Privacy Policy
Last Updated: 25 April 2025
At Mindful Mind Counselling & Consultancy, your privacy and confidentiality are central to the way I work. I am committed to protecting your personal information in line with the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), relevant Western Australian legislation, and the ethical guidelines of the Australian Counselling Association (ACA).
1. Personal Information I Collect
To provide safe and effective counselling, I may collect:
Identity & Contact Information: Name, address, phone, email, date of birth, and emergency contact.
Session Information: Notes and records about your presenting concerns, goals, and progress.
Health Information: Relevant mental, emotional, or medical history you choose to share.
Payment Information: Billing details (processed securely via third‑party providers).
Website Usage Data: IP address, browser type, and pages visited (via cookies/analytics).
Communication Data: Emails, calls, or messages exchanged with me.
I generally collect information directly from you. In some cases, with your consent or where legally required, I may receive information from third parties (e.g., a GP referral).
For duty of care, clients cannot remain fully anonymous. You may request to use a pseudonym, but I require a legal name as listed on identification.
2. Use of Personal Information
Your information is used to:
Provide counselling and therapy services tailored to your needs.
Manage appointments, billing, and communication.
Respond to enquiries and provide service information.
Improve services and website functionality.
Meet legal and ethical obligations.
3. Disclosure of Information
I will only share your information in limited circumstances:
With your consent.
If required by law (e.g., court order, child protection).
If there is a serious risk of harm to yourself or others.
With trusted service providers (e.g., secure payment processors, IT support) who are bound by privacy obligations.
In professional supervision, where identifying details are minimised and confidentiality is maintained.
I will never sell or trade your personal information.
4. Storage & Security
I take reasonable steps to protect your information, including:
Secure servers with encryption and password protection.
Locked storage for physical records.
Restricted access to authorised personnel only.
Procedures for responding to data breaches under the Notifiable Data Breaches Scheme.
Secure disposal of information when no longer required.
While I take care to protect your information, no system is 100% secure.
5. Your Rights
You have the right to:
Access the personal information I hold about you.
Request corrections if your information is inaccurate or outdated.
I may ask you to verify your identity before processing such requests.
6. Cookies & Website Analytics
My website may use cookies and analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics) to improve functionality and understand visitor use. You can manage cookies through your browser settings, though disabling them may affect site features.
7. Links to Other Websites
My website may contain links to external sites. I am not responsible for their privacy practices and encourage you to review their policies.
8. Contact
If you have any questions or concerns about this policy, please contact:
Mindful Mind Counselling & Consultancy
I will respond within a reasonable timeframe.
9. Updates to This Policy
This policy may be updated from time to time to reflect changes in practice, law, or ACA guidelines. The most recent version will always be available on my website.
10. Complaints
If you are not satisfied with my response to a privacy concern, you may lodge a complaint with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC). See www.oaic.gov.au for details.