Privacy Policy

Overview

The Stigman Group (“TSG,” “we,” “our,” or “us”) is a virtual counselling practice operated by James Howard, Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC #19111). TSG serves men and couples in British Columbia and other Canadian provinces and territories where James is authorized to practise.

We take the privacy and confidentiality of personal and clinical information seriously.

As a private-sector organization based in British Columbia, The Stigman Group handles personal information in accordance with applicable Canadian privacy requirements, including British Columbia’s Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA). The federal Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) may also apply to certain interprovincial handling of personal information.

James also has professional obligations concerning privacy, confidentiality, informed consent, and clinical record keeping as a Registered Clinical Counsellor.

This policy explains how The Stigman Group collects, uses, protects, and discloses personal information when you visit our website, contact us, or use our services.

Information We Collect

The information we collect depends on how you interact with The Stigman Group.

Information You Provide

When you contact us, submit a website form, book an appointment, or become a client, we may collect information such as:

• your name;
• email address;
• telephone number;
• province or territory;
• appointment and booking information;
• billing and payment information;
• information you choose to include in an inquiry or contact form; and
• information required to provide counselling services.

Please avoid including sensitive clinical information in general website contact forms or regular email unless necessary. Clinical information should normally be provided through the secure systems designated for that purpose or during counselling.

Clinical Information and Confidentiality

Information shared as part of counselling is treated as confidential and is handled in accordance with applicable privacy requirements and James’s professional obligations as a Registered Clinical Counsellor.

Clinical records may include information provided during intake, counselling sessions, assessments, correspondence, billing, and other aspects of the counselling relationship.

Confidentiality is not absolute. There are circumstances in which disclosure may be permitted or required by law or professional obligations. The limits of confidentiality are addressed more fully through the clinical informed-consent process.

This website Privacy Policy does not replace the informed-consent documentation provided to counselling clients.

Website Analytics

When you visit our website, certain technical and usage information may be collected automatically. This may include information about your browser or device, pages visited, approximate geographic location, referring source, interactions with the website, and similar website activity.

The Stigman Group uses Google Analytics 4 (GA4) to understand how people find and use the website and to help us improve its performance.

We do not intentionally send names, email addresses, telephone numbers, counselling messages, or other directly identifying clinical information to Google Analytics.

Google may process analytics information according to its own privacy practices.

Cookies and Similar Technologies

Our website may use cookies or similar technologies to support website functionality and analytics.

Google Analytics uses these technologies to help measure website activity and interactions. You may be able to restrict or block cookies through your browser or device settings.

Restricting certain technologies may affect some website functionality.

How We Use Personal Information

The Stigman Group may use personal information to:

• respond to questions and inquiries;
• determine whether our services may be appropriate for you;
• schedule and provide counselling services;
• communicate with clients about appointments and care;
• process billing and payments;
• maintain appropriate clinical and business records;
• understand and improve website performance;
• meet professional, legal, regulatory, insurance, or record-keeping requirements; and
• send practice updates or promotional communications where consent has been provided or where otherwise permitted by law.

We do not sell personal information.

Jane App

The Stigman Group uses Jane App, a third-party practice management platform. Jane may be used for functions including online booking, intake forms, appointment management, clinical records, billing, payments, and client communications.

Information provided through Jane App is handled using Jane’s systems and is also subject to Jane’s applicable privacy and security practices.

Other Service Providers

The Stigman Group may use third-party providers to support its website and business operations. These may include website hosting, analytics, communications, booking, payment processing, and other technology services.

These providers may process personal information where necessary to provide their services.

Third-party providers operate according to their own privacy and security practices. The Stigman Group takes reasonable steps when selecting and using service providers appropriate to the information and services involved.

Email Communications and Marketing

Administrative and clinical communications related to appointments or counselling are separate from promotional communications.

The Stigman Group may send practice updates, information about services, or other promotional communications where consent has been provided or where otherwise permitted by applicable law.

You may withdraw your consent to promotional communications at any time by following the unsubscribe instructions provided in the communication or by contacting us.

Withdrawing consent from promotional communications does not prevent The Stigman Group from sending communications that are necessary for appointments, billing, counselling services, or an existing client relationship.

How We Protect Personal Information

The Stigman Group takes reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational measures to protect personal and clinical information against unauthorized access, collection, use, disclosure, alteration, loss, or disposal.

No website, email service, or electronic system can guarantee absolute security. Sensitive clinical information should therefore generally be communicated through the secure systems designated for that purpose.

Retention of Information

Personal information is retained only as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes for which it was collected and as required by applicable professional, legal, regulatory, tax, insurance, and record-keeping requirements.

Clinical records may be subject to professional retention requirements that continue after counselling has ended.

When information is no longer required, it is securely disposed of or anonymized as appropriate.

Access and Correction

Subject to applicable legal and professional limitations, you may request access to personal information The Stigman Group holds about you and may request correction of inaccurate information.

Requests can be made using the contact information below.

Your Privacy Choices

Depending on the circumstances and applicable law, you may be able to:

• ask what personal information we hold about you;
• request access to your personal information;
• request correction of inaccurate information;
• withdraw consent where collection, use, or disclosure is based on consent; and
• raise a concern about how your personal information has been handled.

Withdrawal of consent may affect our ability to provide a service where particular information is necessary to provide that service.

Privacy Concerns

If you have a question or concern about how The Stigman Group has collected, used, disclosed, or protected your personal information, please contact us using the information below.

We will review privacy concerns and respond as appropriate under applicable privacy requirements.

Individuals may also have the right to contact the applicable privacy regulator regarding concerns about the handling of their personal information.

External Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites or services. The Stigman Group is not responsible for the privacy practices of websites or services that we do not operate.

We encourage you to review the privacy information provided by third-party services when appropriate.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy as our services, technology, professional requirements, or applicable privacy requirements change.

The current version will be posted on this page with the date of the latest update.

Contact

Questions, requests, or concerns about privacy can be directed to:

This is a business mailing address only. All counselling services are provided virtually.