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Privacy icon Privacy & confidentiality

online counselling in Nanaimo

Feel steadier fast. Then make it stick.
Email me three lines; I’ll reply today
Book a 20-minute consult
Serving Nanaimo, Parksville, and Qualicum Beach — online.
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Anxiety
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Stress
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Burnout
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Alcohol
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Professionals
Serving Nanaimo, Parksville, and Qualicum Beach — online.
checkmark icon
Anxiety
checkmark icon
Stress
checkmark icon
Burnout
checkmark icon
Alcohol
checkmark icon
Professionals
checkmark icon
Anxiety
checkmark icon
Stress
checkmark icon
Burnout
checkmark icon
Alcohol
checkmark icon
Professionals

Quick summary

(meaningful consent)
Full details are below, in plain English.
Email me three lines; I’ll reply today
Book a 20-minute consult
  • What I collect – Contact details, intake you choose to share, notes, billing, and basic website analytics.
  • Why — to provide counselling, schedule sessions, process payments, follow up, and meet legal and professional standards.
  • Your choices — You can ask to see your record, request corrections, or withdraw consent for future use (within legal limits).
Quick summary
(meaningful consent)
Full details are below, in plain English.
Email me three lines; I’ll reply today
Book a 20-minute consult
  • What I collect – Contact details, intake you choose to share, notes, billing, and basic website analytics.
  • Why — to provide counselling, schedule sessions, process payments, follow up, and meet legal and professional standards.
  • Your choices — You can ask to see your record, request corrections, or withdraw consent for future use (within legal limits).

Scope list icon

This page explains how I collect, use, store, and protect personal information in my online private practice serving Nanaimo, Parksville, and Qualicum Beach.

It covers:

  • Information you share by email, contact form, or phone.
  • Information you share in sessions and intake forms.
  • Information stored in my practice platform (Jane) and video tools.
  • Limited, de-identified website analytics.
It does not cover third-party websites or services I link to (for example, crisis lines or external resources). Their privacy policies apply.

Many people feel more at ease when they know exactly how their information is handled and protected.

Legal framework

As a Registered Social Worker in B.C., I follow:

  • The Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) of British Columbia.
  • The federal Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), where it applies.
  • The BC College of Social Workers’ Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice.
Put simply: I collect, use, and disclose only what a reasonable person would consider appropriate for counselling.

What I collect

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Depending on our work together, I may collect:
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Contact details
Name, preferred name, email, phone, city/province.
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Intake information
Background, goals, health and mental health history you choose to share.
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Scheduling and billing details
Appointment dates, invoices, payments, insurance receipts.
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Technical information
Limited device or browser details, IP address, and page views from website analytics.
I only collect what I need to provide counselling and run a safe, legal practice.
What I collect
Info icon
Depending on our work together, I may collect:
Checkmark icon
Contact details
Name, preferred name, email, phone, city/province.
Checkmark icon
Intake information
Background, goals, health and mental health history you choose to share.
Checkmark icon
Scheduling and billing details
Appointment dates, invoices, payments, insurance receipts.
Checkmark icon
Technical information
Limited device or browser details, IP address, and page views from website analytics.
Checkmark icon
Contact details
Name, preferred name, email, phone, city/province.
Checkmark icon
Intake information
Background, goals, health and mental health history you choose to share.
Checkmark icon
Scheduling and billing details
Appointment dates, invoices, payments, insurance receipts.
Checkmark icon
Technical information
Limited device or browser details, IP address, and page views from website analytics.
I only collect what I need to provide counselling and run a safe, legal practice.

Why I collect it

(how it’s used)
I use personal information to:
  • Provide counselling and follow-up.
  • Schedule sessions and process payments.
  • Communicate about appointments, homework, and next steps.
  • Maintain accurate clinical records as required by my regulator and the law.
  • Monitor service quality using aggregate, de-identified analytics.
I do not sell or rent your information, and I do not use it for advertising.
Why I collect it
(how it’s used)
I use personal information to:
  • Provide counselling and follow-up.
  • Schedule sessions and process payments.
  • Communicate about appointments, homework, and next steps.
  • Maintain accurate clinical records as required by my regulator and the law.
  • Monitor service quality using aggregate, de-identified analytics.
I do not sell or rent your information, and I do not use it for advertising.

Consent

By contacting me, booking online, or using my services, you consent to the collection, use, and storage of your personal information for counselling purposes.
You can:
  • Ask questions about consent at any time.
  • Withdraw consent for future collection or use (unless the law requires ongoing use or retention).
If you withdraw consent, we’ll talk through what that means practically (for example, ending services, limits on erasing past records).

Limits of confidentiality

Sessions are private and confidential, with some important legal and ethical limits. I may have to share information without your consent if:
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There is an urgent risk of serious harm to you or someone else.
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A child or vulnerable adult may be at risk of abuse or neglect.
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I receive a court order, subpoena, or warrant.
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My regulator requires information as part of a complaint, investigation, or audit.
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There is an urgent risk of serious harm to you or someone else.
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A child or vulnerable adult may be at risk of abuse or neglect.
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I receive a court order, subpoena, or warrant.
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My regulator requires information as part of a complaint, investigation, or audit.
Where possible, I will explain what is happening and what information is being shared.

How long I keep information

(Retention)
I keep your records for a period that meets or exceeds B.C. legal and professional requirements, and then securely destroy them.
In general, this means keeping records for a number of years after our last contact, or longer where the law, regulators, or insurance contracts require it.
If you’d like details about current retention timelines, ask and I’ll explain them in plain language.
Parksville beach image

Storage & security

I use physical, technical, and administrative safeguards to protect information, including:

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A secure Canadian practice platform (Jane) for scheduling, charting, and billing, with encryption in transit and at rest (as described in Jane’s own policies).
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Password-protected devices with up-to-date security and automatic locking.
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Limited access — only I access your clinical record.
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Secure backup and destruction methods when records are no longer required.

No system is perfect, but I take reasonable steps to reduce risk and keep your information safe.

Parksville beach image
Storage & security

I use physical, technical, and administrative safeguards to protect information, including:

checkmark icon
A secure Canadian practice platform (Jane) for scheduling, charting, and billing, with encryption in transit and at rest (as described in Jane’s own policies).
checkmark icon
Password-protected devices with up-to-date security and automatic locking.
checkmark icon
Limited access — only I access your clinical record.
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Secure backup and destruction methods when records are no longer required.
checkmark icon
A secure Canadian practice platform (Jane) for scheduling, charting, and billing, with encryption in transit and at rest (as described in Jane’s own policies).
checkmark icon
Password-protected devices with up-to-date security and automatic locking.
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Limited access — only I access your clinical record.
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Secure backup and destruction methods when records are no longer required.

No system is perfect, but I take reasonable steps to reduce risk and keep your information safe.

How long I keep information

To run an online practice, I use third-party providers such as:
  • Jane (practice management, telehealth, billing).
  • Email providers.
  • Website hosting and analytics tools.
These services may temporarily store or process data on their servers. I choose providers that state they comply with Canadian privacy law and sign appropriate agreements where available. You can ask for a current list of core service providers at any time.

Email & messaging

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Email is useful for scheduling and brief follow-up, but it is not the most secure way to share sensitive details.
  • Please avoid sending detailed clinical information by email when possible.
  • For sensitive topics, we’ll use our sessions or the secure platform instead.
If you choose to send sensitive information by email, you accept the risks of standard email (for example, interception, misdelivery, or access by others who use your devices or accounts).

Email & messaging

Email icon
Email is useful for scheduling and brief follow-up, but it is not the most secure way to share sensitive details.
  • Please avoid sending detailed clinical information by email when possible.
  • For sensitive topics, we’ll use our sessions or the secure platform instead.
If you choose to send sensitive information by email, you accept the risks of standard email (for example, interception, misdelivery, or access by others who use your devices or accounts).

Your rights

You can contact me to:
  • Ask what information I have about you.
  • Request corrections if something is inaccurate or incomplete.
  • Ask about how information is stored, used, or shared.
In some cases, I may need to limit access (for example, to protect another person’s privacy, comply with law, or avoid serious harm). If that happens, I will explain why and discuss your options.

Your rights

You can contact me to:
  • Ask what information I have about you.
  • Request corrections if something is inaccurate or incomplete.
  • Ask about how information is stored, used, or shared.
In some cases, I may need to limit access (for example, to protect another person’s privacy, comply with law, or avoid serious harm). If that happens, I will explain why and discuss your options.

Changes to this policy

I may update this page if privacy practices or laws change. The “last updated” date will show when the most recent changes were made.

Contact for privacy questions

If you have questions or concerns about privacy or confidentiality:
If you prefer, I can share more detail about my current platform providers and data-residency practices.
Email me three lines; I’ll reply today
Book a 20-minute consult

If you’re in crisis

This privacy page is not for emergencies.

If you are in immediate danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.

You can also contact:
  • B.C. crisis line (24/7): 310‑6789 (no area code).
  • Suicide Crisis Helpline (Canada): 988 (call or text).