Privacy Policy
Anastasia Bortsova Counselling ("we", "us", "our") respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and disclose your personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs), and the Health Records and Information Privacy Act 2002 (NSW).
By using our website, contacting us, or engaging our counselling services, you agree to the collection and use of your information as described in this Privacy Policy.
Personal Information We Collect
Depending on your interaction with our practice, we may collect: your full name; email address; phone number; residential address (where required); date of birth; emergency contact details (where appropriate); information about your physical or mental health relevant to counselling; GP or other healthcare provider details (if you choose to provide them); information you share during counselling sessions; information provided through enquiry forms, emails or other communications. Some of this information is considered sensitive information under Australian privacy law and is handled with additional care.
How We Collect Information
We collect information directly from you when you: contact us through our website or email; book or enquire about counselling services; complete intake or consent forms; attend counselling sessions; communicate with us by phone, email, or video conference. We only collect information that is reasonably necessary to provide counselling services and operate our practice.
How We Use Your Information
Your personal information is used to: provide counselling services; understand your needs and develop appropriate support; communicate with you regarding appointments; maintain confidential client records; process payments; comply with legal and professional obligations; protect your safety or the safety of others where required by law. We will only use your information for the purpose for which it was collected unless you provide consent or we are legally required to do otherwise.
Online Counselling
Counselling sessions are conducted via Zoom. While we take reasonable steps to protect your privacy, no internet-based communication can be guaranteed to be completely secure. We encourage clients to attend sessions from a private location using a secure internet connection.
Storage and Security
We take reasonable steps to protect your personal information from misuse, loss, unauthorised access, modification or disclosure. This includes: password-protected devices; secure digital storage; restricted access to client information; secure handling of electronic records. As a sole practitioner, only Anastasia Bortsova has access to your confidential information. Client records are retained in accordance with Australian legal and professional requirements. Generally, records are kept for a minimum of seven (7) years after your final counselling session, unless a longer retention period is required by law.
Disclosure of Information
Your information remains confidential and will not be shared with third parties without your consent, except where disclosure is required or authorised by Australian law. This may include circumstances where: there is a serious and imminent threat to your life, health or safety or the safety of another person; disclosure is required by a court or other legal authority; mandatory reporting obligations apply; disclosure is otherwise required under Australian legislation. Where appropriate and possible, we will discuss any disclosure with you beforehand.
Payments
Payments are currently accepted via bank transfer. We do not store your banking information other than records necessary for accounting and legal purposes.
Access and Correction
You may request access to the personal information we hold about you and request corrections if you believe it is inaccurate or incomplete. Requests can be made by email to anastasia.a.zernova@gmail.com. We will respond within a reasonable timeframe in accordance with Australian privacy legislation.
Cookies and Website Information
Our website may collect limited technical information such as browser type, IP address, and pages visited to help improve website performance and user experience. If additional analytics services (such as Google Analytics) are introduced in the future, this Privacy Policy will be updated accordingly.
Privacy Complaints
If you have any concerns about how your personal information has been handled, please contact us first at anastasia.a.zernova@gmail.com. If you are not satisfied with our response, you may contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC).
Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practice, technology, or legal obligations. The most current version will always be available on our website.