Your trust and privacy are of the utmost importance to us. At Dr. Michael Ivy, we are committed to safeguarding your personal information and ensuring transparency about how we collect, use, and protect your data. This Privacy Policy explains our practices in a way that prioritizes your dignity, confidentiality, and rights.
Who We Are
We are a holistic mental health practice offering psychotherapy, life coaching, and massage therapy to individuals, couples, families, and groups in Southern Maine and via telehealth. Our website address is: www.drmichaelivy.com.
What Data We Collect and Why
We collect certain information to enhance your experience on our website and ensure the security of our services. Here’s what we collect and how it’s used:
Comments
When visitors leave comments on our site, we collect the data shown in the comments form, as well as your IP address and browser information. This helps us detect and reduce spam.
If you use the Gravatar service, an anonymized string created from your email address (a hash) may be shared with Gravatar to verify your profile. Their privacy policy is available here: https://automattic.com/privacy. Approved comments may make your profile picture visible alongside your comment.
Media
If you upload images to the site, avoid including embedded location data (e.g., EXIF GPS). Visitors can download and extract location data from uploaded images.
Cookies
To make your experience more convenient, we may use cookies:
– If you leave a comment, you can opt-in to save your name, email, and website in cookies for future visits.
– Login cookies (if applicable) ensure seamless access and last for up to two days unless “Remember Me” is selected, in which case they persist for two weeks.
These cookies do not collect sensitive information and can be managed through your browser settings.
Embedded Content from Other Websites
Articles or blog posts on this site may include embedded content such as videos, images, or articles. Embedded content behaves as though you visited the original website, which may collect data, use cookies, or track your interactions. If you are logged into those external sites, they may also track your activity.
How We Use Your Data
We only use your personal data to:
– Enhance your experience on our website.
– Respond to your inquiries or comments.
– Improve site functionality.
– Ensure security and spam prevention.
How Long We Retain Your Data
If you leave a comment, the comment and its metadata are stored indefinitely to streamline follow-up responses. For registered users (if applicable), personal information provided in profiles is also retained but can be edited or deleted at any time, except for usernames.
Your Rights Over Your Data
You have the right to:
– Request a copy of any personal data we hold about you.
– Request that we erase any personal data we have collected, except for information we are legally required to retain for administrative or security purposes.
To exercise these rights, contact us via this website.
Where Your Data Is Sent
Visitor comments may be processed through automated spam detection services to protect the integrity of our site and community.
Your Privacy Is Our Priority
We take every precaution to align with state and federal guidelines, including HIPAA and Maine’s privacy laws. Your personal information is never sold or shared without your consent, except when legally required.
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or how we protect your data, please reach out to us directly. We are here to provide clarity and support as we work together toward your healing and growth.