Your privacy is an essential part of the trust you place in us when you begin your therapy journey. We know that seeking therapy is a deeply personal decision, and we want you to feel confident that the information you share with us is treated with the utmost care, respect, and confidentiality.

This Privacy Policy explains how Venthrapy collect, use, store, and protect your personal data when you engage with us on our website. It has been prepared in line with professional ethical standards and the requirements of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023.

Our commitment goes beyond legal compliance. We believe in being transparent about how your information is handled, giving you control over your data, and ensuring that your rights are always respected.

By using our services, you acknowledge and trust that we handle your personal information with integrity and professionalism. Our aim is simple: to support your therapy journey in a safe, confidential, and respectful environment, where your privacy is always protected as carefully as your well-being.

We encourage you to read this Policy in full. If you have any questions, you can contact us on the details provided in Section 18. If you do not agree with the terms of this Privacy Policy, you may choose not to use our services.

1. Scope & Application

This Privacy Policy applies to all individuals who use our Platform, including clients, prospective clients, and independent therapists practicing through our platform.

Please note that this policy does not apply to any external websites or platforms that may be linked from our services. We encourage you to review the privacy practices of those third parties separately, as we cannot be responsible for how they handle your information.

This policy is designed to give you clarity on how your personal data is managed whenever you engage with us, whether as a client seeking therapy, a therapist providing services, or a visitor exploring our online resources.

2. Definitions

• Personal Data, Information or Data: Any data about an individual who is identifiable by or in relation to such data.
• Data Fiduciary (Venthrapy/we/us/our): Any person who alone or in conjunction with other persons determines the purpose and means of processing of personal data.
• Data Processor: Any person who processes personal data on behalf of Venthrapy (e.g., payment gateways, hosting providers).
• Data Principal (You/Client/User): The individual to whom the personal data relates and where such individual is (i) a child, includes the parents or lawful guardian of such a child; (ii) a person with disability, includes her lawful guardian, acting on her behalf, and in this case means our Users.
• Processing, Process or Processes: A wholly or partly automated operation or set of operations performed on digital personal data, and includes operations such as collection, recording, organisation, structuring, storage, adaptation, retrieval, use, alignment or combination, indexing, sharing, disclosure by transmission, dissemination or otherwise making available, restriction, erasure or destruction.
• Applicable Law: All laws, rules, regulations, and guidelines currently in force in India, including the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 ("DPDPA").
• Independent Therapist: A qualified professional providing therapy services through our platform, who is not our direct employee but is bound by confidentiality and professional ethics.
• Platform: Our website and any related digital channels through which our therapy services are offered, including any tools used for scheduling, communication, or payments.

Interpretation:

In this Privacy Policy, references to "Venthrapy" "we," "our," or "us" mean the therapy platform that operates this website and provides services through it. References to "you," "your," "client" or "user" mean the individual whose personal data is being collected and processed in connection with our services.

Unless the context requires otherwise, words used in the singular include the plural, and words used in the plural include the singular. Headings are included only for convenience and do not affect the meaning of the provisions.

3. Information We Collect

To provide you with safe, effective, and personalized therapy services, we may collect different types of information depending on how you interact with our platform and therapists. This may include:

• Basic Identifying Details such as your name, age, gender, contact information, and communication preferences.
• Therapy-Related Information that you choose to share with us or your therapist during sessions, intake forms, or assessments, including your mental health history, current concerns, goals, and progress notes.
• Administrative and Transactional Information such as appointment records, payment details (processed through secure third-party payment providers), invoices, and billing history.
• Technical Information such as device type, browser, IP address, log data, and cookies that help us maintain security, improve website usability, and enhance your overall experience.
• Usage and Interaction Data including how you navigate our platform, the features you use, and engagement patterns that allow us to improve our services.
• Feedback and Communication Records such as satisfaction ratings, surveys, queries, and emails you send us.
• Emergency or Safety Disclosures where you share information that indicates an imminent risk of harm to yourself or others, which we may be legally or ethically required to act upon.
• Therapist Notes and Session Records where applicable, which are maintained with strict confidentiality and used only for therapeutic continuity and quality assurance.

4. Purpose of Processing

We process your personal data only for purposes that are clear, specific, and directly connected to the services we provide. This includes using your information to:

• Identify you and register your account
• Connect you with a suitable therapist and facilitate your therapy sessions.
• Understand your needs and provide a safe, personalized, and effective therapeutic experience.
• Manage scheduling, reminders, payments, and related administrative tasks.
• Maintain accurate records of your sessions, in line with professional and ethical obligations.
• Responding to queries, grievances, or support requests.
• Conduct anonymized research, reporting, and service improvements that never identify you personally.
• Maintaining financial compliance and detecting fraudulent transactions.
• Responding to emergencies or imminent risks of harm to self or others.
• Monitoring user interactions to improve platform performance and usability.
• Collecting feedback and satisfaction ratings for service improvement.
• Conducting anonymized research, surveys, and statistical analysis.
• Identifying technical issues and optimizing platform stability.
• Fulfil our legal obligations, respond to lawful requests, or comply with professional standards.

5. Consent & Lawful Basis

We believe that therapy works best when you feel safe, respected, and in control of your own information. That's why we are clear about when and how we use your personal data, and why your consent matters.

• We will always ask for your clear consent before collecting or using any personal data about you.
• You are free to withdraw your consent at any time. This means you can tell us to stop using your personal data for certain purposes, though it may affect our ability to continue offering therapy services to you.
• In some rare situations, we may use or share your personal data without consent if the law requires it, or if it is necessary to respond to emergencies where there is a risk of serious harm to you or someone else.

Our promise is to treat your consent not as a formality, but as an ongoing choice you control throughout your journey with us.

6. Limits of Confidentiality

Your privacy and trust are central to the therapy relationship. Everything you share with your therapist is treated with the utmost respect and kept confidential. However, there are a few rare situations where we may be legally or ethically required to share limited information outside of therapy. These situations exist only to ensure your safety and the safety of others:

• If we believe you may be at serious risk of harming yourself, we may need to take steps to protect you, which could involve contacting a trusted family member, emergency services, or another healthcare professional.
• If there is an imminent risk of harm to others, including threats of violence, abuse, or criminal intent, where disclosure is necessary to prevent such harm.
• If we become aware of child abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, or abuse of a vulnerable adult, we are required by law to report this to the appropriate authorities.
• If disclosure is required under a valid court order, subpoena, or directive from lawful authorities under Indian law.
• If disclosure is required to comply with applicable laws, government regulations, or investigation by statutory bodies.
• In the case of a medical emergency, we may need to share information with a healthcare provider or your emergency contact to protect your life or wellbeing.
• At times, therapists may seek supervision or professional consultation to ensure the best care for you. In these cases, only minimal and necessary information is shared, and your identity is protected as much as possible.
• We may use anonymized, non-identifiable information for research, training, or service improvement, but nothing that could personally identify you will ever be shared.

Outside of these specific situations, any information you share in therapy stays between you and your therapist. Our goal is always to protect your confidentiality and create a safe space where you feel comfortable to share openly.

7. Session Recording

Your therapy sessions are private and personal, and our default approach is not to record them. In some situations, however, a session may be recorded — but only with your explicit, informed consent given in advance. You are always free to say no, and your access to therapy will never be affected by your choice.

When recordings are made, it is usually for purposes such as supervision, therapist training, or ensuring the quality of our services. In these cases, we:

• Clearly explain why the recording is being requested and how it will be used
• Seek your written or digital consent before starting
• Limit access only to authorized professionals (such as your therapist, a supervisor, or a clinical quality team)
• Store recordings securely using strict access controls
• Retain recordings only for the minimum period necessary, after which they are safely deleted.

You may also withdraw your consent at any time, even after a recording is made, and we will immediately delete it unless required by law to retain it.

We will never share or publish your recordings for any purpose outside of the agreed therapeutic or training context, and they will never be used for marketing or commercial purposes. Our priority is to maintain your trust and ensure that you always feel in control of how your therapy experience is handled.

8. Data Retention

We are committed to keeping your personal data only for as long as it is necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected. Your data is used to support your therapy journey, meet professional obligations, and comply with applicable laws. Your personal data will be securely deleted:

• When the purpose for which it was collected has been completed,
• When you withdraw your consent, or
• When you exercise your right to erasure.

Please note that, in line with professional standards and applicable laws, we may need to keep certain categories of information for record-keeping purposes. This may include payment history, feedback, client details, or other administrative records that ensure compliance, accountability, and continuity of service. Such information will only be stored for a legally permitted duration and will not be used for purposes beyond those requirements.

9. Data Security

We take the security of your personal data very seriously. All data shared with us is handled with strict safeguards to ensure it remains protected against unauthorized access, misuse, or loss. Access to your information is carefully controlled and limited only to those who need it to provide you with care or to meet legal and professional responsibilities.

While no system of storage or transmission can be guaranteed as completely secure, we are committed to maintaining high standards of protection and responding swiftly to any issues that may arise. In the unlikely event of a security incident affecting your data, we will inform you promptly and take all reasonable steps to minimize the impact.

Our focus is to give you confidence that your personal data is treated with the same care, confidentiality, and respect as the therapy itself.

10. Your Rights

Your personal data belongs to you, and the law gives you important rights over how it is used. We want you to feel informed and empowered about these rights, and we are committed to making it easy for you to exercise them.

• Right to Access: You can ask us for a copy of the personal data we hold about you, along with details of how we use it and its disclosure.
• Right to Correction & Erasure: If any of your personal data is incomplete, outdated, or inaccurate, you can request that we update or correct it. If your personal data is stored as part of your profile on the platform, you can update your Personal Information from the Platform. You can ask us to erase your personal data, we will honor this unless we are legally required to keep certain records (for example, financial or medical documentation for compliance purposes).
• Right to Grievance Redressal: If you ever have concerns about how your information is handled, you can contact us at the details provided in Section 18. We will do our best to resolve your issue quickly and fairly. If you are not satisfied with our response, you also have the right to escalate your concern to the Data Protection Board of India.
• Right to Nominate: You can nominate someone you trust (such as a family member) to exercise your rights on your behalf if you are no longer able to do so due to death or incapacity.
• Right to Withdraw Consent: You may withdraw your consent at any time. This means you can stop us from using your personal data for certain purposes. Withdrawing consent may affect our ability to continue providing therapy services, but the choice always remains yours.

How to Exercise Your Rights

If you would like to use any of your above rights, write to us at support@venthrapy.com.

For security reasons, we may ask you to confirm your registered details so we can verify your identity before processing your request. Once we receive your request, we will acknowledge it within 72 hours and aim to resolve it within 30 working days. If, for any reason, we are unable to process your request, we will write back to you with a clear explanation. Similarly, if we anticipate that resolving your request will take longer than expected, we will inform you of the delay and provide you with an updated timeline.

11. Cross-Border Data Transfer

Some of our independent therapists or service providers may be located outside India. This means that, in certain cases, your personal data may be transferred to and stored in countries whose data protection laws may not provide the same level of protection as those in India.

We take steps to ensure that, even when your data is processed outside India, it is handled with the same respect, confidentiality, and care that we follow here. By using our services, you consent to such transfers, with the understanding that they are necessary for us to connect you with qualified therapists and provide you with seamless support.

Where Indian law restricts or prohibits transfers to certain countries, we will fully abide by those requirements and ensure that your information is only shared in compliance with the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 and other applicable regulations.

12. Third-Party Sharing

In order to provide you with safe, effective, and seamless therapy services, we may sometimes work with trusted third parties. These can include technology providers (such as video conferencing platforms or payment processors) as well as independent therapists who are not our employees but are carefully vetted professionals practicing with us.

Whenever your information is shared with such third parties, it is done only to the extent necessary for delivering the service you have requested. We require all third parties to handle your data with strict confidentiality and to follow strong data protection standards in line with the law.

Independent therapists who provide services through our platform are bound by professional codes of ethics and confidentiality, and are contractually required to protect your personal data with the same care as we do.

We will never sell your information to third parties, and your data will never be used by our partners for marketing or unrelated purposes. Our relationship with third parties is built on trust, oversight, and the shared commitment to protect your privacy at all times.

13. Cookies & Tracking

When you visit our website, we may use small files known as "cookies" and similar tools to improve your browsing experience. These help us understand how our website is being used, remember your preferences, and make our services easier for you to access.

Some cookies are essential for the site to function properly (for example, allowing you to navigate between pages smoothly), while others help us gather anonymized insights into how people use our website so we can improve its design and content.

You are always in control. Most web browsers allow you to manage or disable cookies through their settings. Please note, however, that if you choose to block certain cookies, parts of the website may not function as smoothly as intended.

We do not use cookies to track you across other websites, and the information collected is never shared for marketing or advertising purposes. Our focus is only on making your experience with us more seamless and supportive.

14. Children's Data

Our services are designed and intended for adults. We do not knowingly collect, store, or process personal information of individuals under the age of 18. If we become aware that a child's information has been shared with us in error, we will delete it promptly and securely.

If you are a parent or guardian and believe that your child's information may have been provided to us, please contact us at support@venthrapy.com, and we will take immediate steps to remove it.

15. Your Responsibilities

While we are committed to protecting your privacy, the DPDPA also places certain responsibilities on you as a user of our services. These duties are meant to ensure that your personal data is used fairly, safely, and in compliance with the law. By engaging with our services, you agree to:

• Comply with the provisions of all applicable laws while exercising your rights under this Act.
• Not impersonate another person while providing your personal data for therapy or related services.
• Not suppress or withhold any material information when sharing personal data for identification, verification, or other required purposes.
• Not file false or frivolous grievances or complaints with us or with the Data Protection Board of India.
• Provide only information that is accurate and verifiably authentic, especially when requesting correction or erasure of your data.

These responsibilities are designed to protect both you and others, and to ensure that therapy remains a safe, respectful, and trustworthy space.

It is your responsibility to take reasonable care to protect your own personal data when interacting with our services, for example, by keeping your devices secure, safeguarding your login credentials (if any), and ensuring that you access our services through trusted networks.

16. Emergency & Crisis Disclaimer

While therapy can be a valuable source of support, it is not designed to replace emergency or crisis care. Our services are best suited for ongoing mental health support and personal growth, and may not be appropriate if you are in immediate distress or facing a life-threatening situation.

If you ever feel that you may harm yourself or others, or if you are experiencing a medical or psychological emergency, please do not wait for a therapy session. Instead, contact local emergency services right away, reach out to a trusted family member or friend, or use a crisis helpline available in your area.

We want you to be safe above all else. Once the immediate crisis has passed, therapy can provide a supportive space for you to work through what you are experiencing but in urgent situations, specialized emergency help is the right first step.

17. Changes to this Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in the law, professional guidelines, or how we deliver our services. Whenever we make significant updates, we will notify you by posting the revised version on our website and, where appropriate, by sending you a direct communication (such as an email).

Any changes will take effect from the date they are published. We encourage you to review this policy periodically so you remain informed about how we protect your privacy.

Your continued use of our services after any update will be taken as your acceptance of the revised policy. If you do not agree with the changes, you are always free to contact us at support@venthrapy.com to discuss your concerns or exercise your rights under the DPDPA.

Our commitment remains the same: to treat your personal data with care, respect, and transparency, no matter how our practices evolve.

18. Grievances Redressal

We want you to feel safe and supported not just in therapy, but also in how your personal data is handled. If you ever have a concern, complaint, or question about the way your data is collected, used, or protected, you can write to our Grievance Officer at:

All grievances will be reviewed with care and seriousness. We will acknowledge your concern within 72 hours and aim to resolve it within 30 working days. If we need more time, we will inform you of the reason and share an updated timeline. If, for some reason, we are unable to address your concern to your satisfaction, you may escalate the matter to the Data Protection Board of India, as provided under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023.

Our goal is to make sure that your voice is heard, your concerns are addressed promptly, and your trust in us is always respected.

This privacy policy may be updated periodically. Please review it regularly for any changes. Last updated: 14th September 2025.