Privacy Policy

Your privacy matters, and as a self-employed Registered Social Worker, I'm committed to handling your personal information responsibly and in accordance with Ontario's privacy legislation, including the Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA), and the standards of the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW).

This page outlines how your information is collected, used, and stored as part of your care.

1. What Information Is Collected
* In the course of providing therapy, I collect information such as your contact details, intake and consent forms, session notes, and billing information.
* This information is collected only as needed to provide you with safe, effective care.

2. How Your Information Is Stored
* All session records, clinical notes, scheduling, and billing are securely managed through Jane App, a practice management platform designed to meet Canadian privacy and security standards, including PHIPA and PIPEDA.
* As the custodian of your health information, I determine how your information is collected, used, and retained; Jane provides the secure infrastructure that supports this.

3. Email Communication
* Email is not a secure form of communication, and I ask that personal health information not be sent by email.
* I use a secure business email account for scheduling and general, non-clinical communication only — such as confirming appointment times or answering general questions.
* Please note that this email is not monitored 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and there may be a delay in response.

4. Virtual Sessions
* Because therapy is provided online, I'll walk you through the specific considerations of virtual care at the start of our work together.
* This includes how your identity is verified, how confidentiality is maintained during virtual sessions, and what to do in case of a technical or safety issue during a session.

5. Search Engines & Online Reviews
* As a registrant of the OCSWSSW, I am ethically prohibited from asking for or using client testimonials, endorsements, or reviews.
* Any listings you find for this practice on search engines like Google Maps or Yelp are often automatically generated. They are not a request for reviews.
* Please do not leave a rating or review on these public profiles. Doing so links your name to a mental health service, which breaks your confidentiality.
* To protect your privacy, I do not monitor or reply to online reviews.
* If you have feedback about our work, please share it with me directly during a session so we can discuss it safely.

6. Access to Your Information
* You're entitled to request access to, or a correction of, your own records at any time.
* If you'd like to do so, please reach out directly and I'll walk you through the process.

7. Retention and Disposal
* In accordance with the standards of the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW), your records are retained securely for a minimum of 10 years from the date of your last session.
* If you were under 18 at the time of your last session, your records are retained for at least 10 years from the date you turn (or would have turned) 18.
* After this period, records are securely disposed of in a way that protects your confidentiality.

8. In Case of Emergency
* If you're experiencing a mental health emergency, please don't wait to hear back from me.
* Call or text 9-8-8: Suicide Crisis Helpline, available 24/7, or call 9-1-1, or go to your nearest hospital emergency department.

9. Questions or Concerns
* If you have questions about how your information is handled, or a concern about privacy, please reach out to me directly.
* If a concern isn't resolved to your satisfaction, you're also entitled to contact the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW).