This privacy policy sets out how Care For Your Mind uses and protects any information that you provide Care For Your Mind when you use this website.
Care For Your Mind is committed to ensuring that your privacy is maintained and protected. If we request certain information in which you can be identified when using this website, you can be assured that this information will only be used in accordance with this privacy statement.
Care For Your Mind may change this policy from time to time. You should check this page regularly to ensure that you are happy with any changes. This policy is effective from 2022.
What information do we collect?
The following information may be collected:
· Name
· Contact information including email address
· Demographic information
What do we do with the information we gather?
Care For Your Mind requires this information to better understand your needs and provide you with a service that aligns with your reasons for accessing our service and for the following reasons:
· Internal record keeping
· To improve our service offerings
· To send promotional material which we think may be of interest to you
· To contact you according to the preference you select once you become a client and strictly based on the safety and consent information you provide us.
Having control of your personal information
You may choose to restrict the collection or use of your personal information by doing the following, where you are asked to fill in a form whenever you are asked to fill in a form on a website look for the box that you can click to indicate that you do not want the information to be used by anybody for direct marketing purposes. If you have previously agreed to us using your personal information for direct marketing purposes, you may change your mind at any time by writing to us.
We will not sell, distribute, or lease your personal information to third parties unless we have your permission or are required by law to do so. We may use your personal information to send you promotional information about third parties which we think you may find interesting if you tell us that you wish this to happen.
At any time, you may request details of personal information which we hold about you under the Data Protection Act 1998. A small fee will be payable. If you would like a copy of the information about you, please writing to us requesting so.
If you believe that any information, we are holding on you is incorrect or incomplete, please contact us as soon as possible. We will amend any information that is incomplete or inaccurate.
Disclosure of your personal information
At times we may be required to disclose certain information, which may include your personal data to comply with a legal requirement, such as a law, regulation, court order, subpoena, warrant, during a legal proceeding or in response to a law enforcement agency request. Also, we may use your Personal Data to protect the rights, property or safety of Care For Your Mind, our clients or third parties
Security
We strive to ensure the security, integrity and privacy of your personal information submitted to our website is confidential. We continue to update our security measures considering emerging technologies.
How do we use cookies?
A cookie is a small file which asks permission to be placed onto your computer's hard drive. Once you agree, the file is added, and the cookie helps analyse web traffic or alerts you when you visit a particular site.
Essentially, cookies allow web applications to respond to you as an individual. The web application can then tailor its operations in alignment with your needs, likes and dislikes by gathering information about you. This helps us analyse data about web page traffic and improve our website to tailor it to meet your needs. This information is purely used for statistical analysis purposes and then the data is removed from the system.
Overall, cookies assist us to provide you with a better website, by enabling us to monitor which pages you are finding useful, and those which you don't find useful. A cookie does not give us access to your computer or any other data about you. You get to make the choice to accept or decline cookies. Most website browsers automatically accept cookies, however you can modify your settings to decline if you wish.
Links to other websites
From time to time we may have other websites listed on our website which may be of interest to you. However, once you have used these links to leave our site, we no longer have control over an external websites content.
Therefore, we cannot be responsible for the protection and privacy of any information which you provide whilst visiting such sites and such sites are not governed by this privacy statement. You should exercise caution and look at the privacy statement applicable to the website you are visiting.
Social Media
Social media is used as a connection platform. You will notice there is a link to the Care For Your Mind Instagram account on this page. Our policy on social media use is informed by the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA) ethical practice guidelines. These are listed in "Code of Conduct".
Social Media & Friend Requests
We do not accept clients or former clients as friends on any social media platform. As this is against the ethical code as a Psychotherapist and compromises the therapeutic relationship. The issue of privacy and confidentiality has the potential to be compromised and we take your confidentiality incredibly seriously.
Contacting Us
If you want to contact us to ask a question, make an appointment, send a referral or anything else that requires you to contact us, please call, text, or email us directly at the details on the contact page. Please do not attempt to contact us by any other social media platform as this can also compromise your confidentiality.
Furthermore, we do not engage with clients via DM (direct messaging) on the Care For Your Mind Instagram page. We will respectfully redirect anyone to the email address should they attempt to connect with us in that way.
If you need to contact us between sessions, the best way to do so is via email at info@careforyourmind.com.au or via phone on (03) 5441 0911.
If we are with a client or unavailable, please leave a voicemail or send us a text. We will ensure to get back to you within the next business day.
Please note that our practice current operates on a part time basis. We do not respond to enquiries over the weekend or after 6pm.
If we are unavailable for any reason and you are in immediate distress or unsafety, please call any of the below numbers for support.
· Police, Fire or Ambulance - 000
· Lifeline- 13 11 14
· Kids Helpline - 1800 55 1800 (for young people up to the age of 25)
· 1800 Respect (Domestic Violence Hotline) 1800 737 732
· Sexual Assault Crisis Line (VIC) 1800 806 292
· Mensline (VIC) 1300 78 99 78
· Parentline (VIC)- 1300 30 1300
Contacting You
In the event of a crisis or unexpected event, there may be the need for us to contact a client via the main details you have provided. If this is unsuccessful, we would attempt to contact your emergency contact. Should these be unsuccessful, if required, we would call 000 to arrive at your location or house. This would only ever be done if there were serious concerns about your safety or the safety of others.
Out In The Community
There may be times when we see each other out of session in public settings. To ensure your privacy and confidentiality I make it a practice not to initiate or approach you. If you see me and want to say hello, I will of course say hello in return. You are more than welcome to let significant people in your life know that I am your therapist, however this is something that is for you to share with others, not me. However, this is your decision. So, if you do see me out in public and I do not acknowledge you, please do not be offended as I am maintaining your privacy and confidentiality. I would be happy to debrief with you about this during a subsequent session if you feel this is something you need to discuss.
Code of Conduct
I pride myself on working within the guidelines of the code of ethics and practice standards, as stipulated by PACFA.
Applying the code of ethics not only applies to my work, but to my everyday values.
Policy Changes
To ensure our privacy policy remains current, this policy is subject to change. We may modify this policy at any time at our discretion and all modifications will be effective immediately upon our posting of the modifications on this website. Please return periodically to review our privacy policy. If you have any questions or concerns at any time about our privacy policy or the use of your information, please contact me directly.