Privacy Policy

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Second Chances Wellness Corp. (doing business as Second Chances Counselling) is committed to maintaining privacy for our clients, in accordance with applicable provincial and federal legislation, and with the highest levels of accountability and transparency, even as we aim to make it as easy as possible for clients to use technology to access information about us and our services.  This statement applies to Second Chances Counselling offices, as well as our website, and governs all manner of data collection and usage. 

In order to deliver services to clients, Second Chances Counselling collects personally identifiable information such as email, address, name, phone numbers, etc. directly from clients.  This information may be provided to us in a variety of formats, including electronic, oral or in writing. In cases where information is collected from other sources we endeavour to ensure that client permission via informed consent has been secured.

Personal information collected is solely for the purposes of providing services to clients, and to adhere to the legal and ethical obligations of the Counselling & Psychotherapy profession.  Second Chances Counselling does not sell, rent, lease or otherwise make available to any outside party, any client information.  The only exceptions to this would be when Second Chances Counselling is aware of imminent harm to: self, others, a risk of harm to a child (18 & under) or vulnerable adult.

Second Chances Counselling may also disclose personal information without notice, in rare cases where such disclosure is necessary to comply with a legal order.

We obtain your acknowledgement of these exceptions via signing a consent form as part of the initial intake process.   

At Second Chances Counselling, clients always have the right to access their personal information and to determine whether or not to share their private information with anyone else.  If a file is shared with others, the client must first consent to the release of information in writing.

Any disposal of client information is undertaken with the highest standards of privacy in mind.  At Second Chances Counselling we are required by law to securely store client files for a period of at least seven (7) years after the most recent client contact, before confidentially disposing of records. Clients are always able to revoke any payment related info at any time, and Second Chances Counselling will immediately dispose of such payment related information.

At Second Chances Counselling we have a number of tools we use to ensure Client Privacy beyond the practitioner / client relationship.  These tools include (but are not limited to): policies and procedures banning the use of paper files, limiting staff access to client information through the use of permissions and passwords, and using only third party vendors who abide by all legal requirements for Client Privacy in Canada and British Columbia, and the provision of this privacy policy to anyone who requests it.

While Second Chances Counselling takes all reasonable steps to secure and manage our client's privacy, it is essential that our clients consider protecting their own information.  Please be thoughtful about protecting your email accounts and technology with high security passwords and consider how the use of public internet connections (i.e. free shared Wi-Fi) and other forms of shared technology may put your privacy at risk.

All Counselling sessions with a minor (18 & under) must have a parent, guardian, or authorized adult attend with the minor. 

From time to time, there may be changes to our Privacy Policy, as we refine and update our knowledge of the topic.  All such updates will be posted in the same location on our website.

As part of our ethical approach to providing services, Second Chances Counselling has a designated Privacy Officer who is accountable for compliance with Privacy Legislation.  Our Office Manager oversees all aspects of our Client Privacy policy.  Please direct any inquires to secondchanceswellness@gmail.com.