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Privacy & Policy

Privacy Policy & Terms of Service

Last updated: May 21, 2026

This notice explains how I use your health information, how I may disclose it, and how you can access your records. Please review it carefully and ask me if anything is unclear.

The privacy of your health information is very important to me. As your Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, I have a legal responsibility under United States federal law and the laws of the State of Florida to keep your health information private. This notice describes my privacy practices, and I am required to follow them.

This notice takes effect on May 21, 2026 and remains in effect until I replace it. I may change these privacy practices when permitted or required by law. When I make changes, I will update this notice and provide you with a revised copy.

If you have questions about this document, please contact me. I am happy to explain any section at no charge.

Section 1: Terms of Service

Eligibility

Compassion-Based Happiness provides therapy and related clinical services to individuals, couples, and families. Services for minors require appropriate parental or legal guardian consent and involvement, as applicable under Florida law.

Nature of Services

Compassion-Based Happiness offers professional mental health services provided by Dr. Sara Spowart, LMFT, DMFT, PhD, MPA, MA. These services are psychotherapy and counseling — they are not a substitute for emergency medical care. If you are in crisis or may harm yourself or someone else, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

Most sessions are offered via secure, HIPAA-compliant telehealth (Zoom). In-person therapy, coaching, and intensives may be available in St. Petersburg, Florida when scheduled.

Cancellation Policy

Please cancel or reschedule at least 24 hours before your appointment when possible. This helps keep session time available for other clients who need support. One late cancellation (less than 24 hours' notice) is allowed as a one-time courtesy pass. After that, a cancellation with less than 24 hours' notice is considered a late cancel — $75 fee. Missing an appointment without notice is a no-show — $125 fee.

Patient Rights

As a client of this practice, you have these important rights:

  • Access to Records: I maintain appropriate treatment records. If you request access, I will provide a treatment summary when appropriate. If I believe direct access could be emotionally harmful, I may provide the summary to another mental health professional working with you.
  • Alternative Communication: You may request in writing that I communicate with you about your health information by alternative means or at an alternative location.
  • Additional Restrictions: You may request additional restrictions on how I use or disclose your health information. I may deny some requests. If I agree to a restriction, I will follow it except in emergencies as allowed by law.
  • Disclosure Accounting: You may request an accounting of certain disclosures of your health information made for purposes other than treatment, payment, or health care operations, subject to applicable law.
  • Privacy Concerns: If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, or you disagree with a decision about your rights, please speak with me directly — Dr. Sara Spowart. I take privacy seriously and will work with you toward an appropriate resolution.
  • File Complaints: You may also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights, or with the Florida Department of Health, Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling. I will provide contact information upon written request.

Use and Disclosure of Health Information

Examples of how I may use or disclose your health information include:

  1. To comply with federal, state, or local laws that require lawful access to treatment information.
  2. To obtain payment from you or a third-party payer for services provided to you.
  3. When a client is a minor, parents or legal guardians of non-emancipated minors may have legal access to certain information, as provided by Florida law.
  4. To anyone for whom you give written authorization. You may revoke authorization in writing at any time, except to the extent action has already been taken.
  5. To a person responsible for your care in an emergency. If you are present, I will offer you the opportunity to object when possible.
  6. When required to protect others from harm, including reporting suspected child abuse, dependent adult or elder abuse, or neglect to the appropriate authorities; notifying law enforcement or intended victims when there is a serious and imminent threat of bodily harm to another person; and taking protective steps when a client is in imminent danger of harming themselves, which may include contacting family members or others who can help provide protection, or seeking appropriate hospitalization.

I will not use your health information for marketing or similar activities without your written authorization. I will not use or disclose your information in ways other than those described here unless you give written permission.

Section 2: Privacy Policy

HIPAA Compliance

I follow HIPAA guidelines to protect the privacy and security of your health information. As your therapist, I am legally responsible under United States and Florida law to maintain the confidentiality of your protected health information, subject to the exceptions described above.

Definitions

For the purposes of this Privacy Policy:

  • Company refers to Compassion-Based Happiness, 100 2nd Avenue South, Suite 205N, #1067, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, St. Petersburg, FL 33701.
  • Website refers to Compassion-Based Happiness, accessible from our homepage.
  • Personal Data means information that relates to an identified or identifiable individual, including contact details submitted through this website.
  • Service refers to the Website and related inquiry or consultation request features.
  • You means the individual accessing or using the Service.

Information We Collect

When you use our website or contact forms, we may collect:

  • Name
  • Email address
  • Phone number
  • Message content you choose to submit
  • Usage data such as pages visited and general device/browser information

Please do not submit Protected Health Information (PHI) through the website contact form. We can discuss clinical details by phone or during your session.

Google Analytics

We may use Google Analytics to understand how visitors use the website. Google may collect information such as IP address and pages viewed. Learn more at Google's Privacy Policy. You may opt out using the Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on.

Security

I use commercially reasonable safeguards to protect personal and health information. No method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure, and I cannot guarantee absolute security.

Acknowledgment

By accessing or using the services of Compassion-Based Happiness, you acknowledge that you have been informed about how your privacy and confidentiality will be maintained by Dr. Sara Spowart, LMFT, DMFT, PhD, MPA, MA. You understand that you may request a copy of this notice for your records.

Changes to This Policy

I may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Changes are effective when posted on this page. Please review this page periodically for updates.

Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, you can contact us: