Privacy Policy

Blue Ocean Counselling
Last updated: October 25, 2026

Our Commitment to Your Privacy

At Blue Ocean Counselling, your privacy, dignity, and trust are fundamental to the counselling relationship.

I am David W. Rainoshek, a Registered Therapeutic Counsellor (RTC) and member of the Association of Cooperative Counselling Therapists of Canada (ACCT). I provide online counselling services to adults in British Columbia.

I am committed to protecting the personal information entrusted to me in accordance with British Columbia's Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA), applicable Canadian privacy laws, and the ACCT Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice.

This policy explains how personal information is collected, used, stored, protected, and disclosed when you visit this website, contact Blue Ocean Counselling, or engage in counselling services.

1. Information I Collect

The personal information collected depends on how you interact with the practice.

When you visit this website or make an inquiry, information may include:

  • Your name and email address

  • Your telephone number, if provided

  • Information you voluntarily include in a contact form or email

  • Limited technical information collected through the website, such as browser information, IP address, and website usage data

If you become a counselling client, additional information may be collected, including relevant personal history, health information, intake forms, informed-consent documents, appointment details, counselling notes, and billing records.

I collect only information reasonably necessary to respond to inquiries, provide counselling services, maintain appropriate records, and meet professional and legal obligations.

2. How Your Information Is Used

Personal information is used only for purposes reasonably connected to the services provided, including:

  • Responding to inquiries and consultation requests

  • Determining whether counselling services may be appropriate

  • Scheduling and providing counselling sessions

  • Maintaining accurate and confidential professional records

  • Processing payments and providing receipts

  • Meeting legal, ethical, and professional responsibilities

  • Maintaining the functionality and security of this website

Your personal information is not sold or used to send unsolicited marketing communications.

3. Website Forms and Email Communication

This website is hosted by Squarespace. Information submitted through website contact forms may be processed or stored by Squarespace and delivered to the practice's email service, provided by Google.

Website forms and ordinary email are intended for general inquiries and initial communication. Although reasonable precautions are taken, these methods cannot guarantee complete confidentiality or security.

Please avoid including detailed personal histories, sensitive health information, or other confidential clinical information in website forms or ordinary email.

If you become a client, arrangements for communicating sensitive information, completing intake documents, and attending online sessions will be discussed as part of the informed-consent process.

4. Confidentiality of Counselling Information

Information shared within the counselling relationship is treated as confidential and handled in accordance with professional ethical standards and applicable law.

Personal and clinical information will not ordinarily be disclosed to another person or organization without your informed written consent.

However, confidentiality has certain legal and ethical limitations. Information may need to be disclosed in circumstances such as:

  • A serious or imminent risk of harm to yourself or another person, where disclosure is legally permitted or required

  • Suspected child abuse or neglect requiring a report under applicable child protection laws

  • A valid court order, subpoena, or other legal requirement

  • A professional complaint, investigation, or legal proceeding where disclosure is required or authorized by law

Where disclosure is necessary, I will take reasonable steps to limit it to the information required or appropriate in the circumstances.

Professional supervision or consultation may also form part of responsible counselling practice. Client-identifying information will be protected, and any sharing will comply with applicable confidentiality and consent requirements.

The limits of confidentiality are explained more fully before counselling begins.

5. Storage and Security of Information

I take reasonable administrative, physical, and technological precautions appropriate to the sensitivity of the personal information in my care.

These include restricting access to information, using appropriate safeguards for electronic records and communications, and taking reasonable steps to prevent unauthorized access, disclosure, loss, alteration, or destruction.

Third-party providers may assist with website hosting, email, scheduling, payment processing, secure communication, or record management, depending on the services in use.

Some providers may store or process information outside Canada. When information is processed in another jurisdiction, it may be subject to the laws of that jurisdiction. I remain responsible for taking reasonable steps to protect personal information under my control.

No electronic system can guarantee absolute security.

6. Consent and Your Choices

Personal information is ordinarily collected, used, and disclosed with your knowledge and consent, except where otherwise permitted or required by law.

You may ask questions about how your information will be used and may withdraw consent for certain uses or disclosures, subject to legal, contractual, and professional obligations.

Withdrawing consent for information essential to counselling may affect my ability to continue providing services.

7. Record Retention and Disposal

Counselling records are retained for the periods required by applicable law, professional standards, and legitimate legal or professional obligations.

Information that is no longer reasonably required is securely destroyed or de-identified when appropriate.

Records are handled with continued attention to confidentiality, including in the event of practice closure, retirement, or an unforeseen interruption to services.

8. Accessing or Correcting Your Information

Under BC's Personal Information Protection Act, you may request access to personal information held about you and ask for corrections to inaccurate or incomplete information.

Requests should be submitted in writing to the Privacy Officer identified below.

I may need to verify your identity before releasing information. Requests will be addressed within the timelines required by applicable law, subject to any lawful exceptions or extensions.

Where access or correction cannot be provided, an explanation will be given in accordance with applicable requirements.

9. Website Cookies and Analytics

This website may use cookies and similar technologies through Squarespace to support website functionality, security, and basic visitor analytics.

These technologies may collect limited technical information about visits to the website.

You can manage or restrict cookies through your browser settings, although doing so may affect some website features.

10. Questions, Concerns, or Privacy Complaints

If you have questions about this policy, wish to request access to your information, or have concerns about how your personal information has been handled, please contact:

David W. Rainoshek, RTC
Privacy Officer, Blue Ocean Counselling
Denman Island, British Columbia

For privacy inquiries, questions, or concerns, please use our Contact Form and indicate that your inquiry concerns privacy.

Privacy concerns will be reviewed and addressed in accordance with applicable legal and professional responsibilities.

If you remain dissatisfied with the handling of a privacy concern, you may contact the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner for British Columbia at www.oipc.bc.ca.

Concerns relating to professional counselling conduct, including confidentiality and informed consent, may also be directed to the Association of Cooperative Counselling Therapists of Canada (ACCT) through its professional complaint process at www.acctcounsellor.com.

11. Changes to This Policy

This Privacy Policy may be updated to reflect changes in legislation, professional standards, technology, or practice procedures.

The current version will be available on this website, with the date of the most recent update indicated above.

Blue Ocean Counselling is committed to providing a respectful, professional environment in which personal information is handled with care and confidentiality is treated as an essential part of the counselling relationship.