Privacy Policy

Introduction


Dr. Erica Berg, Psy.D. ("Practice," "I," "me," or "my") is committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of all individuals who visit this website or receive psychological services. This Privacy Policy explains how information is collected, used, stored, and protected in connection with this website (drericaberg.com) and the services offered through it.


By using this website, you agree to the terms of this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, please discontinue use of this site.



1. Governing Laws and Regulations

This practice operates in compliance with the following applicable laws and regulations:


Federal:


  • Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), 45 C.F.R. Parts 160 and 164
  • The No Surprises Act (Public Law 116-260)
  • Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), 42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq.
  • Federal Trade Commission Act, 15 U.S.C. § 45


State of Illinois:


  • Illinois Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Confidentiality Act (740 ILCS 110/)
  • Illinois Personal Information Protection Act (815 ILCS 530/)
  • Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act (815 ILCS 505/)



2. Information Collected Through This Website


This website does not collect protected health information (PHI) through any online form, contact submission, or inquiry. Clinical information is collected only through secure, HIPAA-compliant channels.


Information this website may collect includes:


Information you voluntarily provide: When you contact me through the website's contact form or via email, I may collect your name, email address, phone number, and any message content you choose to share. This information is used solely to respond to your inquiry and is not shared with third parties for marketing purposes.


Information collected automatically: This website is hosted on the Duda website platform (Duda Inc., 577 College Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94306). Duda may automatically collect certain technical information when you visit this site, including your IP address, browser type, operating system, referring URLs, pages visited, and time spent on the site. This information is collected through standard web technologies including cookies and similar tracking tools.

Duda's data practices are governed by their own Privacy Policy, available at duda.co/privacy-policy. I do not control Duda's data collection practices and encourage you to review their policy directly.



3. Cookies and Tracking Technologies


This website may use cookies — small text files stored on your device — to support basic website functionality, analytics, and performance. Cookies do not collect personally identifiable information on their own.

You may configure your browser to refuse cookies or to alert you when cookies are being sent. Disabling cookies may affect the functionality of certain features of this website.

This website does not use advertising cookies or sell your data to third parties for advertising purposes.



4. Website Accessibility


This website is committed to digital accessibility for individuals with disabilities. An accessibility widget is installed on this site to offer a range of customization options to support users with varying accessibility needs.

This Practice aims to conform to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, Level AA, as published by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). If you experience any difficulty accessing content on this website, please contact me directly at DrEricaBerg@gmail.com or (773) 987-1768 so that I may assist you and address any barriers promptly.



5. Telehealth and Electronic Communications


All clinical services are provided via telehealth through a HIPAA-compliant electronic health records and video platform. Clinical communications, including session notes, treatment records, and billing information, are maintained within that secure system and are governed by HIPAA and the Illinois Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Confidentiality Act (740 ILCS 110/).

Email and standard phone communications are not encrypted and are not considered fully secure methods for transmitting confidential health information. Any mental health information shared via email or phone prior to the establishment of a formal treatment relationship will be handled with care, but clients should be aware of the inherent limitations of these communication methods.



6. Protection of Mental Health Records Under Illinois Law


Under the Illinois Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Confidentiality Act (740 ILCS 110/), all records and communications relating to mental health services are strictly confidential. Such records may not be disclosed without the written consent of the client, except in limited circumstances permitted by law, including:


  • When disclosure is necessary to prevent imminent danger to the client or others
  • When required by a valid court order
  • When disclosure is permitted to other treating providers for purposes of coordinating care, as allowed by law
  • When required by applicable state or federal law

For a full description of your rights under this Act, you may contact the Illinois Department of Human Services or consult with a licensed attorney.



7. HIPAA Rights and Notice of Privacy Practices


As a covered healthcare provider under HIPAA, I maintain a separate Notice of Privacy Practices that describes in detail how your protected health information (PHI) may be used and disclosed. That notice is provided to all clients at the initiation of services. You have the right to:


  • Receive a copy of my Notice of Privacy Practices upon request
  • Request restrictions on certain uses and disclosures of your PHI
  • Request access to and copies of your mental health records, subject to applicable law
  • Request amendments to your records
  • Receive an accounting of certain disclosures of your PHI
  • File a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights if you believe your privacy rights have been violated


To request a copy of my Notice of Privacy Practices, contact me at DrEricaBerg@gmail.com or (773) 987-1768.


8. Good Faith Estimate and No Surprises Act


Under the No Surprises Act (Public Law 116-260), uninsured and self-pay clients have the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate of expected charges for services before the first appointment. This estimate will be provided prior to the initiation of services and will outline the anticipated cost of care based on the services to be rendered.


The Good Faith Estimate is not a contract and does not obligate you to receive services. If you are uninsured or self-pay and receive a bill that is at least $400 more than your Good Faith Estimate, you may be eligible to dispute the bill through the federal Patient-Provider Dispute Resolution process. For more information, visit cms.gov/nosurprises.



9. Data Retention


Contact information submitted through this website is retained only as long as necessary to respond to your inquiry. If a formal treatment relationship is established, clinical records are maintained in accordance with applicable federal and Illinois law and with the professional standards of the American Psychological Association, which generally require retention of records for a minimum of seven years following the termination of services, or seven years after a minor client reaches the age of majority.



10. Third-Party Links


This website may contain links to third-party websites, including professional directories, insurance providers, and referral resources. I do not control the privacy practices of these external sites and am not responsible for their content or policies. Visiting a linked site is at your own discretion, and I encourage you to review the privacy policy of any third-party site you access.



11. Children's Privacy


This website is not directed at individuals under the age of 18, and I do not knowingly collect personal information from minors through this website. Clinical services for minors require parental or guardian consent in accordance with Illinois law.



12. Data Security


I take reasonable technical and administrative measures to protect information collected through this website from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure. However, no method of electronic transmission or storage is completely secure, and I cannot guarantee absolute security. In the event of a breach involving your personal or protected health information, I will notify you in accordance with applicable federal and Illinois law.

If you have reason to believe that your interaction with this website has been compromised, please contact me promptly.



13. Changes to This Privacy Policy


I reserve the right to update or modify this Privacy Policy at any time. When changes are made, the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page will be revised accordingly. Continued use of this website following the posting of changes constitutes your acceptance of the revised policy.



14. Contact Information


If you have questions, concerns, or requests related to this Privacy Policy, please contact:

Dr. Erica Berg, Psy.D. Licensed Clinical Psychologist | Illinois License #071006924 (773) 987-1768. DrEricaBerg@gmail.com drericaberg.com


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