we limit how we use your information

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at:

Email:mls@hungryheartmentalhealth.com
Phone: (315) 696-1840

We will respond to your request within 30 days.

Information Retention

Contact Information (Non-Clients)

We retain contact information from inquiries for up to 2 years to facilitate follow-up and service improvement, then securely delete it.

Clinical Records (Clients)

Client records are retained in accordance with New York State requirements and HIPAA regulations (minimum 6 years from date of last service for adults; until age 25 for minors).

Children's Privacy

Our services are intended for adults and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 through our website or advertising. If you believe we have inadvertently collected such information, please contact us immediately.

California Privacy Rights (CCPA)

If you are a California resident, you have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act:

• Right to know what personal information is collected

• Right to know whether personal information is sold or disclosed

• Right to opt-out of the sale of personal information

• Right to request deletion of personal information

• Right to non-discrimination for exercising CCPA rights

We do not sell personal information.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. When we make changes, we will:

• Update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page

• Notify you via email if changes are material (if we have your email address)

• Post a notice on our website

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically.

Social Media and Third-Party Links

Our website and advertising may contain links to third-party websites or social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, etc.). This Privacy Policy does not apply to those third-party sites. We encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing any information.

Questions and Concerns

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your information, please contact us:

Hungry Heart Mental Health
Marcus Smith, LCSW
7030 E Genesee St.
Fayetteville, NY 13066

Phone: (315) 696-1840
Email:mls@hungryheartmentalhealth.com
Website:www.hungryheartmentalhealth.com

Consent

By submitting your contact information through our website, social media ads, or contact forms, you consent to the collection and use of your information as described in this Privacy Policy.

Legal Compliance

This Privacy Policy is designed to comply with:

• Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)

• New York State Mental Hygiene Law

• California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)

• General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) principles

• Meta (Facebook/Instagram) Lead Ads Terms of Service

• Federal Trade Commission (FTC) requirements

Effective Date: February 12, 2026

This privacy policy was last reviewed and updated on February 12, 2026.