Privacy Policy

1) Personal Information We May Collect

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Bridge to Wellness & Recovery collects only the personal information reasonably necessary to provide counselling and related services, communicate with clients, operate the practice, and meet applicable professional and legal obligations.

Depending on your interaction with the practice, information collected may include:

• Name and contact information, including telephone number and email address

• Date of birth and other identifying information when necessary

• Emergency contact information

• Information provided through website inquiries or contact forms

• Appointment and scheduling information

• Information related to counselling, including presenting concerns, personal history, substance use, mental health concerns, recovery goals, and other information voluntarily shared during counselling

• Counselling notes and records

• Consent forms and other practice documents

• Relevant medical, treatment, or service-provider information voluntarily provided by the client

• Billing and payment information

• Communications with the practice, including email and telephone communications

• Other information reasonably necessary to provide counselling and recovery support
   

We aim to collect only the information reasonably necessary for the identified purpose.
 

2. How Personal Information Is Used
 

Personal information may be used to:

• Respond to inquiries about services

• Determine whether the services offered are appropriate for a prospective client

• Schedule, confirm, change, or cancel appointments

• Provide addiction, mental health, recovery, and family-support counselling services

• Develop and support individualized counselling goals and plans

• Maintain appropriate counselling and administrative records

• Communicate with clients regarding their services

• Process payments and maintain financial records

• Coordinate services or communicate with another professional or organization when the client has provided appropriate consent

• Make referrals when services outside the counsellor's scope of practice are required

• Meet applicable legal, ethical, insurance, administrative, and record-keeping obligations

• Protect the safety and legal rights of clients, the counsellor, and others when required or permitted by law

 

Personal information will not be sold or rented to third parties.

3. Consent
 

Whenever reasonably possible, personal information is collected, used, and disclosed with the client's knowledge and consent.

Consent may be written, verbal, or implied depending on the circumstances, the sensitivity of the information, and the purpose for which it is being collected.

Clients may withdraw consent for certain uses or disclosures of their information, subject to legal, contractual, record-keeping, and other applicable limitations.

Withdrawal of consent does not require the deletion of records that the practice is legally or reasonably required to retain.
 

4. Confidentiality of Counselling Services

 

Information shared during counselling is treated as private and confidential.

Client information is not ordinarily disclosed to family members, friends, employers, other service providers, or other third parties without the client's consent.

 

However, confidentiality is not absolute. Information may be disclosed without consent when required or permitted by applicable law. Examples may include circumstances involving:

• A serious and imminent risk of harm to the client or another person

• Suspected abuse or neglect where there is a legal duty to report

• A court order, warrant, subpoena, or other lawful requirement for disclosure

• Another circumstance in which disclosure is required or permitted by law

 

Where reasonably possible and legally permitted, the client will be informed of a disclosure of confidential information.

 

Only information reasonably necessary for the particular purpose will be disclosed.

 

5. Online Counselling

 

Bridge to Wellness & Recovery may provide counselling through secure online or video-based platforms.

 

Although reasonable precautions are taken to protect privacy, electronic communication carries inherent privacy and security risks. These may include technical failures, unauthorized access, interception, or other circumstances outside the practice's reasonable control.

 

Clients participating in online counselling are encouraged to:

• Use a private location where conversations cannot easily be overheard

• Use a secure internet connection and password-protected device

• Avoid public Wi-Fi when discussing sensitive information

• Use headphones when appropriate

• Protect passwords and access information associated with online appointments

 

Clients should inform the counsellor if privacy cannot reasonably be maintained during an online session.

 

6. Telephone Counselling

 

Counselling may also be provided by telephone.

 

Clients are responsible for selecting a location where they feel comfortable speaking privately. Telephone communications may carry privacy risks, including the possibility of being overheard or accessed through voicemail, call logs, shared devices, or telecommunications systems.

 

Reasonable precautions will be taken by Bridge to Wellness & Recovery to maintain confidentiality during telephone counselling.

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7. In-Person Counselling

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Reasonable measures are taken to maintain privacy and confidentiality during in-person counselling sessions.

 

Clients should be aware that complete anonymity when entering or leaving a counselling location cannot be guaranteed, as other individuals may be present in or around the building or surrounding area.

 

8. Email and Electronic Communications

 

Email may be used for scheduling, administrative communication, sending forms or resources, and responding to inquiries.

 

Standard email and text-based communications may not be fully secure. Clients are encouraged to limit highly sensitive personal or counselling information sent through ordinary email or text messages.

 

By choosing to communicate with Bridge to Wellness & Recovery electronically, clients acknowledge the inherent privacy risks associated with electronic communication.

 

Email is not continuously monitored and should not be used for emergencies or situations requiring an immediate response.

 

9. Website Inquiries

 

When you contact Bridge to Wellness & Recovery through the website, you may voluntarily provide information such as your name, email address, telephone number, and details about the services you are seeking.

 

Please avoid including highly sensitive personal, health, or counselling information in website inquiry forms unless necessary.

 

Information submitted through the website will be used primarily to respond to your inquiry and facilitate access to services.

 

Submitting an inquiry through the website does not, by itself, establish a counsellor-client relationship.

 

10. Website Technology and Third-Party Services

 

The Bridge to Wellness & Recovery website may use website-hosting, scheduling, communication, analytics, security, or other third-party technology providers to operate the website and provide services.

 

These providers may process limited information in accordance with their own privacy practices and applicable agreements.

 

The website may also use cookies or similar technologies for functionality, security, performance, or analytics purposes. Your browser settings may allow you to control or disable certain cookies.

 

Links to third-party websites may occasionally be provided for convenience or informational purposes. Bridge to Wellness & Recovery is not responsible for the privacy practices or content of external websites.

 

11. Protection and Security of Personal Information

 

Bridge to Wellness & Recovery takes reasonable administrative, physical, and technological measures to protect personal information against unauthorized access, collection, use, disclosure, copying, modification, loss, theft, or disposal.

 

Depending on the type of information, safeguards may include:

• Password-protected devices and accounts

• Secure electronic record storage

• Appropriate access controls

• Secure storage of physical records

• Updated device and software security

• Limiting access to client information

• Secure methods for destroying records when appropriate

 

No electronic system can be guaranteed to be completely secure. Reasonable precautions are used to reduce privacy and security risks.

 

12. Counselling Records

 

Bridge to Wellness & Recovery maintains counselling records as reasonably necessary to document services provided and support continuity of care.

 

Records may include appointment information, intake information, consent documents, counselling notes, treatment or counselling goals, correspondence, referrals, and other information relevant to the services provided.

 

Records are retained for an appropriate period based on applicable legal, insurance, professional, contractual, and practice requirements and are securely destroyed when they are no longer required.

 

13. Accessing or Correcting Your Information

 

Clients may request access to personal information maintained about them and may request correction of information they believe is inaccurate or incomplete.

 

Certain information may be withheld where access is restricted or prohibited by applicable law, would reveal confidential information about another person, or where another lawful exception applies.

Requests may be submitted using the contact information below.

 

14. Disclosure to Other Professionals or Organizations

 

With appropriate client consent, Bridge to Wellness & Recovery may communicate with other professionals, treatment providers, physicians, programs, legal representatives, family members, or organizations involved in supporting the client.

 

When appropriate, written consent may be requested before information is released.

 

Consent may identify:

• The person or organization authorized to receive information

• The information that may be disclosed

• The purpose of the disclosure

• Any applicable limitations

• The period for which the authorization remains valid

 

Clients may withdraw an authorization, subject to applicable legal and practical limitations.

 

15. Privacy Breaches

 

If Bridge to Wellness & Recovery becomes aware of the loss, theft, unauthorized access, or unauthorized disclosure of personal information, reasonable steps will be taken to contain the incident, assess the potential risk, and take appropriate corrective action.  Affected individuals and/or the appropriate authority will be notified when required by applicable privacy law.

 

16. Privacy Questions, Concerns, and Complaints

 

Questions, concerns, requests for access or correction, and privacy-related complaints should first be directed to Bridge to Wellness & Recovery.  Privacy concerns will be taken seriously and reviewed as promptly as reasonably possible.  If a concern cannot be resolved directly with the practice, individuals may also have the right to contact the appropriate federal or provincial privacy authority.

 

17. Changes to This Privacy Policy

 

This Privacy Policy may be updated periodically to reflect changes to services, technology, business practices, or applicable legal requirements.  The most current version will be posted on the Bridge to Wellness & Recovery website with the date of the most recent update.

 

Contact Information

Bridge to Wellness & Recovery
Addiction & Mental Health Services

Telephone: (613) 416-3878
Email: info@bridgewellnessrecovery.com
Website: www.bridgewellnessrecovery.com

 

For questions or concerns regarding this Privacy Policy or the handling of your personal information, please contact Bridge to Wellness & Recovery using the information above.

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