Website privacy

Emma Hyland Holistic Counselling website is owned by Emma Hyland Holistic Counselling, which is a data controller of your personal data.

We have adopted this Privacy Policy, which determines how we are processing the information collected by Emma Hyland Holistic Counselling, which also provides the reasons why we must collect certain personal data about you.

We take care of your personal data and undertake to guarantee its confidentiality and security.

Personal information we collect: When you visit the Emma Hyland Holistic Counselling, we automatically collect certain information about your device, including information about your web browser, IP address, time zone, and some of the installed cookies on your device. Additionally, as you browse the Site, we collect information about the individual web pages or products you view, what websites or search terms referred you to the Site, and how you interact with the Site. We refer to this automatically-collected information as “Device Information.” We collect the personal data you provide to us (Name, Surname, Email, Phone number) if you fill out the Contact form, or if you book a 10-minute chat through the booking link.

Why do we process your data? Our top priority is customer data security, and, as such, we may process only minimal user data, only as much as it is absolutely necessary to maintain the website. Information collected automatically is used only to identify potential cases of abuse and establish statistical information regarding website usage. This statistical information is not otherwise aggregated in such a way that it would identify any particular user of the system.

You can visit the website without telling us who you are or revealing any information, by which someone could identify you as a specific, identifiable individual. If, however, you wish to contact us directly or book a 10-minute phone chat you will need to provide some personal details (Name, Surname, Email, Phone number).

Links to other websites: Our website may contain links to other websites that are not owned or controlled by us. Please be aware that we are not responsible for such other websites or third parties' privacy practices. We encourage you to be aware when you leave our website and read the privacy statements of each website that may collect personal information.

Information security: We secure information you provide on computer servers in a controlled, secure environment, protected from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure. We keep reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect against unauthorized access, use, modification, and personal data disclosure in its control and custody. However, no data transmission over the Internet or wireless network can be guaranteed.

Legal disclosure: We will disclose any information we collect, use or receive if required or permitted by law, such as to comply with a subpoena or similar legal process, and when we believe in good faith that disclosure is necessary to protect our rights, protect your safety or the safety of others, investigate fraud, or respond to a government request.

Australian Privacy Principles - Privacy Policy

Emma Hyland Holistic Counselling is committed to providing quality services to you and this policy outlines ongoing obligations to you in respect of how your Personal Information is managed.

Emma Hyland Holistic Counselling adopts the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) contained in the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (the Privacy Act). The APPs govern the way in which Personal Information is collected, used, disclosed, stored, secured and dispose of.

A copy of the Australian Privacy Principles may be obtained from the website of The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner at https://www.oaic.gov.au/.

Personal Information: Personal Information is information or an opinion that identifies an individual. Examples of Personal Information includes names, addresses, email addresses, and phone numbers.

This Personal Information is obtained in many ways including counselling sessions, intake forms, correspondence (including but not limited to telephone and email), and through the congruence-counselling website and more.

Your Personal Information is collected for the primary purpose of providing services or information about those services. Emma Hyland Holistic Counselling may also use your Personal Information for secondary purposes closely related to the primary purpose, in circumstances where you would reasonably expect such use or disclosure.

If you subscribe to any mailing lists via the website, you may unsubscribe at any time.

If the reason for collecting Personal Information is not obvious, Emma Hyland Holistic Counselling will explain why the Personal Information is being requested.

Sensitive Information: Sensitive information is defined in the Privacy Act to include information or opinion about such things as an individual's racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, membership of a political association, religious or philosophical beliefs, membership of a trade union or other professional body, criminal record or health information.

Sensitive information will be used by us only:

• For the primary purpose for which it was obtained

• For a secondary purpose that is directly related to the primary purpose

• With your consent; or where required or authorised by law.

Third Parties: Where reasonable and practicable to do so, Personal Information is collected only from you directly (with the exception of website-related information as described above). However, in some circumstances Emma Hyland Holistic Counselling may be provided with information by third parties.

Disclosure of Personal Information: Your Personal Information may be disclosed in a number of circumstances including the following:

• Third parties where you consent to the use or disclosure; and

• Where required or authorised by law.

Security of Personal Information: Your Personal Information is stored in a manner that reasonably protects it from misuse and loss and from unauthorized access, modification or disclosure.

When your Personal Information is no longer needed for the purpose for which it was obtained, Emma Hyland Holistic Counselling will take reasonable steps to destroy or permanently de-identify your Personal Information. However, most Personal Information is stored in client files which will be kept for a minimum of 7 years.

Access to your Personal Information: You may access the Personal Information we hold about you and to update and/or correct it, subject to certain exceptions. If you wish to access your Personal Information, please contact us in writing.

In order to protect your Personal Information we may require identification from you before releasing the requested information.

Maintaining the Quality of your Personal Information: It is an important that your Personal Information is up to date. Emma Hyland Holistic Counselling will take reasonable steps to make sure that your Personal Information is accurate, complete and up-to-date. If you find that the information is not up to date or is inaccurate, please advise Emma Hyland Holistic Counselling as soon as practicable so that your records can be updated.

Policy Updates: This Policy may change from time to time and is available on the Emma Hyland Holistic Counselling website (this page).

Privacy Policy Complaints and Enquiries: If you have any queries or complaints about this Privacy Policy please contact Emma Hyland Holistic Counselling.

Example Privacy & Confidentiality Agreement

The below example of a pre-counselling confidentiality agreement relates to information collected during a counselling session, and mostly covers what you disclose on your intake form and any notes that I record during sessions. My notes are generally brief and high-level, and serve to maintain continuity between sessions and inform review and planning of sessions.

Confidentiality and Record Keeping: In general, the information that you share with me will remain confidential. This means that I must protect your privacy and not share information about you with others. This applies whether the information is given to me verbally or in written form and extends to the fact that you have attended or will attend counselling with me. I have a legal obligation to protect this information, and I do so by ensuring that all records are kept secure. I will keep your counselling records for at least seven (7) years, and in some cases I may be required by law to retain records for a longer period.

Limits of Confidentiality: It is important that you understand, however, that there are certain circumstances under which I will share information about you or about what you have told me. These situations are:

• Where you have explicitly given me permission to share information, such as informing your emergency contact of an emergency situation or when you have given your permission for a referral.

• Where I consider you to be at risk of harming yourself or someone else.

• Where I consider a child to be at risk.

• In some cases where a significant crime may be or has been committed.

• Where your counselling records, or part thereof, have been requested by a court of law.

At times, I may also discuss aspects of our work together with my professional supervisor. This is an important part of meeting my professional responsibilities. I will not provide information that could identify you during these discussions.

Confidentiality Agreement: Before we commence counselling, you must agree to the confidentiality agreement to indicate your understanding of the information outlined here.

If you have any questions or concerns about privacy or confidentiality, please get in touch.

I understand the limits of confidentiality as they are outlined herein and agree to the terms outlined here.