Privacy Policy
The information provided below summarizes how your personal information will be protected. This document was developed in accordance with the Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA).
I am committed to collecting, using and disclosing personal information responsibly and only to the extent necessary for the services I provide. I try to be open and transparent as to how I handle personal information. Following is a description of my privacy policy.
What is personal information?
Personal information is information about an identifiable individual. Personal information includes information that relates to: an individual’s personal characteristics (e.g. gender, age, income, contact information, ethnicity, family status, education, profession, payment information); health (e.g. health history, health conditions, health care providers, insurer provider details); or activities and beliefs (e.g. religion, politics, opinions).
Purposes of collecting personal information:
Primary Purposes:
The collection, use and disclosure of personal information is to serve my clients. My primary purpose for collecting personal information is to provide psychotherapy treatment. I may collect information about a client’s personal characteristics, health or activities and beliefs in order to help me assess what their counselling needs are, to advise them of their options and then to provide the counselling mutually agreed upon. Additionally personal information may be used in the participation of supervision activities (registered psychologist, peer, group.)
The disclosure of personal information requires a client’s express (oral or written) consent. In the event of extraordinary circumstances (e.g. client health emergency and legal requirements) a client’s express consent may not be required for disclosure
Secondary Purposes:
As a psychotherapist, I may collect, use and disclose information for purposes that are related, but are secondary, to my primary purposes. The secondary purposes include:
Protecting Personal Information
I understand the importance of protecting personal information. For that reason, I have taken the following steps:
Retention and Destruction of Personal Information
Personal information is retained by law for a minimum of ten years after the last contact for adults and, for child clients, 10 years past the date at which they would turn 18 years of age.
Following this period, paper files are shredded and any electronic information is deleted.
Access to Your Personal Information
You have the right to seek access to your health records that I keep and to ask me to correct a record if you believe it is inaccurate or incomplete. Please discuss with me for more information.
Do You Have a Question?
If you have any questions or objections to my privacy practices, I welcome you to share that with me. You also have the right to share your objections with the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario:
2 Bloor Street East, Suite 1400
Toronto, Ontario M4W 1A8
1-800-387-0073
Fax 416-325-9195
www.ipc.on.ca
I am committed to collecting, using and disclosing personal information responsibly and only to the extent necessary for the services I provide. I try to be open and transparent as to how I handle personal information. Following is a description of my privacy policy.
What is personal information?
Personal information is information about an identifiable individual. Personal information includes information that relates to: an individual’s personal characteristics (e.g. gender, age, income, contact information, ethnicity, family status, education, profession, payment information); health (e.g. health history, health conditions, health care providers, insurer provider details); or activities and beliefs (e.g. religion, politics, opinions).
Purposes of collecting personal information:
Primary Purposes:
The collection, use and disclosure of personal information is to serve my clients. My primary purpose for collecting personal information is to provide psychotherapy treatment. I may collect information about a client’s personal characteristics, health or activities and beliefs in order to help me assess what their counselling needs are, to advise them of their options and then to provide the counselling mutually agreed upon. Additionally personal information may be used in the participation of supervision activities (registered psychologist, peer, group.)
The disclosure of personal information requires a client’s express (oral or written) consent. In the event of extraordinary circumstances (e.g. client health emergency and legal requirements) a client’s express consent may not be required for disclosure
Secondary Purposes:
As a psychotherapist, I may collect, use and disclose information for purposes that are related, but are secondary, to my primary purposes. The secondary purposes include:
- Complying with regulations of the College of Psychotherapists of Ontario who may inspect my records and processes as part of their regulatory activities in the public interest.
- Addressing reported cases of serious misconduct, incompetence or incapacity of other practitioners by notifying the appropriate regulatory body.
- Reporting information for which I am ethically and legally required.
- Responding to the requirements of government agencies (e.g. Canada Customs and Revenue Agency, Information and Privacy Commissioner, Human Rights Commission, etc.) who have the authority to review my records as a part of their mandates. In these circumstances, I may consult with professionals (e.g. lawyers, accountants) who will advise me in situations of conflicting rights and obligations.
- Communicating with third-parties who pay for some services (e.g. private insurance companies).
- Invoicing clients for services that were not paid for at the time, or to collect an unpaid account.
Protecting Personal Information
I understand the importance of protecting personal information. For that reason, I have taken the following steps:
- Paper information is secured in a locked or restricted area.
- Electronic devices are secured in a locked or restricted area. Devices are password protected.
- Paper information is transmitted through sealed addressed envelopes.
Retention and Destruction of Personal Information
Personal information is retained by law for a minimum of ten years after the last contact for adults and, for child clients, 10 years past the date at which they would turn 18 years of age.
Following this period, paper files are shredded and any electronic information is deleted.
Access to Your Personal Information
You have the right to seek access to your health records that I keep and to ask me to correct a record if you believe it is inaccurate or incomplete. Please discuss with me for more information.
Do You Have a Question?
If you have any questions or objections to my privacy practices, I welcome you to share that with me. You also have the right to share your objections with the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario:
2 Bloor Street East, Suite 1400
Toronto, Ontario M4W 1A8
1-800-387-0073
Fax 416-325-9195
www.ipc.on.ca
Beth Breckenridge, RP 613-203-0151 Copyright Breckenridge Counselling 2023