Privacy & Confidentiality

PRIVACY POLICY

Last Updated: 04/05/2026
The Well: Family Support
Website: https://thewellms.org

1. Who We Are

The Well: Family Support (“The Well,” “we,” “our,” or “us”) provides mental health counseling, family therapy, and related wellness and educational services in the state of Mississippi.
Our website address is: https://thewellms.org.

2. Information We Collect

We collect personal information that you voluntarily provide to us when you contact us, request an appointment, complete a form, or communicate with us via phone, text, or email. This may include:

Name, phone number, email address, and mailing address
Date of birth and insurance information (for clinical clients)
Information shared through our contact forms, intake forms, or messages
Technical data such as IP address, browser type, and cookies (collected automatically through our website)

We do not collect protected health information (PHI) through our public website forms unless specifically noted as secure (such as forms hosted in our HIPAA-compliant client portal or EHR system).

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your personal information for the following purposes:

To respond to your messages, appointment requests, or inquiries
To provide counseling and administrative services
To send appointment confirmations, reminders, and updates via SMS or email
To process billing, insurance, or payment transactions
To improve our services, operations, and user experience
To comply with legal, regulatory, and ethical requirements under HIPAA and Mississippi law

We never sell, lease, or rent your personal or health information.

4. SMS and Text Message Policy

By providing your mobile number or initiating contact via text, you consent to receive text messages from The Well: Family Support regarding scheduling, reminders, or administrative updates.

Examples include appointment confirmations, rescheduling, or general non-clinical communication.

Message and data rates may apply.
Message frequency varies.

You may opt out at any time by replying STOP.
For assistance, reply HELP or contact us at (662) 368-2008 or support@thewellms.org.

SMS consent is not shared with third parties or affiliates.

We do not send marketing messages through SMS, and all text communication complies with HIPAA and carrier requirements.

5. Who We Share Information With

We may share limited information only as necessary with:

Authorized employees, clinicians, and administrative staff for scheduling and service coordination
HIPAA-compliant service providers such as our electronic health record (EHR) system, billing partners, and secure communication vendors
Legal or regulatory entities when required by law (e.g., for mandated reporting or court orders)

We do not share your personal or SMS consent information with third parties for marketing or unrelated purposes.

6. Cookies and Tracking

Our website may use cookies and analytics tools to improve site performance and user experience. These cookies do not collect protected health information (PHI). You can disable cookies in your browser settings at any time.

7. Data Retention

We retain personal information only as long as necessary for administrative, legal, and professional recordkeeping purposes. Clinical records are maintained in accordance with Mississippi Board of Examiners and HIPAA requirements.

8. Your Rights

You have the right to:

Request access to or a copy of your personal information
Request correction or deletion of your data (where applicable)
Withdraw consent for communication at any time
File a privacy complaint with The Well or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights if you believe your rights have been violated

To exercise your rights, contact us at: support@thewellms.org or (662) 368-2008

9. Data Security

We use administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect your information from unauthorized access or disclosure. All clinical and client communications are managed through HIPAA-compliant systems.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. The “Last Updated” date above will indicate when the policy was most recently revised.

Contact Us:
The Well: Family Support
617 18th Ave N, Columbus, MS 39701
📧 support@thewellms.org
🌐 https://thewellms.org

NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES

THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.

OUR RESPONSIBILITIES

Barksdale Missions, LLC, doing business as The Well: Family Support (“The Well,” “we,” or “our”), is required to:

Protect the privacy of your protected health information.
Provide this Notice and follow its terms.
Notify affected individuals of breaches of unsecured health information as required by law.

This Notice applies to protected health information we create, receive, or maintain. We follow stricter confidentiality requirements when applicable, including Mississippi mental health confidentiality laws and federal protections for certain substance use disorder records.

HOW WE MAY USE AND SHARE YOUR INFORMATION

Treatment, Payment & Healthcare Operations

Subject to applicable confidentiality requirements, we may use and share information for:

Treatment: Providing and coordinating care, such as consulting with another treating provider.
Payment: Obtaining payment, such as submitting insurance claims or supporting medical necessity.
Healthcare operations: Managing and improving the practice, such as supervision, training, quality reviews, and audits.

We may share information with business associates supporting our records, billing, technology, and practice operations under required privacy agreements. We may contact you about appointments, billing, treatment, and related services.

Reporting, Safety & Other Legal Purposes

When permitted or required by applicable law, we may share information:

To report suspected child abuse or neglect or abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a vulnerable adult.
For public health purposes, including required communicable-disease reporting.
To address qualifying threats to health or safety. This may include notifying law enforcement, an identifiable potential victim, or an appropriate guardian when legally permitted.
For authorized oversight, such as licensing investigations.
In response to qualifying court orders, subpoenas, or other legal process.
For certain law enforcement purposes.
With coroners, medical examiners, funeral directors, or organ-procurement organizations.
For research meeting applicable authorization or waiver requirements.
For authorized military, national security, correctional, or other specialized government functions.
For workers’ compensation purposes.

We review the legal basis and scope of disclosures. A subpoena alone does not automatically authorize release. Additional restrictions for protected mental health and substance use disorder records continue to apply.

People Involved in Your Care

We may share information directly relevant to another person’s involvement in your care or payment when you agree, have an opportunity to object and do not, or circumstances reasonably indicate your agreement.

If you cannot express your preferences, we may share relevant information based on professional judgment about your best interests, subject to applicable legal restrictions.

MINOR CLIENTS & AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVES

Parents, guardians, and other legally authorized representatives may exercise privacy rights within the scope of their authority.

Consent to treatment and access to records depend on applicable law, legal authority, and any relevant court orders. Exceptions may apply when a minor lawfully consents independently, when particular records receive additional protection, or when abuse, neglect, or endangerment concerns affect representation.

Being a parent, paying for care, or having portal access does not automatically authorize access to every part of a client’s record.

WHEN WRITTEN AUTHORIZATION IS REQUIRED

Other uses and disclosures not described in this Notice require your written authorization unless otherwise permitted or required by law.

You may revoke an authorization in writing by contacting the Privacy Officer. Revocation does not undo actions already taken in reliance on it.

Psychotherapy Notes

Separately maintained psychotherapy notes are different from ordinary progress notes, diagnoses, treatment plans, and billing records. Most uses and disclosures require separate written authorization, subject to limited legal exceptions.

Substance Use Disorder Records

Certain records are protected by 42 C.F.R. Part 2. Not every record mentioning substance use falls under this law.

When Part 2 applies, consent is generally required for treatment, payment, and healthcare operations unless an exception applies. You may provide one consent for future uses and disclosures for those purposes. Certain recipients may then redisclose the records as permitted by HIPAA, subject to continuing Part 2 restrictions.

Part 2 records, and testimony describing their contents, may not be used or disclosed in civil, criminal, administrative, or legislative proceedings against you without your specific written consent or a qualifying court order following required notice and an opportunity to be heard. A court order authorizing disclosure must also be accompanied by a subpoena or other legal mandate compelling disclosure.

Separately maintained SUD counseling notes generally require their own consent, separate from consent for other records, subject to limited legal exceptions.

Marketing, Sale & Fundraising

We obtain authorization for marketing when required by law and do not sell your protected health information.

If we use information for fundraising, you may opt out. Applicable Part 2 requirements for a clear advance opportunity to opt out will also be followed.

Redisclosure

Recipients may share information again, and it may no longer be protected by HIPAA. Other protections may continue to apply, including Part 2 restrictions on using protected records in proceedings against you.

YOUR PRIVACY RIGHTS

Contact the Privacy Officer below to exercise these rights. We may request identity verification and a written request when appropriate. We will explain applicable requirements and respond within legally required timeframes.

Request restrictions: Ask us to limit certain uses or disclosures. We do not have to agree to every request.
Restrict health-plan disclosures: If a service is paid in full by you or someone other than your health plan, you may ask us not to disclose information about it to your plan for payment or healthcare operations. We must honor qualifying requests unless disclosure is required by law. Tell us before information is submitted.
Request confidential communications: Ask us to contact you by a reasonable alternative method or at another location. We will accommodate reasonable requests.
Access records: Request inspection or paper or electronic copies of your medical, billing, and other designated records, subject to legal exceptions. Access rights generally exclude separately maintained psychotherapy notes and protected SUD counseling notes. Only legally permitted, reasonable cost-based fees will be charged. An unpaid treatment balance does not, by itself, prevent access.
Request amendments: Ask us to correct inaccurate or incomplete information and explain why. If denied, we will explain the reason and your right to submit a statement of disagreement.
Request an accounting: Ask for a list of certain disclosures, generally covering the preceding six years. Exceptions include most treatment, payment, healthcare operations, and authorized disclosures. Additional Part 2 rights apply when required.
Receive this Notice: Request a paper copy at any time, even if you received it electronically. After signing, you may also access your copy in the Client Portal.

QUESTIONS & COMPLAINTS

Contact:

Privacy Officer
The Well: Family Support
617 18th Ave N. Columbus, MS 39701
Phone: 662-368-2008
Email: support@thewellms.org

You may submit a complaint by phone, Client Portal, mail, or email. Describe your concern and how we can contact you. Avoid unnecessary sensitive information in ordinary email.

You may also complain directly to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights:

https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/filing-a-complaint/index.html

You do not have to contact The Well first. We will not retaliate against you for filing a complaint.

CHANGES TO THIS NOTICE

We may revise this Notice and apply revised terms to information we already maintain and information received in the future. The revised Notice will identify its effective date and be available at our office, on our website, and upon request.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF RECEIPT

By signing, I acknowledge that I received this Notice electronically through the Client Portal or in paper form. I understand that I may request a paper copy and access my signed copy in the Client Portal.

My signature acknowledges receipt only. It does not authorize treatment or disclosure of information, waive privacy rights, or indicate agreement with every practice described.