Privacy Policy

Confidentiality:

Confidentiality is really important and will be discussed at our first session.  In working together, whatever we discuss remains entirely confidential.  If during therapy, you disclose harmful thoughts with the intent to action, whether towards yourself or someone else and I am concerned about your or someone else’s safety, I will discuss appropriate options for us to take together as this is the only scenario in which I have an obligation to inform someone.

If we see each other in public, I won’t initiate contact by approaching you or greeting you.  I will follow your lead in an effort to uphold your confidentiality.

I also keep some notes related to our conversations and in some cases, recordings (if that has been agreed to) those along with any other information related to our sessions together will be stored securely on a password protected, encrypted hard drive and deleted frequently.  Notes will be kept in accordance with the expectations set out in the Privacy Act.

Retention of Records:

In accordance with the Health (Retention of Health Information) Regulations 1996 and professional ethical standards, I am required to keep your therapy notes and related records for a minimum of 10 years after your last session.

  • If you are under 18 years old, your records will be kept until at least your 28th birthday.

  • For ACC or insurance-related services, records may need to be held for longer, in line with contract requirements.

  • After the retention period, your records will be securely destroyed (e.g., shredding or permanent digital deletion).

Your information will always be stored securely and kept confidential in line with the Privacy Act 2020 and the Health Information Privacy Code 2020.

Supervision:

In an effort to ensure and maintain best practice, I attend supervision.  The purpose is to improve the quality of work I do with clients.  As part of this process, I will discuss clients with my supervisor but during these conversations your identifying information remains confidential.  Recorded material might also be presented as part of this process and again confidentiality is held in highest regard.   My supervisor is also committed to strict confidentiality.  I have peer and clinical supervision in all of the various modalities I have received formal training in.  (Eg. Hakomi, CM, EMDR)

Cancellations, Arriving Late & Missed Sessions:

If you’re unable to attend a session, for whatever reason, please let me know as soon as possible as this allows the opportunity for me to fill the time that was reserved for you.  For face-to-face clients, Telehealth is an option.  If you cancel within more than 3 days prior to our scheduled session, there will be no cancellation fee.  If, however, you notify me with less than 3 days’ notice, the full session fee will be invoiced. This applies also in the case of feeling unwell or under the weather, however, I am willing to consider exceptions on a case-by-case basis.  If you’ve missed or cancelled sessions a few times in close concession, we will discuss what might be happening and whether there’s something we could do to support whatever might be the cause.  I fully appreciate that ‘life happens’ and that might mean that sometimes you might turn up late.  This means that we may just have to work with whatever time is left for the session.

If I need to reschedule or cancel our appointment, I will give you as much notice as possible.  I’ll also do my best to ensure any time away for continuing professional development or annual leave, is communicated at least 3 weeks in advance, if not, more.

We collect personal information from you, including information about your:

  • Name
  • Contact information
  • Payment details

We collect your personal information in order to:

  • Contact you about your enquiries and bookings
  • Process orders
  • Ship products to you

 

Providing some information is optional. If you choose not to enter contact number or email addresses, we won’t be able to book your appointments or call you back.

We keep your information safe by storing it securely and only allowing the director to access it.

You have the right to ask for a copy of any personal information we hold about you, and to ask for it to be corrected if you think it is wrong. If you’d like to ask for a copy of your information, or to have it corrected, please contact us at info@mindsolutions.co.nz.