Privacy Policy
1. Introduction
At Little Mountain Wellness, we are committed to protecting the personal information of our clients. This privacy policy outlines how we collect, use, disclose, and protect your personal information in accordance with the Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) of British Columbia, the standards of the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC), and the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA) Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice.
2. Collection of Personal Information
We collect personal information that is necessary to provide you with high-quality counselling services. This may include your name, date of birth, contact details, health and mental health history, details about your presenting concerns, session notes, and billing information. Information is collected directly from you, and in some cases, with your consent, from third parties such as other healthcare providers or guardians.
3. Use of Personal Information
Your personal information is used to support your counselling journey. This includes using the information to assess your needs, develop and adjust treatment plans, schedule and manage appointments, process payments, and maintain clinical records. We may also use the information to meet our professional obligations and comply with legal or regulatory requirements.
4. Disclosure of Personal Information
We respect your confidentiality and will not share your personal information without your explicit consent. However, there are certain circumstances where disclosure is required by law. These include situations where there is a clear risk of serious harm to yourself or others, cases involving suspected abuse or neglect of a child or vulnerable person, or when we are legally compelled by a court order or subpoena.
5. Consent
We will always seek your informed consent before collecting, using, or disclosing your personal information. Informed consent means that you understand what information is being collected, how it will be used, and under what circumstances it may be shared. You have the right to withdraw your consent at any time, although there may be legal or clinical limitations to doing so in certain contexts.
6. Retention and Destruction of Personal Information
In compliance with BCACC standards and legal requirements, we retain client records for a minimum of seven years following the date of the last session. For child and youth clients, records are kept for seven years past the age of majority. Once the retention period has passed, personal information is destroyed securely through methods such as paper shredding or digital deletion in a manner that protects confidentiality.
7. Security Measures
We take reasonable and appropriate steps to protect your personal information from loss, unauthorized access, misuse, or disclosure. Paper records are stored in locked filing cabinets in secured offices. Electronic records are stored using password-protected systems with restricted access. Our clinic also maintains current antivirus and firewall protections, and staff are trained in confidentiality protocols.
8. Access and Correction
You have the right to access your personal information and request corrections if you believe it is inaccurate or incomplete. To make such a request, you may contact our designated Privacy Officer in writing. We will respond to your request within a reasonable timeframe and take necessary steps to update your records where appropriate.
9. Changes to this Policy
This privacy policy may be reviewed and updated from time to time to reflect changes in legal requirements or clinical practices. Any changes will be posted on our website with a revised effective date. We encourage you to review this policy periodically to stay informed about how we are protecting your information.