Privacy Policy

Effective Date: 10/28/25


Introduction


The Pain Alchemist, operated by Anne-Marie Duchêne ("we," "us," or "our"), is committed to protecting your privacy and personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website, use our services, or participate in our programs.

By using our website or services, you consent to the data practices described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with our policies and practices, do not use our website or services.


1. Information We Collect


Personal Information You Provide


We may collect personal information that you voluntarily provide during:


Website Interactions:

  • Complete our Pain Pattern Assessment quiz

  • Subscribe to our newsletter or email list

  • Contact us through forms or email

  • Create an account or user profile

  • Register for programs or services

Service Participation:

  • Book consultations or bodywork sessions

  • Participate in online courses or programs

  • Attend workshops or events

  • Complete intake forms or health questionnaires

Types of Personal Information:

  • Name and contact information (email, phone, address)

  • Demographic information (age, gender, location)

  • Health-related information relevant to our services

  • Payment and billing information

  • Communication preferences

  • Program participation and progress data


Health and Wellness Information


Given the nature of our services, we may collect sensitive health information including:

  • Pain patterns and physical symptoms

  • Health history relevant to bodywork services

  • Wellness goals and challenges

  • Progress notes and session observations

  • Information about your response to treatments or programs

Important Note: We only collect health information that is directly relevant to providing our services and with your explicit consent.


Automatically Collected Information


When you visit our website, we may automatically collect:


Technical Information:

  • IP address and device identifiers

  • Browser type and version

  • Operating system information

  • Pages visited and time spent on site

  • Referral sources and search terms

  • Geographic location (general area, not precise)

Cookies and Tracking Technologies:

  • Session cookies for website functionality

  • Analytics cookies to understand site usage

  • Marketing cookies for advertising purposes

  • Local storage for user preferences


2. How We Use Your Information


We use your information for the following purposes:


Service Delivery

  • Provide bodywork sessions and holistic health services

  • Deliver online courses and educational programs

  • Conduct Pain Pattern Assessments and provide personalized recommendations

  • Schedule appointments and send reminders

  • Process payments and manage billing


Communication

  • Send educational content and wellness tips

  • Provide program updates and announcements

  • Respond to your questions and support requests

  • Send newsletters and marketing communications (with consent)

  • Follow up on services and gather feedback


Newsletter Enrollment:

  • If you are outside the European Union and register for any programs, make purchases, or download resources, we will automatically enroll you to receive our educational newsletter

  • If you are in the European Union, we will only enroll you in our newsletter if you affirmatively consent

  • You can unsubscribe at any time using the link in any email


Website and Service Improvement

  • Analyze website usage and improve user experience

  • Develop new programs and services

  • Conduct research on pain patterns and wellness trends

  • Customize content based on your interests

  • Troubleshoot technical issues


Legal and Safety

  • Comply with applicable laws and regulations

  • Protect our rights and the rights of others

  • Ensure the safety and security of our services

  • Prevent fraud or misuse of our services


Marketing and Third-Party Offers

From time to time, we may use your information to:

  • Make offers for products and services provided by third parties in exchange for a commission

  • Display advertisements tailored to your interests and activities

  • Provide you with relevant educational content and resources

If you participate in third-party promotions, those companies will receive your information as necessary to fulfill the offer.


3. Information Sharing and Disclosure


We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to third parties. We may share your information in the following limited circumstances:


Service Providers


We may share information with trusted third-party service providers who assist us with:

  • Website hosting and maintenance

  • Email marketing and communication services

  • Payment processing and billing

  • Analytics and website optimization

  • Customer support services

These providers are contractually obligated to protect your information and use it only for the specified services.


Professional Requirements

As a health and wellness practitioner, we may need to share information:

  • With other healthcare providers (with your consent)

  • For professional consultation or referrals

  • To comply with professional ethics and standards

  • For insurance or liability purposes


Legal Requirements

We may disclose information when required by law or when we believe disclosure is necessary to:

  • Comply with legal processes or government requests

  • Protect our rights, property, or safety

  • Protect the rights, property, or safety of others

  • Prevent fraud or illegal activities


Business Transfers

In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of business assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction, subject to appropriate confidentiality protections.


4. Data Security


We implement appropriate technical, administrative, and physical security measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction.


Security Measures Include:

  • Encryption of sensitive data in transit and at rest

  • Secure servers and hosting environments

  • Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments

  • Access controls and authentication requirements

  • Employee training on data protection practices

  • Regular backups and disaster recovery procedures


Health Information Protection

Given the sensitive nature of health information, we take additional precautions:

  • HIPAA-compliant practices where applicable

  • Separate secure storage for health-related data

  • Limited access on a need-to-know basis

  • Regular review and purging of outdated information


Important Note: While we strive to protect your information, no security system is completely foolproof. We cannot guarantee absolute security of your data.


5. Your Rights and Choices


You have the following rights regarding your personal information:


Access and Correction

  • Request access to the personal information we have about you

  • Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information

  • Update your contact information and preferences


Data Portability

  • Request a copy of your personal information in a portable format

  • Transfer your information to another service provider


Deletion

  • Request deletion of your personal information

  • Note: We may need to retain certain information for legal or professional obligations


Communication Preferences

  • Opt out of marketing emails at any time using the unsubscribe link in any email

  • Update your communication preferences by contacting us

  • Choose which types of communications you receive

  • If you have trouble unsubscribing, contact us directly at admin@painalchemist.com


Cookies and Tracking

  • Manage cookie preferences through your browser settings

  • Opt out of analytics tracking

  • Control advertising cookies and personalization


How to Exercise Your Rights

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at admin@painalchemist.com. We will respond to your request within 30 days.


6. Data Retention


We retain your information for as long as necessary to:

  • Provide our services to you

  • Comply with legal obligations

  • Resolve disputes and enforce agreements

  • Maintain professional and business records


Retention Periods:

  • Active clients: Information retained during active service relationship

  • Past clients: Professional records retained for 7 years after last service

  • Marketing contacts: Email lists maintained until you unsubscribe

  • Website data: Analytics data retained for 2 years

  • Financial records: Payment information retained as required by law


7. International Data Transfers


Our services are primarily based in the United States. If you are accessing our services from outside the US, please be aware that your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States, where our servers and service providers are located.

By using our services, you consent to the transfer of your information to the United States and other countries that may have different data protection laws than your country of residence.


8. Children's Privacy


Our services are not intended for children under 18 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 18. If we become aware that we have collected information from a child under 18, we will take steps to delete such information promptly.


9. Third-Party Links and Services


Our website may contain links to third-party websites or services. This Privacy Policy does not apply to those third-party sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit.


Third-Party Services We May Use:

  • Email marketing platforms (e.g., MailChimp, ConvertKit)

  • Payment processors (e.g., Stripe, PayPal)

  • Analytics services (e.g., Google Analytics)

  • Video hosting platforms (e.g., Vimeo, YouTube)

  • Scheduling systems (e.g., Calendly, Acuity)

  • Social media platforms and advertising networks


Third-Party Cookies and Tracking

Some content or applications on our website may be served by third parties, including advertisers, ad networks, content providers, and application providers. These third parties may use cookies, web beacons, or other tracking technologies to collect information about you when you use our website.

The information they collect may be associated with your personal information or they may collect information about your online activities over time and across different websites. They may use this information to provide you with interest-based (behavioral) advertising or other targeted content.

We do not control these third parties' tracking technologies or how they may be used. If you have questions about targeted advertising, you should contact the responsible provider directly.


10. California Privacy Rights


If you are a California resident, you may have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA):

  • Right to Know: Request information about the categories and specific pieces of personal information we collect

  • Right to Delete: Request deletion of your personal information

  • Right to Opt-Out: Opt out of the sale of personal information (note: we do not sell personal information)

  • Right to Non-Discrimination: Not be discriminated against for exercising your privacy rights

To exercise these rights, please contact us at admin@painalchemist.com.


11. European Privacy Rights


If you are in the European Economic Area (EEA), you may have additional rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR):

  • Lawful Basis: We process your information based on consent, legitimate interests, or contractual necessity

  • Right to Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent for processing at any time

  • Right to Object: Object to processing based on legitimate interests

  • Right to Complain: File a complaint with your local data protection authority


12. Updates to This Privacy Policy


We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. We will notify you of material changes by:

  • Posting the updated policy on our website

  • Sending an email notification to registered users

  • Providing notice through our services

Your continued use of our services after changes become effective constitutes acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.

13. Contact Information


If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:

The Pain Alchemist
admin@painalchemist.com
129 West 29th Street, 2nd floor
NY, NY 10001

For privacy-specific inquiries, please use the subject line "Privacy Policy Inquiry."

14. Commitment to Your Privacy


At The Pain Alchemist, we understand that your health and wellness journey is deeply personal. We are committed to maintaining the highest standards of privacy and confidentiality in all our interactions with you.

We believe that trust is the foundation of healing, and protecting your privacy is essential to that trust. If you ever have concerns about how your information is being handled, please don't hesitate to reach out to us directly.




Last Updated: 10/28/25

This Privacy Policy is effective as of the date listed above and supersedes any prior versions.