Privacy Policy

Inner Balance Psychotherapy ("we," "us," "our") is committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring that your personal information is handled in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs). This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, store, and disclose your personal information when you engage with our counselling services or visit our website.

1. Collection of Personal Information

We collect personal information that is necessary for the provision of counselling services. This may include:

Full name, date of birth, and contact details (e.g., phone number, email, address).
Medical history, mental health background, and other health-related information.
Emergency contact details.
Payment details for billing purposes.
Any other information relevant to providing effective counselling services.

We collect information directly from you via forms, consultations, online bookings, and communication through our website or social media platforms. In some cases, we may collect information from third parties, such as medical professionals or other healthcare providers, but only with your consent.

2. Use of Personal Information

We use your personal information for the following purposes:

Providing counselling and related services.
Managing and responding to inquiries and bookings.
Processing payments and issuing invoices.
Complying with legal and regulatory obligations.
Improving our services and business operations.
Sending you relevant information about our services (with your consent).

3. Storage and Security of Personal Information

We take reasonable steps to ensure your personal information is protected from misuse, interference, loss, unauthorised access, modification, or disclosure. This includes:

Secure storage of physical records in locked filing cabinets.
Electronic records stored in password-protected systems.
Regular security audits to ensure compliance with privacy regulations.

Your personal information will only be retained for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes outlined in this policy or as required by law.

4. Disclosure of Personal Information

We do not disclose your personal information to third parties unless:

You have given consent.
It is required by law (e.g., court orders, subpoenas, mandatory reporting of harm or risk of harm).
Disclosure is necessary to protect your safety or the safety of others.
We engage third-party service providers (e.g., IT support, payment processors) who are required to comply with privacy obligations.

5. Access to and Correction of Personal Information

You have the right to access and correct the personal information we hold about you. If you wish to request access or make corrections, please contact us using the details provided below. We will respond to your request within a reasonable timeframe.

6. Online Data Collection and Cookies

When you visit our website, we may collect information such as your IP address, browser type, and pages visited. We may use cookies to improve your browsing experience. You can disable cookies in your browser settings, but this may affect website functionality.

7. Confidentiality and Mandatory Reporting

As a counselling service, we uphold strict confidentiality. However, we may be legally required to disclose information in cases where:

There is a risk of harm to you or others.
We are required to comply with legal obligations (e.g., child protection laws, subpoenas).
It is necessary for the prevention of a serious crime.

8. Complaints and Contact Information

If you have any concerns or complaints about how we handle your personal information, please contact us at:

Inner Balance Psychotherapy
info@innerbalancepsychotherapy.com.au
0490533489
Brisbane, QLD 4000

We take privacy concerns seriously and will endeavour to resolve any complaints in accordance with the Australian Privacy Principles. If you are not satisfied with our response, you may contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC).

9. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on our website, and we encourage you to review this policy periodically.

By using our services, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy and consent to the collection, use, and disclosure of your personal information as outlined above.