Privacy Policy

The privacy of your personal information is of utmost importance. Dr. Julie Erickson is committed to collecting, using and disclosing personal information responsibly and only to the extent necessary for the services provided. This Privacy Policy can assist you to understand what information is collected, how that information is used, how it is disclosed, and how it is retained.

What is personal information? The term “personal information” has the same meaning as set out in the federal Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act, 2011 (“PIPEDA”), and means any information about an identifiable individual, including, but not limited to, contact information, name, address, phone number or email address, gender, and date of birth. The term “personal health information” has the same meaning as set out in Ontario’s Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 (“PHIPA”), and includes information relating to your physical or mental health, as well as your health history, medical records, prescriptions, and your health number. 

In this Privacy Policy, the term personal information also encompasses personal health information. Any information that has been collected in which all personal identifiers have been removed, such that the information could not reasonably be used to identify the individual, is not considered personal information or personal health information. 

How is your personal information used?  Dr. Erickson collects, uses and discloses personal information only to provide psychological services to clients. For example, Dr. Erickson may collect information about clients’ health history, including their family history, physical condition and social situation in order to help assess what their mental health needs are, advise treatment options and provide treatment. Another primary purpose for collecting personal information is to obtain a baseline and ongoing record of psychological functioning so that in providing psychological services treatment progress can be monitored.

In some situations, the primary purpose of collecting personal information would be to conduct an assessment to provide a professional opinion about an individual’s psychological functioning. With the client’s consent, the opinion would be reported to the appropriate person or agency, for example, an insurance company, Workplace Safety and Insurance Board, and rehabilitation companies.

Who has access to your personal information? Dr. Julie Erickson is the sole custodian of your personal information. She may use consultants and agencies that may, in the course of their duties, have limited access to the personal information she holds. These include bookkeepers and accountants, insurance companies, credit card companies, and lawyers. Their access to any personal information is restricted as much as is reasonably possible. They have provided assurance that they follow appropriate privacy principles. 

Consent:  Dr. Erickson will obtain your consent prior to collecting any Personal Information. However, there may be a need to collect, use and disclose your personal information without your consent only in limited circumstances as permitted by law. Situations under which information may be released without your consent, include:

  • Harm to self: If Dr. Erickson has reason to believe that you are in danger of physically harming yourself in ways that may be life-threatening, she will have to make a referral to a hospital and/or contact a family member, close other, or another person such as a police officer or emergency services who may be able to help protect you. 

  • Harm to other: If Dr. Erickson has reason to believe that you are seriously threatening physical violence against another person, or if you have a history of physically violent behaviour, and if she believes that you are an actual threat to the safety of another person, she is required to take some action (such as contacting the police, notifying the other person, seeking hospitalization, or some combination of these actions) to insure that the other person is protected. 

  • Abuse/Neglect: If Dr. Erickson has reason to believe that a child under the age of 16 is being abused or neglected, she is legally obligated to report this situation to the appropriate authorities. If Dr. Erickson suspects or is informed of unlawful conduct that resulted in harm or risk of harm to a resident of a Long Term Care Facility or Retirement Home, or that a resident is being harmed or is at risk of being harmed in any way (e.g., sexual or physical abuse, neglect, misappropriation of resident’s funds), she is required to contact Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care or Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority and report all relevant information. 

  • Quality Control: As part of the College of Psychologists of Ontario’s Quality Assurance Program, on occasion Dr. Erickson may be selected to participate in a Peer Assisted Review. As part of this process your file may be potentially reviewed by another member of the College. The College has confidentiality policies in place to protect your information. 

  • Sexual Assault by a Member of Regulated Health Profession: If you have been sexually abused by a member of a regulated health profession, this information must be reported to the appropriate regulatory body. Dr. Erickson will not give your name without your permission. 

  • Court Order: Dr. Erickson and her records can be subpoenaed by a court order, now or in the future, and she can be required to testify and give information obtained during sessions. If your file is subpoenaed by a court of law, your therapist is required to release the file to the court.

The exceptions to confidentiality are rare. However, if they should occur, whenever possible, Dr. Erickson will discuss with you any action that is being considered. There are times, however, where Dr. Erickson may have to disclose information without speaking with you prior, especially if such a discussion would prevent her from securing your safety or the safety of others. 

Dr. Erickson would always take appropriate measures to ensure that the requester understands the sensitive nature of the personal information that they may receive. 

Dr. Erickson will obtain your consent before collecting, using or disclosing your personal information for new purposes unrelated to the purposes described in this Privacy Policy. In certain cases, you may choose not to provide her with some or all of your personal information. However, should you choose not to provide necessary personal information to Dr. Erickson, that may impact her ability to provide certain services. You may withdraw your consent at any time in writing. 

Types of personal information collected: Dr. Erickson collects the following types of personal information about you for the purposes of delivering psychological services, billing and administration: 

• Your name 

• Your contact information, emergency contact information, date of birth; 

• A description of your concerns/symptoms 

• Your health history, including family history, physical condition and function and social situation, in order to help assess your mental health needs 

• Insurance coverage and payment information 

• The services you received – number of sessions, dates, etc. 

• Communications between you and your therapist 

• Clinical notes and records of assessment information and data relating to your treatment 

• Data from self-report measures and other psychological testing 

• Other related or similar information

Primary Purposes of Information Collection

Dr. Erickson collects, uses and discloses personal information only to provide psychological services to clients. Collection and use of your personal information is for communicating with you (including setting up appointments, contacting you as needed, etc.), delivering services and treatment to you, and providing ongoing service and support. For example, Dr. Erickson collects information about a client’s health history, including their family history, physical condition and function and social situation to help assess what their health needs are, to advise them of their options and to provide treatment. A second primary purpose is to obtain a baseline of health and social information so that in providing ongoing health services, changes that occur over time can be identified.

In some situations, the primary purpose of collecting personal information would be to conduct an assessment to provide a professional opinion about an individual’s psychological functioning. With the client’s consent, the opinion would be reported to the appropriate person or agency, for example, an insurance company, Workplace Safety and Insurance Board, or rehabilitation companies. It would be rare for to collect such information without the client’s express consent, but this might occur in an emergency (e.g., the client is unconscious) or where it is believed that the client would consent if asked, and it is impractical to obtain consent (e.g., a family member passing a message on from a client without any reason to believe is not genuine).

For members of the general public, Dr. Erickson’s primary purposes for collecting personal information (e.g., emails) are to provide notice of special events (e.g., a seminar or conference) or to make them aware of psychotherapeutic services in general and to direct prospective clients to appropriate services. Dr. Erickson’s website only collects, with the exception of cookies, the personal information you provide and only use that information for the purpose you gave it to her (e.g., to respond to your email message). Cookies are only used to help you navigate the website and are not used to monitor you.

Secondary Purposes of Information Collection: 

Like most organizations, Dr. Erickson also collects, uses and discloses information for secondary purposes. The most common examples of related and secondary purposes are as follows:

  • To invoice clients for services that were not paid for at the time, to process credit card payments or to collect unpaid accounts.

  • The cost of some services provided by the organization to clients is paid for by third parties (e.g., WSIB, private insurance). These third-party payers often have your consent or legislative authority to direct Dr. Erickson to collect and disclose to them certain information to demonstrate client entitlement to this funding.

  • Dr. Erickson is regulated by the College of Psychologist of Ontario, who may inspect  records as a part of their regulatory activities in the public interest. The College of Psychologists of Ontario has its own strict privacy obligations and policies.

  • Dr. Erickson will report serious misconduct, incompetence, or incapacity of regulated health care practitioners.  External regulators have their own strict privacy obligations. Sometimes these reports include personal information about Dr. Erickson’s clients, or other individuals, to support the concern (e.g., improper services).

  • Like all organizations, various government agencies (e.g., Canada Customs and Revenue Agency, Information and Privacy Commissioner, Human Rights Commission, etc.) have the authority to review client files and interview Dr. Erickson as a part of their mandates. In these circumstances, Dr. Erickson may consult with professionals (e.g., lawyers, accountants) who will investigate the matter and report back.

Protecting Personal Health Information

Like all organizations, various government agencies (e.g., Canada Customs and Revenue Agency, Information and Privacy Commissioner, Human Rights Commission, etc.) have the authority to review client files and interview staff as a part of their mandates. In these circumstances, we may consult with professionals (e.g., lawyers, accountants) who will investigate the matter and report back.

Dr. Erickson has taken many steps to protect your personal information, including: 

  • Paper information is in a secured, locked and restricted area. 

  • Electronic hardware is either under supervision or secured in a locked or restricted area at all times. In addition, passwords and encryption are used on computers.

  • Paper information is transmitted through sealed, addressed envelopes or boxes by reputable couriers or Canada Post.

  • Electronic information is transmitted either through a direct line or has identifiers removed or is encrypted.

  • External consultants and agencies with access to personal information must enter into privacy agreements with Dr. Erickson.

  • If Dr. Erickson were to become incapacitated or die, your records would be placed in the care of another psychologist for protection, not examination. If you were to see another psychologist, your records could be sent to them at your request.

Retention and Destruction of Personal Information

Dr. Erickson retains your personal information only for as long as is necessary, for the purpose for which it was collected, in accordance with the ethics and standards of the College of Psychologists of Ontario.  Dr. Erickson is required to retain personal information for some time to ensure she can answer any questions you might have about the services provided and for her accountability to the College of Psychologists of Ontario. Dr. Erickson retains client information for a minimum of ten years after the last contact to enable her to respond to questions and provide services. 

Dr. Erickson destroys electronic information by deleting it and, when the hardware is replaced or discarded, ensuring that the hard drive is physically destroyed. Personal information that is not part of the permanent clinical file is shredded or otherwise destroyed or de-identified. Dr. Erickson does not retain any personal information relating to our general correspondence (e.g., with people who are not clients), workshops or seminars, and marketing activities for about six months after an activity is over.

Access to Your Information

With only a few exceptions, you have the right to see what personal information Dr. Erickson holds about you. Dr. Erickson can help you identify what records she might have about you. Dr. Erickson will also try to help you understand any information you do not understand (e.g., short forms, technical language, etc.). She will need to confirm your identity before providing you with this access. Dr. Erickson reserve the right to charge a nominal fee for such requests.

If Dr. Erickson cannot give you access, she will tell you within 30 days, if possible, and tell you the reason as to why access cannot be granted. If you believe that there is a mistake in the information, you have the right to ask for it to be corrected. This applies to factual information and not to any professional opinions that Dr. Erickson may have formed. Dr. Erickson may ask you to provide documentation that your records are incorrect. Where there is collective agreement that Dr. Erickson made a mistake, the correction will be made and she will notify anyone to whom this information was sent. If Dr. Erickson does not agree that a mistake has been made, she will still agree to include in our file a brief statement from you, and we will forward that statement to anyone else who received the earlier information.

Questions about Information Privacy

You may contact Dr. Erickson if you have additional questions about the privacy of your information at drjulieerickson@gmail.com. 

For general inquiries about personal information, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada oversees the administration of personal information privacy legislation. The Commissioner also acts as a kind of ombudsman for privacy disputes. The Privacy Commissioner of Canada can be reached at: 

Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada 

30 Victoria Street Gatineau, Quebec K1A 1H3 

Phone: (819) 994-5444 or 1-800-282-1376

 https://www.priv.gc.ca/en Page 9 of 9 

For general inquiries about personal health information, the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario oversees the administration of personal health information legislation in Ontario. The Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario can be reached at: 

Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario 

2 Bloor Street East, Suite 1400 Toronto, Ontario M4W 1A8 

Phone: (416) 326-3333 or 1-800-387-0073 

https://www.ipc.on.ca