Lantera Counselling (“we,” “us,” “our”) is committed to protecting your privacy. This policy explains what personal information we collect through this website and our counselling services, how we use it, and your rights regarding that information.
This policy is governed by British Columbia’s Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA), and where applicable, the federal Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA).
1. Who We Are
This website is operated by Andrej Klimo, Registered Therapeutic Counsellor (RTC), operating as Lantera Counselling, based in Nanaimo, British Columbia.
2. Information We Collect
Through this website:
Contact form: name, email address, phone number, and any message content you submit
Booking system (Carepatron): name, contact information, and scheduling details when you book a free consultation or session
Website usage data: standard technical information (IP address, browser type, pages visited) collected automatically through our hosting provider and any analytics tools in use
Through counselling services (if you become a client):
Clinical intake information, session notes, and treatment records
Billing and insurance-related information, where applicable
3. How We Use Your Information
We use the personal information we collect to:
Respond to inquiries submitted through the contact form
Schedule and manage consultations and counselling sessions
Provide counselling services, including maintaining clinical records as required by professional standards
Process payments and issue receipts for insurance purposes
Comply with legal and professional regulatory obligations
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes.
4. Confidentiality of Counselling Records
Information shared during counselling sessions is confidential, consistent with the professional and ethical standards of ACCT. Confidentiality has legal limits. We may be required to disclose information without your consent in circumstances including:
Where there is a risk of serious harm to yourself or another person
Where there is suspected abuse or neglect of a child or vulnerable adult
Where disclosure is required by law, subpoena, or court order
These limits will be explained in full during your first session.
5. Third-Party Service Providers
We use third-party services to operate this website and our practice, including:
Carepatron — appointment booking and, where applicable, clinical record-keeping
Bluehost
Google Workspace
Some of these providers may store or process data outside of Canada. Where this applies, we take reasonable steps to ensure your information receives a comparable level of protection.
6. Cookies and Analytics
This website may use cookies and similar technologies to understand how visitors use the site and to improve your browsing experience. You can control or disable cookies through your browser settings; note that doing so may affect some website functionality.
7. Data Retention
We retain personal information only as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this policy, or as required by professional and legal obligations. Clinical records are retained in accordance with ACCTs standards.
8. Your Rights
You have the right to:
Request access to the personal information we hold about you
Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
Withdraw consent for the collection, use, or disclosure of your information, subject to legal or contractual restrictions
File a complaint with the BC Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner if you believe your privacy rights have been violated
To exercise any of these rights, contact us using the details in Section 11.
9. Security
We take reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, loss, or misuse. No method of electronic storage or transmission is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.
10. Children’s Privacy
Our counselling services and this website are intended for adults. We do not knowingly collect personal information from individuals under the age of 19 without appropriate consent.
11. Changes to This Policy
We may update this policy from time to time. The “Last updated” date at the top of this page reflects the most recent revision. Continued use of this website or our services after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
12. Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or how your information is handled, contact:
Andrej Klimo, RTC Lantera Counselling
[email protected]