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Freedom & Hope Counselling & Therapeutic Services

   

Client Service Agreement

  

- Read, check, and sign where applicable;

all boxes with an * are required.

 

Please read the entire document carefully. If you have any questions, concerns, or reservations about any section, do not sign or submit the form. Instead, discuss your concerns directly with your therapist. If your therapist is unable to address your concerns to your satisfaction, FHCTS may not be the right fit for you—and that is perfectly okay. By signing this agreement, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to all sections in full.

 

Confidentiality, Limits, Supervision, Emergencies

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Confidentiality

All information shared, documented, and recorded (by Daniel) during counselling sessions will remain confidential in accordance with the ethical standards and guidelines established by his regulatory Colleges. When clinically appropriate, consultation may occur between your therapist and other qualified professionals who are bound by confidentiality agreements to ensure optimal treatment outcomes.

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Limits to Confidentiality

Confidentiality is maintained except in the following legally and ethically mandated circumstances:

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• When disclosure is required to prevent clear and imminent danger to the client or identifiable others

• When legal requirements mandate that confidential information be revealed (e.g., court orders, subpoenas)

• When there is reasonable suspicion that a child is in need of protection

 

Supervision

 

With Daniel, all session recordings and transcriptions are accessible under the clinical supervision of Dr. Randy Johnson, PhD, who provides supervision for him with the College of Alberta Psychologists.

 

Emergency Care

 

We are not an emergency service. If you are in crisis, call 911 or your local crisis line.

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Recording, Documentation, Client Access, AI Consent

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Client Recording Policy

Clients may not audio or video record sessions without prior written permission from their therapist. This restriction does not limit your right to discuss the content of your counseling sessions with others. Beyond the exceptions outlined in this agreement, you maintain full discretion regarding what information from your sessions you choose to share.

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Session Recording and Documentation

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• In‑person sessions are audio recorded and transcribed (no video). Virtual sessions are audio and video recorded by default and transcribed. While we use strong security measures, online sessions cannot be guaranteed to be absolutely secure at all times, and there is always a small risk of a breach. We will do everything possible to keep your information safe while it is being processed and stored.​​​

 

Data Security

 

Our system fully adheres to the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) standards. All data remains strictly under our control, is never bought or sold, and is not shared with any third party.

 

Storage Location 

Freedom & Hope Counselling & Therapeutic Services uses Microsoft 365 programs for documentation and communication and Microsoft stores your files, recordings, and related data at rest in Canadian Microsoft datacenters under Microsoft’s data residency commitments.

 

Client Access to Recordings

Clients may request access to their session recordings for personal use at any time. Once you receive the cloud storage link to access your recordings, we cannot monitor or control subsequent access. You assume full responsibility for the security and confidentiality of any recordings you request and access.

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AI‑Assisted Care (Consent Required)

We use artificial intelligence (AI) to assist with session summaries, testing and assessments, and report generation. Your therapist reviews and perfects ALL work done by AI. AI is like an assistant, not a replacement for your therapist.

All work is done through licensed Microsoft Business applications, restricted by business agreements that no data will be exported, used, stored, or sold outside Freedom & Hope Counselling & Therapeutic Services’ direct control. All data is maintained and held in Microsoft systems.

We use strong security measures (e.g., encryption and access controls) to protect your information.

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​If you require that the video recording of your virtual sessions not be save but deleted after their creation, type "Yes" in the box below:

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I agree with the use of AI as defined above:

 

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Teletherapy, Security, Breach Notice, Communication Privacy

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Teletherapy

Virtual sessions are conducted via Microsoft Teams using unique meeting IDs and passcodes for each session. All systems are protected by Microsoft security software. We also use strong security measures such as encryption and access controls; however, all online communication carries some risk despite security measures.

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Breach Notification

In the event of any suspected breach of confidentiality, your therapist will immediately assess the situation in consultation with relevant professionals and notify all affected parties, including clients and professional regulatory bodies.

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Communication Privacy

Contact information will not be shared with third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes.

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Email Security: Email is convenient but not fully secure. While we take precautions, email communication may carry some risk of unauthorized access. Please avoid sending highly sensitive information by email.