Privacy Policy

Last updated: October 7, 2026

This Privacy Policy explains what information CLS Counseling & Consulting, PLLC ("CLS," "we," "us") collects through our website, www.clscounselingandconsulting.com, how we use it, and the choices you have.

CLS Counseling & Consulting, PLLC, 1063 S. State Route 157, Suite 2-128, Edwardsville, IL 62025-3695

Your health information is handled separately

This policy covers our website only. If you become a client, the health information you share in therapy, including your records, diagnosis, and billing details, is protected by HIPAA and Missouri and Illinois law. How we use and protect that information is explained in our Notice of Privacy Practices, which you receive in the client portal along with our confidentiality forms before your first session. If anything in this policy seems to conflict with the Notice of Privacy Practices, the Notice controls for your health information.

Please don't send private health details through the website

Our website, contact form, and general email are not the place for detailed health information, and they are not monitored around the clock. Share only what we need to reach you, and save the details for your free consultation or your secure client portal.

If you are in crisis, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), text HOME to 741741 (Crisis Text Line), or call 911 if you or someone else is in immediate danger.

Information we collect

Information you choose to give us

  • Appointment requests and contact messages. When you request an appointment or send a message through the booking and contact links on our site, you're using SimplePractice, our practice management platform. You may share your name, email, phone number, the state you live in, and a short note about what you're looking for.

  • The "Therapist vibe check." If you fill out the short questionnaire linked in the bar at the top of our site, your answers are collected by Tally, a form service.

  • Emails, calls, and texts. If you email, call, or text us, those messages go through Google Workspace (Gmail and Google Voice).

  • Email newsletter. If you sign up for our newsletter on our website, or you've given us your email address and agreed to receive updates from us, your name and email address are stored in Squarespace Email Campaigns so we can send you occasional updates. Every email includes an unsubscribe link, and you can opt out at any time.

Information collected automatically

When you visit our site, our website host (Squarespace) and Google Analytics collect basic information such as the pages you visit, how long you stay, the type of device and browser you use, your general location (city or region), and how you found us. This uses cookies and similar technologies. We use this information only to understand how people use the site so we can make it more helpful.

How we use your information

  • To respond to your questions and requests for a consultation or appointment

  • To schedule and confirm appointments

  • To send our newsletter to people who signed up or agreed to receive it

  • To understand how our website is used and improve it

  • To meet our legal and professional obligations

We do not sell your information. We do not use your information for advertising, and we do not share it with other businesses for their marketing.

Who we share information with

We share information only with service providers that help us run the practice and the website, and only as needed for them to do that work:

  • SimplePractice: appointment requests, contact form, client portal, scheduling, telehealth video, and billing

  • Stripe (through SimplePractice): processes card, HSA, and FSA payments. We never see or store your full card number.

  • Availity (through SimplePractice): checks insurance eligibility and submits insurance claims for clients who use insurance

  • Google Workspace: email and phone (Gmail and Google Voice)

  • Squarespace: hosts our website, runs the cookie banner, and sends our email newsletter

  • Google Analytics: measures website traffic

  • Tally: collects answers to the optional "Therapist vibe check"

Each of these companies has its own privacy policy. We may also disclose information when the law requires it, for example in response to a valid court order, or to protect someone's safety.

Cookies and your choices

When you first visit our site, a cookie banner lets you accept or decline non-essential cookies, including analytics. You can change your choice at any time using the Cookie Preferences link at the bottom of the page. You can also block or delete cookies in your browser settings, or install Google's Analytics opt-out browser add-on. Declining cookies won't stop you from reading the site or booking a consultation.

How long we keep information

We keep website messages and inquiries only as long as we need them to respond to you and run our practice. If you become a client, your clinical records are kept as required by Missouri and Illinois law and as described in our Notice of Privacy Practices. Website analytics data is kept according to Google Analytics retention settings.

How we protect information

We use reputable, secure service providers, encrypted connections (https) on our website, and access limited to the people who need it. No website or online service is 100% secure, which is one more reason to keep detailed health information out of the contact form and general email.

Your choices

You can ask us to tell you what website information we have about you, correct it, or delete it, unless we're required to keep it. You can unsubscribe from our newsletter at any time. For requests about your clinical records, see your rights in the Notice of Privacy Practices.

Children and teens

Our website is not meant for children under 13, and we don't knowingly collect their information. We provide therapy to teens 16 and older. For clients under 18, a parent or guardian is involved in scheduling and consent.

Links to other websites

Our site links to other websites, such as crisis lines, research sources, and Psychology Today. We aren't responsible for their content or privacy practices, so please review their policies when you visit them.

Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time. When we do, we'll change the "Last updated" date at the top of this page.

Contact us

Questions about this policy or your information?

  • Email: contact@clscounselingandconsulting.com

  • Phone or text: 618-515-5890

  • Mail: CLS Counseling & Consulting, PLLC, 1063 S. State Route 157, Suite 2-128, Edwardsville, IL 62025-3695