Privacy Policy

Accountability

Alula Counselling & Wellness will be responsible for all personal information under our control and ensure our centre’s compliance with the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act, S.C. 2000, c.5 (PIPEDA) and our own Privacy Policy as set out herein. If we engage third parties to process personal information, we will ensure the data is protected at a level comparable to or exceeding our own standards and industry requirements
Identify Purposes

Alula Counselling & Wellness will identify the purpose for which we collect personal information on or before the time of collection. All referrals received from our clients will be reviewed to ensure that their requests for information are compliant with PIPEDA. We collect confidential information and medical records solely to provide appropriate treatment and enable assessors to conduct accurate evaluations.
Consent
Alula Counselling & Wellness will obtain the appropriate consent from individuals for the collection, use or disclosure of personal information, except where the law provides an exception. Expressed consent is specific authorization given by the individual to Psychotherapy/ Counselling Services, either in writing or verbally. Implied consent is when Psychotherapy/ Counselling Services has not received specific consent, but the circumstances allow us to collect, use, or disclose personal information. When possible, we may obtain expressed consent for the collection, use, or disclosure of personal information, or when we determine that consent has been implied by the circumstances. Personal information will only be collected, used and disclosed by us without consent in accordance with Section 7 of the PIPEDA.
Limiting Collection
Any personal information collected will be limited to that which is necessary for the purposes as stated under ”Identify Purposes” above. We collect information transparently and lawfully, without misleading individuals about the purpose of collection. Our policies and procedures relating to the limitations on the collection of personal information will be regularly communicated to our staff who deal with the collection, use and disclosure of personal information.
Limiting Use, Disclosure & Retention
Personal information will only be used or disclosed for the purposes for which it is collected, except with the consent of the individual or as permitted by law. We will only retain personal information as long as necessary for the fulfillment of those purposes or as required by regulatory bodies. Personal information that is no longer required to fulfill identified purposes will be destroyed, erased, or made anonymous. Please note that there may be situations where we use, disclose or retain personal information for legitimate purposes not identified to the individual to which the information pertains, including those situations referred to under “Consent’ above.
Accuracy
Any personal information we collect will be as accurate, complete and up-to-date as necessary for its intended purposes. We ensure personal information remains relevant to its original collection purpose. If a significant error or omission is identified, we will correct or amend the information as necessary. Where possible, we will send such corrected or amended information to third parties who have had access to the information in question.
Safeguards
Psychotherapy/Counselling Services will safeguard all personal information under our control in a manner that is appropriate to the sensitivity of the information. We will take all the physical security measures necessary, including properly locking our facilities and/or locking all personal information in secure filing areas, and securing all electronic storage devices. All Psychotherapy/Counselling Services personnel are properly trained in the policies that pertain to these safeguards. We implement physical safeguards such as secured filing systems and restricted access to electronic devices, alongside staff training on data protection.
Openness
We will make available to all individuals requests, specific information about our policies and procedures relating to the management of the personal information that is under our control. In addition, we will make available to the public easily understandable information about our company’s privacy policy.
Individual Access
An individual, upon request, will be informed of the existence, use and disclosure of their personal information in our possession, and may be given access to their information. The individual may be permitted to challenge the accuracy and the completeness of that information and correct or amend information found to be deficient. Where appropriate, amended information will be sent to any third parties having access to the information. Access may be denied only if permitted by law, including cases involving legal investigations, solicitor-client privilege, or imminent threats to safety.

- The information was collected without the individual's knowledge or consent for the purposes related to an investigation of a breach of an agreement or contravention of laws, regulations or any other lawful exemption (the Privacy Commissioner must be notified).
- The information is protected by the solicitor-client privilege.
- Someone's life or security might be compromised.
- The information was generated during the course of a formal dispute resolution process.
Challenging Compliance
According to PIPEDA, “An individual shall be able to address a challenge concerning compliance with the principles to the designated individual or individuals accountable for the organization's compliance.” We investigate all requests and complaints promptly and respond within 30 days, outlining actions taken or justification for denial.

If you have any questions about our privacy practices and procedures, we encourage you to contact us:

Alula Counselling & Wellness

Clinical Director: Hoi Yee Mak

Suite 1400, 18 King Street East, Toronto, ON M5C1C4

Contact #: 437-447-5200

If we cannot satisfy or resolve your concerns, you have the right to file a complaint with your clinician’s regulatory body:

The Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers

250 Bloor Street East, Suite 1000, Toronto, Ontario M4W 1E6

Tel: (416) 972-9882

Fax: (416) 972-1512

Web: www.ocswssw.org

Your privacy is critically important to us.

Thank you for taking the time to read our Privacy Policy. You will be asked to acknowledge the Policy in the intake form. Your therapist will go through this policy with you in the first session.