Privacy Policy

Effective Date: January 1, 2025

At Overcoming Health Anxiety (“we,” “our,” or “us”), we are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring a safe online experience. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect your personal information when you visit and use our website, [www.overcominghealthanxiety.com] (the "Site"), and any services, features, or content provided through the Site (collectively, the "Services").

By using the Site or Services, you agree to the terms of this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with this Privacy Policy, please do not use the Site.

1. Information We Collect

We collect both personal and non-personal information when you use the Site.

1.1 Personal Information

Personal information is data that can be used to identify you as an individual. We may collect the following types of personal information:

Contact Information: Name, email address, phone number, or mailing address.
Account Information: Username, password, and other account-related details when you create a user account.
Payment Information: Billing information such as credit card number, expiration date, and billing address when subscribing to our paid services. (Note: Payment processing is handled securely by third-party payment processors, and we do not store your payment information directly.)
Health-Related Information: Information you provide related to your health anxiety or mental well-being, including any responses you give in surveys or questionnaires on the Site.
- Consent for Health Data: Health-related information is considered special category data under the GDPR. We only collect and process this information with your explicit consent, and you can withdraw your consent at any time by contacting us.
- Public Sharing of Health Information: If you participate in our community forums, chat features, or other publicly accessible areas of the Site, your health-related posts may be visible to others in the community. Please exercise caution when sharing sensitive or personal information.

1.2 Non-Personal Information

Non-personal information is data that cannot be used to directly identify you. This may include:

Usage Data: Information about your use of the Site, such as pages viewed, time spent on the Site, IP address, device information, and browser type.
Cookies and Tracking Technologies: We use cookies and other tracking technologies (such as web beacons and pixels) to enhance user experience and collect aggregate information on how users interact with the Site.

2. How We Collect Information

We collect information in the following ways:

When You Provide It: We collect personal information when you register an account, subscribe to our services, sign up for newsletters, or submit any information via forms or surveys on the Site.
Automatically: We may collect non-personal information automatically as you interact with the Site using cookies, analytics tools, and other technologies that track your activities.
From Third Parties: We may also collect information from third-party services that we integrate with (e.g., payment processors, marketing tools, etc.).

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for various purposes, including:

To Provide and Improve Services: To manage your subscription, provide access to content, and personalize your experience on the Site.
To Communicate with You: To send you updates, promotional material, and respond to your inquiries. You may opt-out of marketing communications at any time.
To Process Payments: To process payments related to subscription plans and services.
To Enhance the User Experience: To analyze user behavior on the Site and improve its functionality and design.
To Comply with Legal Requirements: To comply with legal obligations or protect our rights, including responding to subpoenas, court orders, or other legal processes.
To Conduct Research and Surveys: To gather feedback and conduct surveys to better understand user preferences and improve the content and services we offer.
To Prevent Fraud and Abuse: To monitor and prevent fraudulent activity, unauthorized access, or misuse of the Site and Services.

4. How We Share Your Information

We do not sell or rent your personal information to third parties. However, we may share your information in the following situations:

Service Providers: We may share your information with third-party vendors, contractors, or service providers who perform services on our behalf, such as payment processing, email delivery, analytics, and customer support. These third parties are obligated to protect your information and may only use it to perform services for us.
Legal Compliance: We may disclose your information if required to do so by law, such as in response to a subpoena, court order, or government request.
Business Transfers: If we are involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you if such a transfer occurs and provide options for opting out if applicable.
With Your Consent: We may share your information with third parties if you provide explicit consent for such sharing.
Aggregated Data: We may share non-personal, aggregated information (such as usage statistics) with third parties for analytics or marketing purposes, but such information will not identify you personally.

5. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies, web beacons, and similar tracking technologies to improve your experience on the Site, track usage patterns, and analyze site traffic.

Cookies: Small files stored on your device that allow us to recognize you when you return to the Site. You can control the use of cookies through your browser settings, but disabling cookies may impact your ability to use certain features of the Site.
Google Analytics: We use Google Analytics to track and analyze user behavior on the Site. This helps us improve the functionality and design of the Site. Google Analytics collects information such as your IP address, browser type, and device information, which is anonymized.
Third-Party Advertising and Analytics: We may use third-party analytics tools (e.g., Facebook Pixel, Google Ads) to optimize marketing campaigns. These third parties may collect information, such as cookies, IP addresses, and other identifiers, to track user activity. You can control cookies through your browser settings.
Do Not Track Signals: Some browsers may offer a "Do Not Track" signal. Our Site does not currently respond to these signals, but we encourage you to adjust your privacy settings as needed.

For more information about how to manage cookies and analytics tools, please refer to our Cookie Policy (if applicable).

6. Online Community Participation

If you choose to participate in our online community or discussion forums on the Site, please be aware that any information you share in these areas (such as comments, posts, or other interactions) will be visible to other members of the community.

Public Sharing: Content you post in the community (including personal stories, health-related experiences, or comments) will be available to other users of the community and may be viewed, shared, and discussed by other members.
Privacy Settings: While we aim to foster a supportive and private environment, any information shared in public forums, discussion threads, or community spaces is not private. Please exercise caution when sharing sensitive or personal information within the community.
Your Responsibility: You are responsible for the information you choose to share and for ensuring that it complies with the Community Guidelines and the Terms of Use. If you no longer wish for your information to be visible, you can delete your posts or account by contacting us directly.
Content Moderation: We reserve the right to remove or moderate any content that violates our Community Guidelines or terms of service.

7. Support Groups & Live Q&A Events

If you engage in support groups, live Q&A events, or any other interactive group sessions provided through the Site, please be aware that these sessions may involve the sharing of your identity and personal information with other members of the group.

Visibility of Identity: Depending on the nature of the event, other participants may be able to see your name, username, and any other information you choose to disclose during these sessions. This could include any comments, questions, or responses you provide.
Voluntary Disclosure: You may be asked to participate using a video or audio feed, which can make your image, voice, and identity known to others in the session. Please be mindful of what personal information you disclose during these events.
Recordings: In some cases, support groups or live Q&A events may be recorded for later use, such as for educational purposes or to enhance the community experience. If a session is recorded, we will notify participants in advance, and you may choose not to participate in a recording. Recordings may be shared within the community or on the Site, but we will make reasonable efforts to respect your privacy.
Your Responsibility: It is your responsibility to manage the personal information you choose to share during these events. If you prefer to keep certain details private, you are encouraged to limit the information you disclose.

8. International Users

We recognize that users may access our Site from around the world, and we are committed to complying with applicable data protection laws, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) if you are in the EU.

Data Transfers: If you are located outside of the United States, please be aware that your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States or other countries where we or our service providers have operations.
GDPR Compliance: By using the Site, you consent to the transfer and processing of your data in the United States or other jurisdictions, which may have different data protection laws than those in your country of residence. If you are located in the European Union, you have additional rights under the GDPR, which are detailed below.
Standard Contractual Clauses: Where applicable, we ensure that transfers of personal data comply with GDPR using legal mechanisms such as Standard Contractual Clauses.

9. Data Retention

We retain personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy or for as long as required by law. For example, we may retain your account information to fulfill legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce agreements. If you delete your account, we will retain necessary information for as long as required to comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements.

10. Children’s Privacy

The Site is not intended for individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect or solicit personal information from children under 18. If we learn that we have collected personal information from a child under 18, we will delete that information as soon as possible. If you believe we may have information from or about a child under 18, please contact us at [support@livewithfear.com].

Parental Consent for Minors: If a child under 18 submits information to us with parental consent, we will collect and use such information in accordance with applicable laws, including the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).

11. Your Rights Under Data Protection Laws

Depending on your location, you may have certain rights under data protection laws, such as the GDPR or the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). These rights may include:

Access: You can request access to the personal information we hold about you.
Correction: You can request that we correct any inaccurate or incomplete personal information.
Deletion: You can request that we delete your personal information, subject to certain exceptions.
Restriction: You can request that we restrict the processing of your personal information.
Data Portability: You can request a copy of your personal information in a structured, machine-readable format.
Objection: You can object to the processing of your personal information for certain purposes, such as direct marketing.

To exercise these rights, please contact us at [support@livewithfear.com]. We will respond to your request within the timeframes required by applicable law.

12. Security Measures

We take reasonable measures to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure. However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee its absolute security.

13. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page, and the “Effective Date” at the top of this policy will be updated accordingly. We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we are protecting your information.

14. Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or the way your information is handled, please contact us:

Email: [support@livewithfear.com]