Ellen Kessel Phd
Client Portal

Privacy Policy

Welcome to Ellen Kessel, PhD | Psychological Services. Your privacy is important to us. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect your personal information when you visit https://kesselpsych.com/. By using our website, you agree to the terms outlined in this policy.

1. Information We Collect

We collect personal and non-personal information through the following methods:

Information You Provide: When you submit a contact form, request an appointment, or communicate with us, we may collect your name, email address, phone number, and any other details you provide.

Automatically Collected Information: When you visit our website, we may collect data such as your IP address, browser type, device type, pages visited, and referral URLs. This helps us improve site functionality and user experience.

Third-Party Data Collection: We may receive data from services such as Google Analytics, scheduling tools, or payment processors.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use collected information to respond to inquiries and appointment requests, provide psychological services, improve website functionality, send updates, and comply with legal requirements. We do not sell or share personal data for marketing purposes.

3. Cookies and Tracking

Our website uses cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance functionality and collect analytics. You can disable cookies in your browser settings, but some features may not work properly.

4. Third-Party Services

We may use third-party services for scheduling, payment processing, and analytics. These services have their own privacy policies, which we encourage you to review.

5. Data Protection and Security

We take reasonable measures to protect your personal information from unauthorized access or disclosure. However, no system is entirely secure. If you suspect your data has been compromised, contact us at [Insert Email].

6. Your Rights

Depending on your location, you may have the right to request access to your data, request corrections or deletions, opt out of certain data processing, or withdraw consent. To exercise these rights, contact us at [Insert Email].

7. HIPAA Compliance

If we collect or store Protected Health Information (PHI), we comply with HIPAA regulations to ensure confidentiality and data security.

8. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy. Any significant changes will be posted on our website.

Google reCAPTCHA

To enhance the security of our website and protect our services from spam and abuse, we implement Google reCAPTCHA on certain pages. reCAPTCHA analyzes the behavior of website visitors to differentiate between human users and automated bots. This analysis involves the collection and processing of information by Google, including IP addresses, page interactions, browser information, and typing patterns. The data collected is used in accordance with Google’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By using our site’s reCAPTCHA-protected forms, you consent to the processing of your personal data by Google for the purposes of providing enhanced security and verification. For more information on Google’s privacy practices, please visit Google’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.

9. Contact Information

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, contact us here.

Privacy

Terms

Copyright © 2025. All rights reserved. Ellen Kessel PhD.
Request Appointment

Emotion-focused therapy (EFT) is a therapeutic approach that emphasizes the importance of understanding, accepting, and transforming emotional experiences. By learning to identify, express, and regulate emotions in healthy ways, individuals can develop greater self-compassion, improve relationships, and experience deep, lasting change. EFT incorporates techniques such as chair work, empathic reflection, and experiential exercises to help clients process and make sense of their emotional experiences.

In therapy, teens can learn effective communication skills, practice asserting their needs, and establish healthy boundaries in their relationships. By developing these skills, teens can improve their interpersonal relationships, advocate for themselves, and foster a sense of safety and well-being.

Therapy provides a supportive space for teens to explore various aspects of their identity, express themselves authentically, and develop self-acceptance and confidence. By affirming their unique identities, teens can build a strong sense of self, which is essential for navigating the challenges of growing up and leading fulfilling lives.

In therapy, teens can explore their thoughts, feelings, and experiences in a safe, non-judgmental space. By processing these experiences with a supportive therapist, they can gain self-awareness, insight, and a clearer understanding of themselves and their relationships, laying the foundation for personal growth and positive change.

Exposure therapy is a type of cognitive-behavioral therapy that helps individuals confront their fears and anxieties in a safe and controlled environment. By gradually exposing oneself to feared situations or objects, individuals learn to manage their anxiety and build resilience. Exposure therapy has been proven highly effective in treating various anxiety disorders, phobias, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a goal-oriented, short-term treatment approach that helps individuals identify and change unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors that contribute to emotional distress. CBT provides practical tools and strategies to manage symptoms, build resilience, and improve daily functioning. It has been extensively researched and proven effective for treating a wide range of mental health concerns, including anxiety, depression, and stress-related issues.

I have extensive experience helping children and teens navigate the struggles of growing up, such as anxiety, low self-esteem, academic stress, and family conflicts. When working with youth with anxiety disorders, I utilize cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy tailored to their developmental stage, often incorporating parents into the treatment process.

For adolescents in particular, therapy offers a safe place to make sense of their experiences, affirm their identity, and learn to effectively communicate their needs. Drawing from the latest research, I provide a pragmatic, strengths-based approach that empowers young people with the self-awareness and skills to thrive.