Last updated: 12/01/25
Wholetherapy (“we,” “our,” “us”) is committed to protecting your privacy and safeguarding your personal information. As a trauma-informed, culturally responsive counselling practice, we take confidentiality seriously and ensure that all personal information is handled with care, respect, and compliance with Canadian privacy legislation.
This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, protect, and disclose your personal information when you engage with our services, website, or clinical team.
Our services focus on mental health care across areas such as anxiety & depression treatment, trauma and EMDR therapy, LGBTQIA+ affirming therapy, couples & family therapy, men’s mental health, and culturally-responsive care for diverse populations.
1. Who We Are
Wholetherapy is a group private psychotherapy practice led by Emily Bushell, MA, RCT, CCS, EMDRIA Approved Consultant, owner and Clinical Director. Our therapists are regulated professionals who uphold strict ethical and legal obligations regarding confidentiality and privacy.
We provide counselling and psychotherapy services in accordance with the Nova Scotia College of Counselling Therapists (NSCCT) and the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA).
2. Information We Collect
We collect personal information necessary to provide safe, effective clinical care. This may include:
2.1 Personal & Demographic Information
Name, date of birth, contact information
Emergency contact
Health card number (when required)
Demographic information relevant to culturally responsive care (optional)
2.2 Clinical & Health Information
Presenting concerns
Mental health history
Trauma-related information
Treatment plans and clinical notes
Session records
Information shared through intake forms, assessments, or email communication
2.3 Website & Digital Information
When you visit our website, we may automatically collect:
IP address
Browser type
Device information
Pages viewed
Cookies for site functionality and analytics
2.4 Social Media Interactions
If you engage with Wholetherapy social media pages, we may review anonymized analytics such as:
Reach
Engagement
Interactions
These metrics do not identify individual users.
3. How We Use Your Information
We use your information to:
3.1 Provide Safe & Effective Clinical Care
Deliver counselling, psychotherapy, trauma therapy, and EMDR services
Develop treatment plans
Monitor progress
Ensure culturally sensitive, trauma-informed care across service areas (e.g., couples therapy, LGBTQIA+ care, EMDR, men’s mental health, etc.)
3.2 Administrative & Operational Purposes
Scheduling and communication
Billing and payments
Internal supervision (confidential and compliant with regulatory standards)
Quality assurance and training
3.3 Legal & Ethical Compliance
Regulatory documentation
Safety and risk management
Compliance with NSCCT/CCPA standards
3.4 Website Functionality & Analytics
Improve website experience
Understand what content is helpful to visitors
Maintain website security
We never sell, trade, or rent your personal or clinical information.
4. Consent
By engaging in therapy, completing an intake form, or using our website, you consent to the collection and use of your information as described in this Policy.
You may withdraw consent at any time, except where information must be retained for legal, regulatory, or safety reasons.
5. How We Protect Your Information
Wholetherapy employs multiple layers of protection to safeguard your personal information, including:
Encrypted practice management systems
Secure email and messaging practices
Password-protected files and devices
Restricted access to client information
Clinician training in privacy and trauma-informed care
Compliance with PIPEDA and applicable provincial acts
Only authorized clinicians and administrative staff have access to client records, and only to the extent necessary to perform their roles.
6. Sharing of Information
We do not share your personal information without your explicit consent unless legally required.
We may share information only when:
You provide written consent to communicate with a healthcare provider, lawyer, insurer, or third party
Required by court order or subpoena
There is a risk of serious harm to you or others
Required by law (e.g., reporting child abuse, duty to warn)
Required for regulatory auditing
Any disclosure is conducted in accordance with regulatory and ethical standards.
7. Email, Texting & Digital Communication
Communication by email or text may carry privacy risks. By choosing these methods, you acknowledge these risks and consent to communication in these formats.
We do not provide therapy through social media or non-encrypted channels.
8. Client Records & Retention
Client records are stored securely for the duration required by professional regulations and provincial laws.
After the retention period ends, records are securely destroyed.
9. Access to Your Information
You have the right to:
Access your clinical record
Request corrections
Ask how your information has been used or disclosed
Requests must be made in writing. We will respond within the time limits set by applicable legislation.
10. Children & Youth Privacy
For minors, consent may involve:
The minor (depending on age and capacity)
The legal guardian
We uphold strict confidentiality. Information shared by minors in therapy is protected except in cases of safety concern or as required by law.
11. Website Cookies & Analytics
Our website may use cookies to improve user experience. You may disable cookies through your browser settings, though this may affect functionality.
Analytics data is used only in aggregate form and cannot identify individual users.
12. Third-Party Service Providers
We may use third-party platforms for:
Scheduling
Payment processing
Practice management
Email newsletters
Website hosting
These providers are required to maintain strong privacy protections, but may store data outside Canada.
We do not use AI chatbots for clinical care unless explicitly stated and consented by the client.
13. Social Media
Wholetherapy maintains public social media accounts for education and community engagement. This includes posts related to:
Trauma recovery
EMDR therapy
Mental wellness
Anxiety and depression
Culturally responsive care
Coping strategies
We never discuss or identify clients online.
Any engagement with our social media (likes, comments, DMs) is not confidential.
Please avoid sharing personal mental health information publicly.
14. Updates to This Policy
We may update this policy from time to time to reflect legal or operational changes. The updated date will always be posted at the top of this page.
15. Contact Us
If you have questions, concerns, or requests about your privacy, please contact us:
Wholetherapy – Counselling & Psychotherapy
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
Email: info@wholetherapy.ca
Phone: 902-461-1721
Website: www.wholetherapy.ca
