First

Laine Franco Counselling & Psychotherapy is committed to protecting your privacy and maintaining the confidentiality of your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how personal information is collected, used, and protected when you visit this website or contact the practice.

This policy is designed in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Australia) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs).

Information We Collect

When you interact with this website or contact the practice, we may collect personal information such as:

  • Name

  • Email address

  • Phone number

  • Information you voluntarily include in contact forms or emails

  • Appointment requests or enquiries

If you become a client, additional health information may be collected as part of the counselling process. Health information is considered sensitive information under Australian privacy law.

How Your Information Is Used

Your information may be used to:

  • Respond to enquiries

  • Schedule counselling sessions

  • Provide counselling or supervision services

  • Communicate about appointments

  • Maintain clinical records

  • Improve the website and services

Personal information will only be used for purposes related to the services provided unless required or permitted by law.

Confidentiality of Counselling Information

Information shared during counselling sessions is treated as confidential and handled with the highest level of professional care.

However, confidentiality may be limited in circumstances where disclosure is required or permitted by law, including situations where:

  • There is a serious risk of harm to yourself or others

  • Child protection concerns arise

  • Records are subpoenaed by a court of law

  • Disclosure is otherwise required by Australian law

Where possible, these situations will be discussed with you.

Storage and Protection of Information

Reasonable steps are taken to protect your personal information from misuse, loss, unauthorised access, or disclosure.

Information may be stored securely in:

  • encrypted digital systems

  • password-protected practice management software

  • secure clinical records

Only authorised individuals involved in the provision of services have access to this information.

Website Data and Cookies

Like many websites, this site may collect limited technical information such as:

  • browser type

  • device type

  • pages visited

  • website usage data

This information is used only to improve website functionality and user experience.

Cookies may be used to help analyse website traffic.

Third-Party Services

This website may use trusted third-party services such as:

  • website hosting providers

  • email services

  • appointment or contact forms

These services may store data securely in accordance with their own privacy policies.

Your Rights

You have the right to:

  • request access to your personal information

  • request correction of inaccurate information

  • ask how your information is stored and used

  • withdraw consent for certain communications where appropriate

Requests can be made by contacting the practice directly.

Contact

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or how your information is handled, please contact:

Laine Franco Counselling & Psychotherapy
Braidwood, NSW – Australia
Phone: +61 422 089 618
Email: counsellorlainefranco@gmail.com

Changes to This Policy

This Privacy Policy may be updated from time to time to reflect changes in legal requirements or practice procedures. The most recent version will always be available on this website.