Privacy Policy

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This data privacy policy explains how Natasha’s Counselling Services (or ‘we’) use any personal information we collect about you when you use any of our services, including our website, clinical assessment or on-going therapeutic services.

By using our services and/or website and providing us with your personal data, you acknowledge and agree that your personal data may be processed for the purposes identified in this policy.

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Topics:

• What information do we collect about you?

• Why we need your data?

• How long will we store your data?

• Marketing

• Access to your information and correction

• Other websites

• Changes to our privacy policy

• How to contact us

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What information do we collect about you?

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We collect information about you in different ways. You may have emailed us or phoned us directly and supplied some contact details. We may have received information about you from our website, your family doctor or our social media. This information will only be used when explicit consent has been provided by you to the third party. In addition, we may have made an assessment of you and collected data about your circumstances including information about you and the people involved in your care.

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The information we collect about you may include but not limited to; your name, email address, address, phone number, sex, age, the nature of your presenting concern that brings you to therapy. We might ask you for emergency contact details of a family member or a friend.

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We may collect psychological measurement data and information about your mood, cognitive functioning or medical information including past medical history, or other relevant information. We may collect data about the progress and outcomes of your therapy.

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We may collect financial information including bank account details with regard to payment for our services.

We automatically log information about you on our password protected computer. We use log-ins, IP addresses, cookies and similar technologies (e.g. web beacons, pixels, ad tags and device identifiers) to log your use of our website.

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Why we need your data?

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We collect information about you to:

• Make contact with you to schedule appointments

• Assess your needs and make recommendations about how those need might be met

• Write letters and reports about you when you need them for your GP or any other health care professional

• Make an assessment of any risk to you or others

• Be able to make recommendations about your future care or needs

• Your information remains completely confidential and will never be disclosed to anyone who is not involved in your care.

 

There are some limitations to confidentiality:

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There are exceptional situations where we are ethically, professionally, and/or legally required to share information about you and/or your situation without your written consent. These situations include the following:

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1. If we have information about the abuse or risk of abuse and/or neglect to a child (a child is a person who is, or appears to be, under the age of 16 years. It also applies to children subject to a child protection order who are 16 and 17 years old) then I must report this information to the appropriate authorities. Abuse includes but is not limited to physical violence, sexual violence, emotional violence, and/or neglect. 

2. If we have concern about any risk that you may harm another person or yourself then we are obligated to ensure your safety and the safety of others by informing the appropriate services and/or individuals.

3. If we are compelled by law to release information, such as receiving a subpoena to court.

4. When disclosure is required to receive professional or legal consultation.

5. If we must defend a complaint filed with the Ontario College of Social Workers and
   Social Service Workers or any other court action.

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These exceptions to confidentiality are rare; however, it is important that you are aware of the possibility of these confidentiality exceptions. Additionally, to assist in providing our clients with the highest quality of service, we may also share pertinent anonymous information within the confidential space of individual, group, and peer supervision and/or consultation. Please keep in mind that all identifying information will remain strictly confidential during supervision and/or consultation.

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We will take cautionary measures to ensure that we do not collect any personal data from you that we do not need in order to provide and oversee clinical services to you.

We can supply you with a hard copy of this policy if you wish. We will answer any questions you have about privacy and confidentiality honestly and promptly.

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How will we store your data and for how long?

Your data is stored electronically, and it is password protected. Only your clinician can access your clinical notes and the clinical director, Natasha Ramzan MSW, RSW for the purpose of accuracy and professional conduct. This is to ensure that in the case that your clinician is not available, another appropriate clinician can still continue your care.

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We only keep your personal data for as long as it is necessary to provide you with our services. We may need to retain part of your personal data even after termination of any agreement with you for the provision of our services, to comply with our legal obligations (including law enforcement requests), to meet regulatory requirements, to resolve disputes, to maintain security, to prevent fraud and abuse, and to enforce our agreements with you. Unless otherwise stated, this will be no longer than 7 years after the termination of our service agreement with you.

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Marketing

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We do not use your data for marketing purposes, and you will not receive any marketing or promotional material from us.

We will never sell your data to marketing companies. You will only receive correspondence from us that is relevant to your care or treatment with us.

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What are your rights?

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You have the right to request a copy of the information that we hold about you free of charge and within 28 days of your request. You may also request that we delete personal data held on you, where we no longer have any legal reason to retain it (the right of erasure or to be forgotten).If you would like a copy of some or all of your personal information, please email or write to us at the following address.

 

Email: admin@natashacounselling.com

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We want to make sure that your personal information is accurate and up to date. You may ask us to correct or remove information you think is inaccurate.

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You may:

• Request access to your personal data.

• Request correction of your personal data.

• Request removal of your personal data.

• Object to processing of your personal data.

• Request restriction of processing your personal data.

• Request transfer of your personal data.

• Right to withdraw consent.

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If you wish to exercise any of the rights set out above, please email us at admin@natashacounselling.com

 

Our website

Our website contains links to other websites, companies and voluntary organisations. This privacy policy only applies to this website so when you link to other websites you should read their own privacy policies.