Privacy Policy

Last Updated: April 2, 2025

1. Introduction

Our website address is: https://getguidance.org.

Get Guidance (“we,” “our,” or “us”), operated by Karen Benbassat Ali, MA., RCC, is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website getguidance.com (the “Website”) or use our counselling services, including any content, functionality, and services offered on or through the Website.

We understand the sensitive nature of counselling services and take the confidentiality and privacy of our clients and website visitors very seriously. This policy outlines our practices concerning both general website visitors and counselling clients, with special attention to the additional confidentiality protections afforded to those receiving therapeutic services.

Please read this Privacy Policy carefully. If you do not agree with the terms of this Privacy Policy, please do not access the Website or use our services.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Personal Information

We may collect personal information that you voluntarily provide to us when you:

Fill out forms on our Website (such as contact forms or newsletter sign-ups)
Register for counselling services
Schedule appointments
Participate in surveys or feedback forms
Contact us directly

This information may include:

Name, email address, phone number, and mailing address
Demographic information
Health insurance information (if applicable)
Emergency contact information
Basic information about your reasons for seeking counselling

2.2 Clinical Information

For clients receiving counselling services, we collect and maintain clinical information, including:

Intake forms and questionnaires
Assessment information
Session notes and treatment plans
Diagnosis information (if applicable)
Progress notes and outcome measurements

2.3 Automatically Collected Information

When you access our Website, we may automatically collect certain information about your device and usage, including:

IP address
Browser type and version
Operating system
Referring website
Pages you view
Time spent on pages
Links you click
Other browsing information

We collect this information using cookies and similar tracking technologies, as described in the “Cookies and Similar Technologies” section below.

3. How We Use Your Information

3.1 Website Visitors

For website visitors, we may use the information we collect to:

Provide, maintain, and improve our Website
Respond to your inquiries and fulfill your requests
Send administrative information, such as updates to our terms, conditions, and policies
Send you marketing communications about our services, if you have opted in to receive such communications
Personalize your experience on our Website
Monitor and analyze usage patterns and trends
Protect against, identify, and prevent fraud and other illegal activity

3.2 Counselling Clients

For clients receiving counselling services, we use your information to:

Provide therapeutic services and clinical care
Develop treatment plans and track progress
Coordinate care with other healthcare providers (with your explicit consent)
Process health insurance claims (if applicable)
Schedule and remind you of appointments
Comply with legal and professional obligations
Improve the quality of our services

4. Information Sharing and Disclosure

4.1 General Information Sharing

We may share your information in the following situations:

Service Providers: We may share your information with third-party vendors, service providers, and other business partners who perform services on our behalf, such as website hosting, email delivery, analytics, and payment processing.
Legal Requirements: We may disclose your information if required to do so by law or in response to valid legal processes, such as a court order, subpoena, or government investigation.
Protection of Rights: We may disclose your information when we believe disclosure is necessary to protect our rights, property, or safety, or that of our users or others.
Business Transfers: If we are involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of all or a portion of our assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction.
With Your Consent: We may share or disclose your information for any other purpose with your consent.

4.2 Client Confidentiality and Limits

For counselling clients, we maintain strict confidentiality in accordance with professional ethics codes and applicable laws. However, there are important exceptions where we may be required or permitted to disclose client information without consent:

Imminent Risk of Harm: If we believe you pose a serious risk of harm to yourself or others, we may disclose information to appropriate authorities or individuals to prevent such harm.
Child or Vulnerable Person Abuse: If we have reason to believe a child or vulnerable adult is being abused or neglected, we are legally required to report this to appropriate authorities.
Court Orders: If a court orders the release of records, we may be legally required to comply.
Insurance Requirements: If you use health insurance to pay for services, we may need to provide certain information to your insurance provider.
Professional Consultation: We may consult with other professionals about your case to provide the best care possible, without revealing identifying information.

Apart from these exceptions, we will not share your clinical information without your explicit written consent.

5. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect the security of your personal information. These measures include:

Encryption of sensitive data
Secure electronic health record systems for clinical information
Password protection and access controls
Regular security assessments
Staff training on privacy and security practices

However, please understand that no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your personal information, we cannot guarantee its absolute security.

For counselling clients, we maintain clinical records in accordance with professional standards and legal requirements, with heightened security measures appropriate for sensitive health information.

6. Client Confidentiality

As a registered clinical counsellor, Karen Benbassat Ali adheres to the ethical codes of the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors and applicable privacy laws. Client confidentiality is a fundamental aspect of the therapeutic relationship and is protected except in the limited circumstances described in the “Information Sharing and Disclosure” section above.

We take the following additional measures to protect client confidentiality:

Clinical records are kept separate from administrative records
Minimal information is recorded to protect privacy while meeting professional requirements
Communications about appointments or scheduling contain minimal clinical information
Staff and any contractors receive training on confidentiality requirements
Physical space is designed to protect privacy during sessions

For online or telephone counselling services, we utilize secure, encrypted platforms designed for healthcare providers. However, we cannot guarantee the security of your own devices or internet connections, and we encourage clients to take appropriate precautions when engaging in remote sessions.

7. Your Rights

Depending on your location, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information, which may include:

Access: You have the right to request access to your personal information that we hold.
Correction: You have the right to request that we correct any personal information that is inaccurate or incomplete.
Deletion: You have the right to request that we delete your personal information, subject to certain exceptions.
Restriction: You have the right to request that we restrict the processing of your personal information.
Data Portability: You have the right to receive your personal information in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format.
Objection: You have the right to object to our processing of your personal information.
Withdraw Consent: If we rely on your consent to process your personal information, you have the right to withdraw your consent at any time.

For counselling clients, access to clinical records is managed in accordance with professional ethical guidelines and applicable laws. There may be limited circumstances where access to certain information may be restricted if it is determined that access could cause harm.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the information provided in the “Contact Us” section below.

8. Cookies and Similar Technologies

Our Website uses cookies and similar tracking technologies to collect information about your browsing activities. Cookies are small data files that are placed on your device when you visit a website. We use the following types of cookies:

Essential Cookies: These cookies are necessary for the Website to function properly and cannot be turned off in our systems.
Performance/Analytics Cookies: These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our Website.
Functional Cookies: These cookies enable the Website to provide enhanced functionality and personalization.
Targeting Cookies: These cookies may be set through our Website by our advertising partners to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant ads on other sites.

You can set your browser to refuse all or some browser cookies, or to alert you when websites set or access cookies. If you disable or refuse cookies, please note that some parts of the Website may become inaccessible or not function properly.

9. Third-Party Links

Our Website may contain links to third-party websites, plugins, and applications. Clicking on those links or enabling those connections may allow third parties to collect or share data about you. We do not control these third-party websites and are not responsible for their privacy statements. We encourage you to read the privacy policy of every website you visit.

These third-party sites may include:

Social media platforms
Payment processors
Analytics providers
Online scheduling systems
Resource websites we recommend

10. Children’s Privacy

Our Website is not intended for children under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 without verified parental consent. If you are a parent or guardian and believe we may have collected information about a child under 13, please contact us using the information provided in the “Contact Us” section below.

For counselling services provided to minors, we follow applicable laws and ethical guidelines regarding parental consent, confidentiality, and privacy. Parents and legal guardians should discuss confidentiality boundaries with the counsellor before treatment begins.

11. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or for other operational, legal, or regulatory reasons. We will post the updated Privacy Policy on this page with a revised “Last Updated” date. We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we are protecting your information.

For significant changes that materially affect your rights or how we use your information, we will provide a more prominent notice, such as an email notification to clients or a banner on our Website.

Your continued use of our Website or services after the effective date of the revised Privacy Policy constitutes your acceptance of the revised Policy.

12. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact us at:

Get Guidance
Karen Benbassat Ali, MA., RCC
Email: privacy@getguidance.com
Phone: (555) 123-4567
Address: 123 Healing Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6E 1A1

We will make every effort to respond to your inquiry promptly and address your concerns appropriately.

This Privacy Policy is intended to provide transparency about our data practices. It is not intended to create any contractual or legal rights or to limit our ability to take any action permitted by applicable law.

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