PRIVACY POLICY

Last Updated: March 2026

Your privacy matters deeply to us. At Throughline Psychotherapy and Consulting, we are committed to protecting the personal information you share with us — whether you are browsing our website, reaching out through a contact form, or scheduling an appointment.

This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and the choices you have. By using this website, you agree to the practices described below.

1. Who We Are

Throughline Psychotherapy and Consulting is a private therapy practice owned and operated by Christine Rafter, LCSW, in Raleigh, North Carolina. We provide trauma-informed, attachment-focused therapy to children, parents, and adult women throughout North Carolina via in-person and telehealth services.

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, you can reach us at:

2. Information We Collect

Information You Provide to Us

When you interact with our website, you may choose to share personal information with us, including:

  • Your name and email address (via contact or inquiry forms)

  • Your phone number, if provided

  • Messages or questions you send through our contact form

  • Information submitted when scheduling a consultation or appointment

Information Collected Automatically

Like most websites, our site may automatically collect certain technical information when you visit, including:

  • Your IP address and general location

  • Browser type and device information

  • Pages visited and time spent on the site

  • Referring URLs (how you found our site)

This information is collected through standard website analytics tools (such as Squarespace Analytics or Google Analytics) and is used in aggregate to help us understand how visitors use our site. It is not linked to your identity.

Information Collected Through Third-Party Tools

We use SimplePractice as our electronic health records and client scheduling platform. If you schedule an appointment or complete intake paperwork through SimplePractice, their privacy policy also applies to information you provide there. We encourage you to review SimplePractice’s privacy practices at simplepractice.com.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information collected through this website only for legitimate purposes, including:

  • Responding to inquiries and contact form submissions

  • Scheduling consultations or appointments

  • Communicating information about our services

  • Improving the content and functionality of our website

  • Complying with applicable legal and professional obligations

We do not sell, rent, or share your personal information with third parties for marketing purposes. Ever.

4. HIPAA & Protected Health Information

As a licensed mental health provider, Christine Rafter is subject to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Protected health information (PHI) — such as your mental health history, treatment records, or clinical notes — is governed by our Notice of Privacy Practices, which you will receive and sign as part of the formal intake process.

This website is not a HIPAA-covered platform. Please do not share sensitive health information through contact forms or email. For confidential clinical communication, please use our secure client portal through SimplePractice or contact us by phone.

5. Cookies & Tracking Technologies

Our website may use cookies — small text files stored on your device — to improve your browsing experience and collect basic analytics data. Cookies help us understand how visitors navigate our site so we can make it more useful.

You can control or disable cookies through your browser settings at any time. Please note that disabling cookies may affect some functionality of the website.

We do not use cookies to track you across other websites or for advertising purposes.

6. Email Communication

If you send us an email or submit a contact form, your message and contact details will be used solely to respond to your inquiry. Standard email is not fully encrypted and should not be used to share sensitive clinical or personal health information.

We will not add you to any mailing list or newsletter without your explicit consent. If you choose to opt in to email communications in the future, you will always have the ability to unsubscribe.

7. Social Media

Throughline Psychotherapy and Consulting maintains business pages on Instagram and Facebook. If you interact with us on those platforms, please be aware that social media platforms have their own privacy policies that govern how your information is handled.

We do not use social media interactions to identify therapy clients, and we ask that you do not share personal or clinical information in comments, messages, or public posts on our social media pages.

8. Children’s Privacy

This website is not directed at children under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children through this website. If you believe a child has submitted personal information through our site, please contact us and we will take steps to remove it promptly.

Parents or guardians seeking therapy services for a child may share contact information on the child’s behalf as part of the intake process, which is handled securely through SimplePractice.

9. How We Protect Your Information

We take reasonable technical and organizational precautions to protect the information you share with us through this website. Our site is hosted on Squarespace, which maintains industry-standard security measures including SSL encryption.

While we work hard to protect your information, no method of transmission over the internet is completely secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security, and we encourage you to use good judgment about what information you share through online forms.

10. Data Retention

We retain contact form submissions and general inquiry information only as long as necessary to respond to your message or fulfill the purpose for which it was submitted. Clinical records and intake information are retained in accordance with North Carolina licensure requirements and HIPAA regulations, as detailed in our Notice of Privacy Practices.

11. Your Rights & Choices

You have the right to:

  • Request access to personal information we hold about you

  • Ask us to correct inaccurate information

  • Request that we delete information you have shared with us through this website

  • Opt out of any email communications at any time

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us directly at christine.e.rafter@gmail.com. We will respond to your request within a reasonable timeframe.

Please note: requests related to clinical records (your therapy file, session notes, etc.) are handled separately under HIPAA and our Notice of Privacy Practices.

12. Third-Party Links

Our website may include links to third-party websites, such as scheduling platforms, mental health resources, or professional organizations. These sites operate independently and have their own privacy policies. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of any linked websites and encourage you to review their policies before sharing personal information.

13. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, or legal requirements. When we do, we will update the date at the top of this page. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.

Continued use of this website after any changes are posted means you accept the updated policy.

14. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests related to this Privacy Policy, we’d love to hear from you. You can reach us at: