Privacy Policy

Privacy Policy
Online Habit and Addiction Change Associates, LLC (“AA2”) knows that you care about how your personal information is used and shared and takes your privacy seriously. Please read the following to learn more about our Privacy Policy. By visiting AA2’s website at http://www.aa2.org (“AA2”), or using any of our services or products (“Services”), you acknowledge that you accept the practices and policies outlined in this Privacy Policy.

What Does This Privacy Policy Cover?
This Privacy Policy covers AA2’s treatment of personally identifiable information (“Personal Information”) that AA2 gathers when you are accessing AA2 and when you use our services. This policy does not apply to the practices of companies that AA2 does not own or control, or to individuals AA2 does not employ or manage. Specifically, this Privacy Policy does not apply to Treatment Providers, as discussed in AA2’s Client Terms of Service.

What Personal Information Does AA2 Display or Collect?

The information we gather from users enables us to personalize and improve our services, and to allow our users to set up a user account and profile that can be used to interact with other users through AA2. In connection with AA2, we may request and display some personal information to other users and visitors of AA2 (for example, we may display end user information to Treatment Providers who contract with AA2 to provide services in the future), which allows users to identify each other. We collect the following types of information from our users.

Personal Information You Provide to Us: We receive and store any information you enter on AA2 or provide to us in any other way. The types of Personal Information collected includes all information you may enter on AA2, including your phone number, name, gender, e-mail address, occupation, hometown, college, personal interests, and information about your use of the services on AA2. You may choose not to provide us with certain information, but then you may not be able to take advantage of many of our special features. The Personal Information you provide is used for such purposes as responding to your requests for certain information, products and services. You may modify or remove your personal information at any time by logging into your account and accessing features to edit your profile and account information.

Personal Information Collected Automatically: We receive and store certain types of information whenever you interact with AA2 or obtain services from us. AA2 automatically receives and records information on our server logs from your browser including your IP address, AA2 cookie information, and the page you requested. We also record the details of your transactions on AA2.

Generally, our service automatically collects usage information, such as the numbers and frequency of visitors to our site and its components, similar to TV ratings that indicate how many people watched a particular show. AA2 only uses this data in aggregate form, that is, as a statistical measure, and not in a manner that would identify you personally. This type of aggregate data enables us to figure out how often users use parts of AA2 or services so that we can improve its services.

E-mail Communications: We often receive a confirmation when you open an e-mail from AA2 if your computer supports this type of program. AA2 uses this confirmation to help us make e-mails more helpful.
Cookies: Cookies are alphanumeric identifiers that we transfer to your computer’s hard drive through your browser to enable our systems to recognize your browser and tell us how and when pages in our site are visited and by how many people. AA2 cookies do not collect Personal Information, and we do not combine the general information collected through cookies with other Personal Information to tell us who you are or what your screen name or email address is.

Most browsers have an option for turning off the cookie feature, which will prevent your browser from accepting new cookies, as well as (depending on the sophistication of your browser software) allowing you to decide on acceptance of each new cookie in a variety of ways. We strongly recommend that you leave the cookies activated, however, because cookies enable you to take advantage of some of AA2’s features.

Will AA2 Share Any of the Personal Information It Receives?

Personal Information about our users is an integral part of our business. We neither rent nor sell your Personal Information to anyone. We share your Personal Information only as described below.

Treatment Providers: When you access AA2’s chat, telephone conference or video conference services or use AA2 to access mental health services, you will be sharing your personal confidential information with an AA2 Professional or other mental health service provider via the Services. By using the Services, you expressly consent to sharing your information with your Treatment Provider, and you understand that all information shared with AA2 is governed by the AA2 confidentiality rules.

Group Sessions: Prior to entering a group session, you will be asked if you agree to participate. If you agree, any information you provide during the session, which could include posts, video, and audio will be shared with the other group participants.

Affiliated Businesses We Do Not Control: We anticipate that we may become affiliated with a variety of businesses and work closely with them. In certain situations, these businesses may operate stores at AA2 or sell items to you through AA2. In other situations, AA2 may provide services, or sell products jointly with affiliated businesses. You can easily recognize when an affiliated business is associated with your transaction, and we will share user information that is related to such transactions with that affiliated business.

Agents: We employ other companies and people to perform tasks on our behalf and need to share your information with them to provide products or services to you. Examples include sending email, analyzing data, and providing user services. Unless we tell you differently, AA2’s agents do not have any right to use Personal Information we share with them beyond what is necessary to assist us. You hereby consent to our sharing of Personal Information for the above purposes.

User profiles: User profile information including display name, location, and other information you enter in your profile may be displayed to Treatment Providers to facilitate user interaction within AA2. AA2 may allow users to search for other users by using display name and other information users provide in their profile.

Communication in response to User Submissions: As part of AA2 and Services, you may receive from AA2 and other users e-mail and other communication relating to your requests, mental health services, and other transactions. You acknowledge and agree that by transmitting information relating to your mental health services needs, AA2 and the Treatment Providers you select may send you e-mail and other communication that they determine in their sole discretion relate to your mental health services needs.

Business Transfers: In some cases, we may choose to buy or sell assets. In these types of transactions, user information is typically one of the business assets that is transferred. Moreover, if AA2, or substantially all of its assets were acquired, or in the unlikely event that AA2 goes out of business or enters bankruptcy, user information would be one of the assets that is transferred or acquired by a third party. You acknowledge that such transfers may occur, and that any acquirer may continue to use your Personal Information as set forth in this policy.

Protection of AA2 and Others: We may release Personal Information, in compliance with state and federal law, when we believe in good faith that release is necessary to comply with the law; enforce or apply our Terms of Service and other agreements; or protect the rights, property, or safety of AA2, our employees, our users, or others. This includes, without limitation, exchanging information with Treatment Providers and law enforcement in response to Treatment Providers’ professional and legal responsibilities, as well as other companies and organizations for fraud protection.

Web Analytics: AA2 uses the ClickTale web analytics service to improve its design. ClickTale may track anonymized mouse clicks, mouse movements, and scrolling activity. AA2’s use of ClickTale does NOT track personally identifiable information such as usernames, passwords, IP addresses, keystrokes, or counseling sessions. ClickTale does not track your browsing habits across web sites that do not use ClickTale services. For more information, see ClickTale’s Privacy Policy atwww.clicktale.com/privacy_service.aspx. You can choose to disable the ClickTale Service atwww.clicktale.net/disable.html.
With Your Consent: Except as set forth above, you will be notified when your Personal Information may be shared with third parties, and will be given the option to prevent the sharing of this information.

Is Personal Information About Me Secure?

Your AA2 account Personal Information is encrypted and protected by a password for your privacy and security. You need to ensure that there is no unauthorized access to your account and Personal Information by selecting a unique password, protecting your password appropriately, and limiting access to your computer and browser by signing off after you have finished accessing your account.
AA2 endeavors to protect user information to ensure that user account information is kept private but AA2 cannot unconditionally guarantee the security of user account information. Unauthorized entry or use, hardware or software failure, and other factors outside of AA2’s control may compromise the security of user information. For additional information about the security measures AA2 uses in connection with AA2, visit this page on our security measuresor contact us at core@AA2.org AA2 contains links to other sites. AA2 is not responsible for the privacy policies and/or practices on other sites. When linking to another site a user should read the privacy policy stated on that site.

PLEASE BE AWARE THAT WHENEVER YOU VOLUNTARILY POST INFORMATION TO PUBLIC AREAS ON AA2 OR ANY OTHER PUBLIC FORUMS, SUCH INFORMATION CAN BE ACCESSED BY THE PUBLIC.

What Personal Information Can I Access?

AA2 allows you to access the following information about you for the purpose of viewing, and in certain situations, updating that information. This list will change as AA2 changes. You may currently access information such as:
Personal account information: display name, phone number, email, password, security questions and answers.
Treatment Provider account information: name, location, licensure, practice details.

What Other Choices Do I Have?

As stated previously, you can always opt not to disclose information, even though it may be needed to take advantage of certain AA2 features or prevent you from using AA2.

You are able to add or update certain information on pages, such as those listed in the “What Personal Information Can I Access” section above. When you update information, however, we often maintain a copy of the unrevised information in our records.

AA2 is obligated by law to store any Personal Health Information for at least seven years and until a minor turns 18 years of age. You may request access to this information by logging into your account or emailing us at core@AA2.org.

Changes to This Privacy Policy
AA2 may make changes to this Privacy Policy from time to time for any reason. Use of information we collect now is subject to the Privacy Policy in effect at the time such information is used or collected. If we make substantial changes in the way we use Personal Information, we will notify you via e-mail or by posting an announcement on AA2. Each user is bound by any changes to the Privacy Policy when he or she uses AA2 after such changes have been first posted.

Questions or Concerns

If you have any questions or concerns regarding privacy at AA2, please send a message to core@AA2.org