Privacy Policy

1. Definitions

• Company: "Emotist," "we," "our," "us," or similar terms refer to Emotist as a technology platform facilitating Services.
• Practitioner: "Mental Health Practitioner," "Professional," "Therapist," "Counselor," or similar terms refer to individuals offering mental health services through Emotist.
• Platform: Refers to the Emotist mobile application, website, or web-based services that practitioners use to offer their services.

2. Types of Data Collected and When It Is Collected

We collect the following data at different stages of your interaction with Emotist:

• During Account Registration and Verification: full name, email, phone number, date of birth, and professional title; government-issued identification (as required by Indian regulations); license or registration number, qualifications, and certifications; specialization, years of experience, and professional bio; bank account or UPI details for payouts.
• When Using the Platform: activity logs, including session schedules and engagement metrics; client interactions such as appointment records and feedback; secure messages with clients (end-to-end encrypted); device and browser information, IP address, and usage data.
• During Payment Processing: billing and transaction data (Emotist does not store full payment card details); tax-related information (if applicable).
• When Communicating with Support: any information shared via email, chat, or customer support inquiries.

3. Purpose of Data Collection

Emotist collects and processes practitioner data for the following purposes:

• To verify identity, credentials, and eligibility to provide services on the platform
• To facilitate client-practitioner interactions and appointment management
• To process payments and ensure compliance with Indian financial regulations
• To improve platform features and user experience through analytics
• To ensure compliance with applicable laws and ethical standards
• To protect against fraud, unauthorized access, and security threats
• We collect and process only the personal data that is necessary for the purposes outlined in this policy and retain it only for as long as required to fulfil those purposes or comply with applicable laws.

4. Data Sharing and Disclosure

Emotist does not sell practitioner data. However, we may share certain information with:

• Clients: Limited practitioner profile details, including qualifications, expertise, and availability, to help users make informed decisions.
• Third-Party Service Providers: For services such as cloud hosting (e.g., AWS India, Google Cloud India), payment processing (e.g. Razorpay, PayU), and data analytics. These providers adhere to strict data protection agreements.
• Legal and Regulatory Authorities: If required by Indian law, court orders, or government regulations. Where possible, we will notify practitioners before such disclosures.
• Security and Fraud Prevention Services: To detect and prevent fraudulent activities on the platform.

5. Data Security Measures

We implement industry-standard security protocols, including:

• End-to-end encryption for client-practitioner communications
• Secure cloud storage with access controls
• Multi-factor authentication (MFA) for practitioner accounts
• Regular security audits to identify and mitigate risks
• All practitioner data is stored and processed on secure servers located in India.
• Practitioners are responsible for safeguarding their account credentials and reporting any unauthorized access immediately.

6. Practitioner Responsibilities

• Maintain the confidentiality of client information as per legal and ethical standards
• Use the platform only for legitimate professional purposes
• Ensure accuracy and regular updates of their professional details
• Report any privacy or security concerns to Emotist immediately.

Non-solicitation

Practitioners must not solicit, entice, or attempt to divert clients from Emotist for personal gain. Any such activity will be treated as misconduct and may result in immediate termination of your account, removal from the platform, and reporting to relevant licensing authorities, in accordance with applicable law.

7. Data Retention Policy

• Practitioner account details and transaction records are retained for seven years as required by Indian tax and financial regulations.
• Session logs and appointment history are retained for five years for quality assurance and legal compliance.
• Technical logs (e.g., IP address, device data) are stored for one year for security monitoring.
• Inactive practitioner accounts may be anonymized or deleted after two years of inactivity.
• Practitioners may request data deletion by emailing hello@emotist.com. Requests will be processed within 30 days, subject to legal obligations.

Basis for retention periods

These retention periods are based on compliance with Indian tax, financial, and health record-keeping laws, as well as professional ethics guidelines.

8. Breach Notification Policy

In the event of a data breach, Emotist will:

• Take immediate action to contain and mitigate the breach
• Notify affected practitioners within 72 hours, as required by Indian data protection laws
• Inform regulatory authorities and take corrective measures

9. Policy Updates

Emotist reserves the right to update this Privacy Policy as necessary. Practitioners will be notified of significant changes and required to review and accept the updated policy before continuing to use the platform.

10. Dispute Resolution and Governing Law

Any disputes related to this Privacy Policy shall be resolved through arbitration in Kochi, Kerala, under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996. Either party may seek interim relief from the courts of Kochi, Kerala, if required.

11. Grievance Redressal

To address the grievances of the practitioners on our platform, Emotist has set up a Grievance Redressal Forum. In case you are dissatisfied with any aspect of our Services, you may contact our Grievance Redressal Officer, using the following details:

Name: Priyamvada Rajan

Designation: Chief Operating Officer

Email: hello@emotist.com

Contact

For any inquiries, please contact:

Email: hello@emotist.com

Registered Address: 4/461, Second Floor, Valamkottil Towers, Judgemukku, Thrikkakara PO, Ernakulam, Thrikkakara, Ernakulam, Kerala, India, 682021.