Last Updated: April 16, 2025

At Camino Counselling, a counseling practice based in Alberta, Canada, we are dedicated to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of our clients, whether you receive in-person services in Alberta or virtual services in other Canadian provinces. This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your personal and health information when you use our services through our website (caminocounselling.net), virtual platforms, or in-person sessions. By engaging with our services, you consent to the practices described in this policy.

We comply with Alberta’s Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA), Alberta’s Health Information Act (HIA), the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), and applicable privacy laws in other Canadian provinces where we provide virtual services.

1. Information We Collect

We collect only the information necessary to provide effective counseling services, both for in-person and virtual sessions.

a. Personal and Health Information

• Contact Information: Name, email address, phone number, and mailing address.
• Health Information: Mental health history, therapy notes, EMDR-related data, and other Protected Health Information (PHI) shared during sessions, as defined by HIA.
• Billing and Insurance Information: Payment details (e.g., credit card) and insurance information for session fees or claims (e.g., via Telus eClaims or ProviderConnect).
• Account Information: Username, password, and preferences for our online client portal.

b. Non-Personal Information

• Usage Data: IP address, browser type, pages visited, and time spent on our website or virtual platforms.
• Cookies and Tracking Technologies: We use cookies to enhance your experience, such as saving login details or analyzing website performance.

c. Information from Minors

For clients under 19, we require parental or guardian consent to collect and process personal or health information, unless the minor is deemed mature under HIA to consent independently.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use your information to:

• Deliver and manage counseling services, including in-person and virtual sessions.
• Schedule appointments and communicate about services, updates, or reminders.
• Process payments and submit insurance claims (e.g., to insurers via Telus eClaims).
• Maintain therapy records as required by HIA and professional standards.
• Improve our services through anonymized analytics (e.g., website usage trends).
• Respond to your inquiries or requests.

3. How We Share Your Information

Your personal and health information is treated with strict confidentiality. We share it only in the following circumstances:

• With Your Consent: For example, sharing records with another professional (e.g., for referrals) or insurers for claims, with your explicit permission.
• Service Providers: We use trusted third parties (e.g., Zoom for virtual sessions, Jane App for scheduling, Stripe for payments) that comply with PIPA, HIA, and PIPEDA.
• Legal and Ethical Obligations: We may disclose information if required by law (e.g., court orders) or to fulfill mandatory reporting duties (e.g., imminent risk of harm to self or others, as per Alberta’s HIA).
• De-Identified Data: Anonymized data may be used for research or improving services, ensuring it cannot be linked to you.

4. Cross-Provincial Virtual Services

For virtual services provided to clients in other Canadian provinces, we comply with the privacy laws of the client’s province (e.g., BC’s PIPA, Ontario’s PHIPA). Personal and health information may be transferred across provincial borders but is protected under PIPEDA and equivalent provincial laws. We ensure secure transmission and storage of all data.

5. Data Security

We implement robust security measures to protect your information, including:

• Encryption of sensitive data (e.g., therapy notes, payment details) during transmission and storage.
• Restricted access to health information, limited to authorized personnel under HIA.
• Regular security audits of our systems and third-party providers.

While we take every precaution, no system is entirely secure. In the event of a data breach posing a real risk of significant harm, we will notify affected clients and the appropriate Privacy Commissioner (e.g., Alberta’s OIPC or Canada’s OPC) within 72 hours, as required by PIPA and PIPEDA.

6. Your Rights

Under PIPA, HIA, PIPEDA, and other provincial laws, you have the following rights:

• Access: Request a copy of your personal or health information.
• Correction: Ask us to correct inaccurate or incomplete information.
• Deletion: Request deletion of non-essential data, subject to HIA’s retention requirements (e.g., health records).
• Data Portability: Receive your data in a structured format, where feasible.
• Opt-Out: Opt out of non-essential uses, such as marketing emails.
• Restrict Processing: Request limits on how we use your information, where applicable.

To exercise these rights, contact us at [email protected]. We will respond within 30 days, as required by PIPA and PIPEDA.

7. Data Retention

We retain information only as long as necessary or required by law:

• Health Information: Retained for 10 years after the last service or until a minor turns 21, as mandated by HIA.
• Billing and Contact Information: Kept for 7 years to comply with tax and PIPA requirements.
• Non-Essential Data: Website analytics or marketing data is deleted after 2 years.

8. Third-Party Services

Our services rely on third-party providers, including:

• Virtual Platforms: Carepatron or similar platforms for virtual sessions (e.g. Zoom).
• Scheduling and Practice Management: Carepatron.
• Payment Processors: Stripe, Telus eClaims, and ProviderConnect.
• Analytics: Google Analytics for website performance.

These providers are contractually obligated to comply with Canadian privacy laws. We encourage you to review their privacy policies.

9. Cookies and Tracking

We use cookies to improve your experience (e.g., saving portal preferences). You can manage cookie settings via your browser. Essential cookies are required for our website and virtual services to function.

10. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this policy to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. We will notify you of significant updates via email, our website, or client portal. The “Last Updated” date indicates the latest revision.

11. Contact Us

For questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or your information, contact:

Camino Counselling
[email protected]
587 921 1242
39 – 10160 119 St NW, Edmonton, AB T5K 1Y9

You may also contact Alberta’s Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner (OIPC) at http://www.oipc.ab.ca or Canada’s Office of the Privacy Commissioner (OPC) at http://www.priv.gc.ca for further assistance.