Personal information is collected only when necessary and is used to provide counselling services, respond to inquiries, schedule or cancel appointments, offer referrals, and arrange payment. Your information is handled in accordance with British Columbia’s Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) and professional ethical standards.
PIPA
British Columbia’s Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) outlines how private organizations such as https://helpinghandscounselling.com collect, use, and protect personal information.
“Personal information” refers to any information that can identify you as an individual, which includes, but is not limited to:
- Your name and personal contact details
- Health or counselling-related information
- Payment information
- Information shared during counselling
- Details submitted through the contact form
PIPA does not apply to:
- Anonymous or aggregated data that cannot identify an individual
- Business contact information used solely for work purposes
- Publicly available information
Information Collected
Contact Form
When you submit the contact form, the following information may be collected:
- First name
- Last name (if provided)
- Phone number (if provided)
- Any details included in the message
Your information is stored securely and used to respond to your inquiry, provide information about services and rates, and schedule sessions.
Technical Data
https://helpinghandscounselling.com uses SEO, security, and performance tools, including Google Analytics, that may automatically collect limited technical information such as:
- Browser and device type
- IP address
- Pages visited and general usage patterns
- Approximate geographic region (as provided by analytics tools)
This information is used only for:
- Website security
- Spam and bot prevention
- Understanding website traffic
- Improving site performance
Technical data is not used to personally identify you.
Cookies
This website uses:
- Essential cookies for security, spam prevention, and basic site functionality
- Optional cookies to understand how visitors use the site
A cookie consent pop-up allows you to accept or decline optional cookies. If you decline optional cookies, it will not affect your ability to access or use the website.
Confidentiality
Your privacy is important. All personal information and counselling session details are kept strictly confidential in accordance with PIPA and professional ethical standards. Information is only disclosed with your informed and written consent, or in situations where disclosure is legally required or permitted.
Limits to Confidentiality
Your personal information may need to be disclosed in the following circumstances:
- You or someone else is at serious and immediate risk of harm
- A child (under 19) is suspected of being abused or neglected (mandatory reporting under the Child, Family and Community Service Act)
- An elder or vulnerable adult is suspected of being abused or neglected
- A court order, subpoena, or lawful investigation requires access to records
- I need to consult with another clinical professional to support quality of care (identifying details are not shared)
Data Storage
Your records are stored securely and retained for the period required by law and professional guidelines, after which they are securely destroyed.
Your Rights
You have the right to:
- Request access to your personal information
- Request corrections to inaccurate information
- Withdraw consent for the collection or use of your information (unless required for legal or clinical reasons)
You can make requests by contacting Christine directly.