Effective from: 1st May 2026
Cookies are small text files that websites place on your computer, tablet, or mobile device when you visit. They are widely used to make websites work properly, improve user experience, and provide information to website owners.
Cookies typically contain:
Cookies are not viruses or executable programs. They cannot access your hard drive or retrieve personal information that you did not provide directly.
Alvarez Psychological Services uses only strictly necessary cookies on our website. We do not use:
Our approach is deliberately minimal. Given the sensitive nature of psychological services – especially for individuals navigating high-conflict divorce or parental alienation, we believe that unnecessary tracking is inappropriate and potentially harmful to your privacy.
Strictly necessary cookies are essential for you to move around our website and use its basic features. Without these cookies, the website cannot function properly. Examples include:
Because these cookies are strictly necessary, we do not ask for your consent before placing them. Under the GDPR, CCPA, and other privacy laws, necessary cookies are exempt from consent requirements.
Our web hosting provider (name to be inserted – e.g., SiteGround, Bluehost, or WordPress) may set one or more of the following cookies. These are standard for most secure websites:
Cookie Name | Purpose | Duration |
session_id | Maintains your session while browsing | Session (deleted when you close browser) |
csrf_token | Prevents cross-site request forgery attacks | Session |
cookie_notice_accepted | Remember that you have seen our cookie notice (if we ever display one) | 1 year (only if we add a banner) |
Note: As of the Effective Date above, we do not display a cookie consent banner because we use no non-essential cookies. If we ever add a banner, we will set a simple preference cookie to avoid showing it repeatedly.
We do not currently use any persistent cookies that track you across multiple visits or across different websites.
We do not intentionally set third-party cookies. However, if you click on a link to an external website (e.g., the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council, the American Psychological Association, or a research journal), that third-party website may set its own cookies. We have no control over those cookies. We encourage you to review the cookie and privacy policies of any external website you visit.
Our website does not embed content from third-party platforms (e.g., YouTube videos, Google Maps, social media feeds) that would automatically set third-party cookies. If that changes, we will update this policy and, if required, obtain your consent before loading such content.
Because we use only strictly necessary cookies, you do not have a meaningful choice to disable them without breaking the website. However, you can still control cookies through your browser settings.
Most web browsers allow you to:
Important warning: If you block all cookies, including strictly necessary ones, our website may not function correctly. For example, you may experience:
To learn how to manage cookies in your specific browser, visit:
Some browsers offer a “Do Not Track” (DNT) feature that signals to websites that you do not wish to be tracked. Because we do not use any tracking cookies, our website does not respond differently to DNT signals. We honor your privacy regardless of DNT settings.
Global Privacy Control is a newer standard that signals you opt-out of data sales. Since we do not sell any data, the GPC signal has no additional effect on our website. We support your privacy rights regardless.
This Cookie Policy complies with applicable laws in the United States and, to the extent they might apply, international regulations.
Under the CCPA, California residents have the right to know what personal information is collected via cookies and to opt out of the “sale” of that information. Because we use only necessary cookies and do not sell any data, we are fully compliant. No “Do Not Sell My Personal Information” link is required, but we provide this disclosure for transparency.
CalOPPA requires websites that collect personally identifiable information through cookies to post a privacy policy and disclose how they respond to Do Not Track signals. This Cookie Policy, together with our Privacy Policy, satisfies CalOPPA.
Although Alvarez Psychological Services is located in Texas, USA, and primarily serves Texas residents, our website is accessible from the European Union. Under the GDPR, websites that use non-essential cookies must obtain explicit, opt-in consent before placing those cookies. Because we use no non-essential cookies, we do not require a GDPR consent banner. Necessary cookies are exempt under GDPR Article 6(1)(f) (legitimate interest) and the ePrivacy Directive (Cookie Law) exception for strictly necessary cookies.
If you are an EU resident, you have the right to:
Please contact us at [add email] for any GDPR-related inquiries.
Texas has no specific cookie legislation. However, the Texas Data Breach Notification Act (Texas Business & Commerce Code § 521.002) requires us to notify you if any unencrypted personal information is breached. Since we do not collect personal information through cookies, this is not a material risk.
Cookies that collect protected health information (PHI) would be subject to HIPAA. Our necessary cookies collect only anonymous session identifiers that are not linked to your health information. Therefore, HIPAA does not regulate our cookie use. For a full explanation of how we protect your health information, please see our Privacy Policy and separate HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices.
We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in technology, legal requirements, or our practices. Any changes will be posted on this page with a new “Last Updated” date.
Material changes (e.g., adding analytics or marketing cookies) will be communicated as follows:
We encourage you to review this policy periodically. The most current version is always available on our website.
If you have any questions about this Cookie Policy, our use of cookies, or your privacy rights, please contact:
Email: info@drmaryalvarez.com
Phone: 832-720-5020
For technical questions about cookie management in your browser, please consult your browser’s help documentation or contact your device manufacturer.
This Cookie Policy became effective on 1-May-2026. By continuing to use our website, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this policy.
