Serving Children, Youth & Adults In-Person in Guelph & Virtually Throughout Ontario
Privacy Policy
Privacy & Confidentiality
Your privacy matters deeply to me, and I take my obligations to you seriously, both as a reflection of my values and as required by law.
As a registered member of the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW) and the sole practitioner at Solis Wellbeing, I am the Health Information Custodian for all personal health information collected through the services I provide. I handle everything in accordance with Ontario's Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 (PHIPA) and the OCSWSSW Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice.
What Information I Collect
I collect only what is genuinely necessary to provide you with safe, effective, and thoughtful care. This may include your name, contact information, health history, presenting concerns, and anything else relevant to the work we do together.
How I Use Your Information
Your information is used solely to provide clinical services, keep accurate records, and stay in touch with you about your care. I will never use or share your information for any other purpose without your express consent, unless I am permitted or required to do so by law.
Consent
Before collecting, using, or sharing your personal health information, I will check in to make sure you understand what is being collected and why. Consent can be given in writing, verbally, or in some cases implied by the nature of our work. You have the right to withdraw your consent at any time, and I will always be open with you about what that means for our work together.
Limits to Confidentiality
Everything you share with me is held in strict confidence, and I take that responsibility seriously. That said, there are specific situations where I am legally or ethically required to share information without your consent. I want you to know about these from the start, so there are no surprises:
When there is a risk of serious harm to you or to someone else, when I am required to report a child in need of protection under the Child, Youth and Family Services Act, 2017, when a court orders disclosure or the law otherwise requires it, or when the OCSWSSW requires information as part of a review or investigation under the Social Work and Social Service Work Act, 1998.
I will always talk with you about these limits at the beginning of our work together.
Records & Retention
I keep accurate and up to date records of our work together. All records are stored securely and managed in a way that protects your privacy, in keeping with PHIPA and OCSWSSW standards. Records are retained for the minimum period required by law and disposed of confidentially when they are no longer needed.
Virtual Services
If we connect virtually, I take extra care to protect your privacy. This includes using secure and encrypted platforms, verifying your identity when needed, and talking through a safety plan together in case of any service interruption. Before or during our first virtual session, I will walk you through any privacy considerations specific to the platform we are using.
Your Rights
You have rights when it comes to your personal health information. Under PHIPA, you are entitled to access the information collected, request corrections if something is inaccurate or incomplete, be informed if your information is ever used or shared outside of what we have discussed, or to withdraw your consent at any time.
Questions or Concerns
As the sole practitioner at Solis Wellbeing, I am directly responsible for your privacy and I welcome any questions you have. Please don't hesitate to reach out.
Solis Wellbeing
394 Woolwich St,
Guelph, ON
sony@soliswellbeing.ca