Privacy Policy

Effective Date: July 10, 2025

Your privacy is very important to me. This privacy policy explains how I collect, use, disclose, and protect your personal health information as a solo psychotherapist operating in Ontario, Canada.

1. Who I Am

I am a registered psychotherapist in Ontario, providing services to individuals in a private practice setting. This website is intended to inform you about my services and facilitate contact and booking.

2. Collection and Use of Personal Information

I collect personal information directly from you or with your consent in order to:

  • Provide psychotherapy services
  • Book appointments and send reminders
  • Communicate with you about your care
  • Maintain accurate and complete clinical records
  • Meet legal, regulatory, and insurance requirements

3. Use of the Jane App

I use the Jane App, a secure and PHIPA-compliant electronic health record and practice management system, to:

  • Schedule and manage appointments
  • Maintain clinical notes and health records
  • Process payments and issue receipts
  • Conduct secure video sessions when applicable

Jane stores your information on secure servers located in Canada. You can review Jane’s privacy policy here.

4. Consent

By engaging in psychotherapy services with me, you consent to the collection, use, and disclosure of your personal health information for the purposes outlined above. You may withdraw your consent at any time, subject to legal and contractual obligations.

5. Disclosure of Information

Your personal health information will never be shared or disclosed without your consent unless:

  • Required or permitted by law (e.g., imminent risk of harm, court order)
  • Necessary to protect the safety of yourself or others
  • Obligated by professional or ethical standards

6. Confidentiality and Security

I take all reasonable steps to safeguard your personal information. This includes:

  • Secure access controls to electronic records
  • Encrypted email and video communication (where applicable)
  • Confidential storage of notes and documents
  • Adhering to PHIPA and professional guidelines

7. Your Rights

You have the right to:

  • Access your personal health records
  • Request corrections to your record
  • Ask how your information has been used or disclosed
  • Withdraw or modify your consent at any time (in writing)

To make such a request, please contact me directly using the contact information provided on this website.

8. Website Privacy

When you visit this website:

  • Basic usage data may be collected (e.g., IP address, browser type) for analytics purposes
  • If you submit a form (e.g., contact or intake), that information will be treated as confidential and used only to respond to your inquiry

This site does not use cookies for advertising or tracking purposes.

9. Third-Party Services

This website may include links to external sites (e.g., Jane App booking, regulatory bodies). I am not responsible for the privacy practices or content of those sites. Please review their privacy policies if you visit them.

10. Questions or Concerns

If you have questions or concerns about this privacy policy or how your information is handled, please contact me:

Sara Kohtala

Registered Psychotherapist (RP)

Email: healingjourneywithsara@gmail.com

Phone: (705) 622-9271

Mailing Address: 134 London St. S, Hamilton, ON, L8K 2G5

If you are not satisfied with the response, you may contact the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario at 1-800-387-0073.

11. Updates to This Policy

This privacy policy may be updated periodically to reflect changes in practices or legal requirements. The latest version will always be available on this page.