IN ACCORDANCE WITH LEGISLATURE, DR. REBECCA NEMIROFF HAS BEEN APPOINTED AS THE PSYCHOLOGIST IN CHARGE OF SAFEGUARDING THE PRIVATE INFORMATION OF ALL CLIENTS AT THE AYLMER MENTAL HEALTH CLINIC. FOR ANY CONCERNS REGARDING PRIVACY AND CONFIDENTIALITY, PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT DR. NEMIROFF.
CONFIDENTIALITY
All verbal and/or written exchanges will be maintained in confidence, and information will never be released to a third party without the client’s express consent. However, there are certain EXCEPTIONS to confidentiality. Some exceptions vary by province, as noted below:
PRIVACY
Safeguarding your privacy means that the confidential information entrusted to your therapist will be well protected. All paper files are kept in a locked filing cabinet in the office, and the office itself is locked when not occupied. All electronic files are password protected and stored in an encrypted file.
Privacy also means that you have the right not to share information with your therapist if you do not wish to. Psychotherapy, counselling, and psychological assessment involve sharing very personal information; however, your clinician will not ask for information that they do not feel will be relevant to your care, and you always have the right to refuse to answer any questions.
Sometimes you may happen to run into your therapist in a public setting. This is especially true in a relatively small community like Aylmer. If this should happen, your therapist will never approach you, but will leave the choice to make contact or not to your discretion.
In order to protect your privacy, your therapist cannot accept friend or follow requests from current or former clients on social media.
CONFIDENTIALITY
All verbal and/or written exchanges will be maintained in confidence, and information will never be released to a third party without the client’s express consent. However, there are certain EXCEPTIONS to confidentiality. Some exceptions vary by province, as noted below:
- If you are in danger of seriously hurting yourself, your therapist will be obliged to take appropriate action to ensure your safety.
- If there is a danger that you will hurt someone else, your service provider will take appropriate action to ensure that person’s safety.
- Protection of vulnerable people:
- If your therapist has reasonable grounds to suspect a child presently is in need of protection, in other words, has been, is or is in danger of physical, sexual, emotional or mental abuse or neglect, they will have to inform the appropriate authorities.
- If you therapist has reasonable grounds to suspect an elder who lives in a retirement residence or long-term care facility is in need of protection, they will have to inform the appropriate authorities
- Sexual abuse by a health professional: In Ontario, your therapist has an obligation to report any sexual abuse by a health professional to that professional’s regulating body. You do not have to disclose your identity.
- Court Order: If you are involved in a legal case, your records may be subpoenaed by the courts.
- Signed consent by you is required for communication with other professionals and for receiving or providing information related to your care, with the exception of other members of your mental health team (if relevant).
- Parents of Minor Children
- In Quebec, parents have the right to see the records of children under the age of 14.
- In Ontario, parents have the right to see the records of a child who is not legally considered responsible for making their own healthcare decisions. In general, children under 12 are not considered responsible for making their own healthcare decisions.
- Professional Standards: Your therapist’s professional order may, at times, request access to client files in order to ensure compliance with professional standards. If this happens, the order has an obligation to respect your privacy and confidentiality.
- Consultation With Other Professionals: Your therapist may meet with other professionals, either within or outside the clinic, to consult about clinical cases. No names or identifying information is given. All information remains confidential.
- Record of Services: Each therapist will maintain their own written record of services. Your file is the property of your therapist(s) (or their supervisor in the case of trainees) and will be stored securely and kept private and confidential. Your therapist or their supervisor must keep your file for a period of time following the termination of services (five years in Quebec; 10 years, or 10 years following your 18th birthday in Ontario).
- If your therapist is working under the supervision of a licensed professional, they will discuss your care with their supervisor
- If you are under the care of a mental health team, team members will communicate with each other about your care.
PRIVACY
Safeguarding your privacy means that the confidential information entrusted to your therapist will be well protected. All paper files are kept in a locked filing cabinet in the office, and the office itself is locked when not occupied. All electronic files are password protected and stored in an encrypted file.
Privacy also means that you have the right not to share information with your therapist if you do not wish to. Psychotherapy, counselling, and psychological assessment involve sharing very personal information; however, your clinician will not ask for information that they do not feel will be relevant to your care, and you always have the right to refuse to answer any questions.
Sometimes you may happen to run into your therapist in a public setting. This is especially true in a relatively small community like Aylmer. If this should happen, your therapist will never approach you, but will leave the choice to make contact or not to your discretion.
In order to protect your privacy, your therapist cannot accept friend or follow requests from current or former clients on social media.
