Privacy policy

I collect only what I need to reply to you and, if we work together, to provide therapy.

When you get in touch

If you contact me through this website, by email, by phone or through social media, I collect what you choose to tell me:

• your name
• your email address, and your phone number if you give it
• whether you would like to meet online or in person
• what you tell me about why you are getting in touch

That last part may include information about your health, which the law treats as sensitive information. You decide how much to share. A sentence or two is enough for a first message, and you are welcome to use a first name only.

By sending an enquiry you consent to me collecting what you have told me so that I can reply.

If you become a client

I collect the further information needed to work with you safely and well. This can include relevant personal and health history, an emergency contact, notes from our sessions, and records of appointments and payments. I will explain what I collect and ask for your consent before we begin.

From other people

I collect information from you directly wherever I can. Sometimes another person contacts me on your behalf, such as a parent, a guardian or a referring practitioner, and I receive information from them.

The contact form

When you send a message through the form, the website passes it to an email delivery service, which emails it to me. The website itself keeps no copy. It has no database, no visitor accounts and no mailing list.

Cookies and tracking

This website does not use cookies, analytics or advertising trackers.

Technical records

The company that hosts this website keeps standard records of visits, such as the internet (IP) address and browser type, to keep the site running and secure. To prevent misuse of the contact form, the website also notes the IP address a message is sent from. That note is held for a few minutes and is not saved.

Links to other sites

The Facebook and Instagram links lead to those services, which collect information under their own privacy policies. The same applies if you message me there.

I use personal information to:

• reply to your enquiry and arrange appointments
• provide counselling and psychotherapy
• keep the records that the law and my professional association require
• run the practice, including accounts and payments

I do not sell personal information or pass it to anyone for marketing.

What you tell me is confidential. I do not share it without your consent unless the law requires or permits it. That can happen where:

• there is a serious risk to your life, health or safety, or to someone else’s
• a child or young person is at risk of significant harm
• a court or another legal authority requires records to be produced

As a registered practitioner I take part in clinical supervision, where my work is discussed with a senior practitioner in a way that does not identify you.

Services that help me run the practice

I use a small number of service providers to host this website and to send and receive email. At present these are Vercel (website hosting), Resend (delivery of contact form messages) and Google (my email). They handle information only so that they can provide those services.

The hosting and email delivery services are administered for me by the person who maintains this website, who keeps anything seen in that role confidential.

These providers store or process information outside Australia, including in the United States. An enquiry sent through the contact form, and email held in my mailbox, may therefore be held on servers overseas.

I take reasonable steps to protect personal information from loss, misuse and unauthorised access.

Email is not a completely secure way to send sensitive information. If there is something you would rather not put in writing, call me and we can talk it through.

I keep personal information only for as long as it is needed or the law requires. Client records are kept for at least seven years after the last session, or until a client who was under 18 turns 25, as New South Wales law requires. After that they are securely destroyed or de-identified.

If a data breach is likely to cause serious harm to you, I will tell you and the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner, as the law requires.

You can ask to see the personal information I hold about you, and ask me to correct anything that is wrong or out of date. Contact me using the details at the end of this page. There is no charge for making a request.

I will respond within a reasonable time, usually within 30 days. In limited cases the law allows or requires me to refuse a request. If that happens I will explain why in writing.

If you are unhappy with how I have handled your information, please tell me first. I will acknowledge your complaint and respond within 30 days.

If you are not satisfied with my response, you can contact:

• Office of the Australian Information Commissioner

  oaic.gov.au1300 363 992

• Information and Privacy Commission NSW

  ipc.nsw.gov.au1800 472 679

I may update this policy from time to time. The current version is always on this page, with the date of the last update at the top.

For any question about this policy or your information: