Privacy Policy

Effective Date: July 31, 2026

Introduction

At Bloomstead Counselling, protecting your personal information is an important part of providing safe, ethical, and professional counselling services. I am committed to handling your personal information with care, respect, and confidentiality.

This Privacy Policy explains how your personal information is collected, used, stored, and protected, as well as your rights regarding your information.

What Information Is Collected

To provide counselling services, I may collect personal information including:

  • your name and contact information

  • date of birth

  • emergency contact information

  • health history

  • mental health history

  • medications

  • information discussed during counselling sessions

  • assessment results

  • treatment plans

  • appointment history

  • billing and payment information

I collect only the information that is reasonably necessary to provide quality counselling services and meet professional and legal obligations.

How Information is Collected

Personal information may be collected:

  • directly from you during counselling sessions

  • through intake forms and questionnaires

  • through email, telephone, or the Jane Client Portal

  • from another health-care provider when you have provided written consent

  • where collection is otherwise authorized or required by law

How Your Information Is Used

Your information is used to:

  • provide counselling services

  • assess your needs and develop treatment goals

  • maintain clinical records

  • schedule appointments

  • communicate with you regarding your care

  • issue invoices and receipts

  • comply with legal, ethical, insurance, and professional requirements

Your personal information will never be collected, used, or disclosed for purposes unrelated to your care without your knowledge or consent, unless required or permitted by law.

Confidentiality and Disclosure

Your personal information is confidential.

Information will not be shared with another person without your written consent except where disclosure is permitted or required by law.

Examples include:

  • if there is concern that you are at imminent risk of seriously harming yourself

  • if there is concern that an identifiable person is at imminent risk of serious harm

  • where there is a legal duty to report suspected abuse or neglect of a child

  • when disclosure is required by a court order or other legal authority

  • when otherwise required by applicable legislation

As part of providing safe and effective care, I participate in ongoing clinical supervision. Relevant aspects of your care may be discussed with my clinical supervisor when clinically appropriate. My supervisor is bound by the same legal and ethical obligations to maintain confidentiality.

Whenever possible, only the minimum amount of personal information necessary will be collected, used, or disclosed.

Storage and Protection of Information

Bloomstead Counselling uses reasonable administrative, physical, and technological safeguards to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, or loss.

Electronic records are securely maintained using Jane, a secure practice management system that utilizes encryption and other security measures designed to protect personal information.

Although every reasonable effort is made to protect electronic information, no method of electronic communication or storage can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

Jane Practice Management System

Bloomstead Counselling uses Jane, a secure Canadian practice management system, to manage appointments, electronic health records, billing, secure client communications, and other administrative functions.

Jane employs industry-standard security measures, including encryption and secure servers, to help protect your personal information.

Email and Electronic Communication

Email is provided primarily for scheduling and administrative purposes.

Please avoid sending highly sensitive personal information through email whenever possible.

While reasonable precautions are taken to protect electronic communication, email cannot be guaranteed to be completely secure.

By communicating with Bloomstead Counselling via email, you acknowledge and accept the inherent privacy risks associated with electronic communication.

Record Retention

Clinical records are retained for the period required by applicable legislation and professional standards.

Once the required retention period has ended, records are securely destroyed in a manner that protects your privacy.

If you would like access to your clinical record, please submit your request in writing. Requests will be reviewed in accordance with applicable legislation and professional standards. In limited circumstances, access to certain information may be restricted where permitted by law.

Access to and Correction of Records

You may request access to your personal information by submitting a written request.

Requests will be considered in accordance with applicable legislation and professional standards. In limited circumstances, access may be restricted where permitted or required by law.

If you believe information in your record is inaccurate or incomplete, you may request a correction. If a correction cannot be made, a statement of disagreement may be added to your file where appropriate.

Your Privacy Rights

You have the right to:

  • request access to your personal information, subject to applicable legislation

  • request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information

  • ask questions about how your information is collected, used, stored, or disclosed

  • withdraw consent for certain uses or disclosures where legally permitted

  • receive a copy of this Privacy Policy

  • raise concerns regarding your privacy without fear of discrimination

Privacy Contact

Bloomstead Counselling collects, uses, stores, and discloses personal information in accordance with applicable Alberta privacy legislation, including the Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA), as well as applicable professional standards and ethical obligations.

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or how your information is handled, please contact:

Natalie Rosery

Bloomstead Counselling

Email: natalie@bloomsteadcounselling.com

Phone: 587-882-9453

Personal information may be collected:

  • directly from you during appointments

  • through intake forms and questionnaires

  • through email, telephone, or the Jane Client Portal

  • from another health-care provider when you have provided written consent

  • when required by law

Privacy Concerns

If you have questions or concerns about how your personal information is handled, I encourage you to discuss them with me.

If your privacy concerns cannot be resolved directly with Bloomstead Counselling, you may contact the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Alberta (OIPC) for information about your privacy rights under Alberta legislation.

Changes to This Policy

This Privacy Policy may be updated from time to time to reflect changes in legislation, technology, or professional practice. The most current version of this Privacy Policy is available upon request.