Wilson Counselling Associates Privacy Policy

The Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) is a piece of federal legislation that requires private psychotherapy practices to have signed consent to collect, utilize and disclose personal information.

The personal information we request is required:
·         To assess and provide your health care needs, and provide you with treatment options
·         To enable us to contact you and maintain communication with you
·         To enable us to answer inquiries from third-party payment providers, when contacted
·         To process payments and collect unpaid accounts
·          To assist this office in complying with all regulatory requirements including those of the Ontario Association of Consultants, Counsellors, Psychometrists and Psychotherapists (OACCPP)
·         To allow for accurate evaluation of the practice in the event of a practice sale or audit

All types of personal information, including Intake and Background Information forms, Client Information and Consent forms, Case Note sheets, Phone Contact sheet, Release of Information forms, assessments, reports, referral notes, letters, e-mails and billing information, are kept in the individual client’s file.  All files are maintained in a locked file cabinet in the consultation room in the main office in Oakville.  E-mails and voice-mails are private, and received only by the person being addressed.

When the primary client is a couple or a family, the file belongs to that couple or family.  Based on the principle of openness, all clients are welcome to access their personal file upon request.  Every effort is made to record information as accurately as possible, and corrections by clients are invited.  Couple or family files may be accessed by any member of the couple or family pertaining to a given file.  Files may also be shared with a clinical supervisor from time to time, for purposes of professional development and assuring a high quality of service to the client.

If a third party requests information, we will require your signed consent prior to proceeding.

There are some legally-mandated exceptions to client confidentiality.  The therapist MUST report the following types of information:
·         If someone intends to take potentially harmful action against him- or herself or another, the therapist is required to warn the parties involved.
·         Any type of suspected child abuse must be reported to the Children’s Aid Society.
·         The therapist must comply with court-ordered requests for information

Every effort is always made to support our clients, and clients are always informed before such reporting occurs.

If a client is not satisfied with our Privacy Code or the implementation of the code, he or she may complain to the Privacy Officer, Patti Wilson, in writing.  Furthermore, he or she may also make a complaint to the Privacy Commission of Canada.

Arthur Wenk, psychotherapist
Office:  1242 Landfair Crescent, Oakville ON L6H 2N3
Serving clients in Oakville, Mississauga and Burlington
905-842-8188, arthur.wenk@live.com