Privacy Policy
Effective Date: August 27, 2026
Last Updated: August 27, 2026
Wild Iris Counselling is a BC-based, telehealth-only counselling practice operated by Annamarie Bowler through Annamarie Bowler Counselling.
This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, store, and protect personal information through this website and in connection with the professional services we provide.
We are committed to respecting your privacy and protecting the personal information entrusted to us.
This policy is intended to describe our current privacy practices and will be updated as our website, technology, and services evolve.
1. Privacy Legislation
As a private organization based in British Columbia, our privacy practices are primarily governed by British Columbia's Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA).
PIPA governs the collection, use, and disclosure of personal information by private organizations in British Columbia and provides individuals with rights relating to their personal information, including rights of access and correction.
Depending on where services are provided or where you are located, other privacy or professional requirements may also apply.
2. What Is Personal Information?
Personal information is information about an identifiable individual.
Depending on how you interact with us, this may include information such as your name, email address, telephone number, contact information, appointment information, payment information, and information you provide in connection with counselling services.
Clinical information may include information about your health, history, circumstances, treatment, assessments, and counselling sessions.
3. Information Collected Through the Website
When you visit this website, certain information may be collected automatically by the website platform and its supporting technologies.
Depending on our website settings, this may include:
IP address
Browser and device information
Pages visited
Approximate geographic information
Date and time of visits
Information about how visitors interact with the website
Cookies and similar technologies
We aim to keep website tracking limited to what is reasonably necessary for the operation, security, and improvement of the website.
Our website is hosted and operated through third-party technology providers. The specific cookies, analytics, and other technologies active on the website may change as the website develops.
We will update this Privacy Policy as necessary to accurately reflect those technologies.
4. Contact and Inquiry Information
If you contact us through a website contact form, we may collect:
Your name
Your email address
Any telephone number you choose to provide
The information contained in your message
The website contact form is intended for general inquiries and appointment-related communication.
Please avoid including detailed clinical or highly sensitive personal information in an initial website inquiry.
Website inquiries are directed to our practice email system, which uses Proton.
Website contact information is not intended to replace secure clinical communication once counselling services have begun.
5. Information Collected in Connection With Counselling Services
If you become a client, we may collect personal and clinical information reasonably necessary to provide professional services.
This may include:
Name and contact information
Date of birth
Emergency contact information
Intake and consent information
Relevant health and personal history
Clinical information shared during counselling
Assessments and treatment-related information
Session notes and clinical records
Appointment and communication records
Payment and billing information
We aim to collect only information that is reasonably necessary for the purposes identified at the time of collection or for purposes permitted or required by law.
6. How We Collect Personal Information
We may collect personal information:
Directly from you through the website
Through website contact forms
Through Jane for booking and intake
During consultations and counselling sessions
Through communications with you by email or telephone
Through appointment-related text messages
Through payment transactions
When otherwise authorized or required by law
We generally collect personal information directly from the individual to whom it relates.
7. Jane: Booking, Intake, Records, Telehealth and Payments
Jane is used as our practice management system and may be used for:
Appointment scheduling
Client intake and forms
Secure practice communications
Clinical records and notes
Telehealth appointments
Payment processing
Telehealth sessions are not recorded by the practice. We do not record or intentionally store video or audio of counselling sessions.
Information handled through Jane is subject to Jane's own security, privacy, and data-handling practices in addition to our obligations as a counselling practice.
8. Email and Telephone Communication
We use Proton for practice email communication.
We also use Hushed for practice telephone communication and, when appropriate, limited appointment-related text messaging such as scheduling or changes to appointments.
We do not use text messaging as a substitute for counselling or for communicating detailed clinical information.
Electronic communications may carry inherent privacy and security risks. We take reasonable precautions when using electronic communication and encourage clients to use the communication methods and procedures described in our practice policies.
9. Payment Information
Payments may be processed through Jane or by electronic funds transfer.
When payment is made through Jane, payment information is processed through the systems and payment providers associated with Jane. We do not intentionally retain full credit card numbers in our own records.
Electronic funds transfers may require information such as your name and email address to complete the transaction.
10. How We Use Personal Information
We may use personal information to:
Respond to inquiries
Schedule and manage appointments
Provide counselling and related professional services
Conduct intake and assessment
Maintain clinical records
Communicate with clients about appointments and services
Process payments
Provide telehealth services
Meet professional, regulatory, legal, and record-keeping requirements
Maintain and improve our website and practice
Protect the security of our systems
Address concerns or complaints
We do not sell, rent, or trade personal information.
11. Disclosure of Personal Information
We do not disclose personal information except when reasonably necessary for the purposes identified in this policy, with consent, or where permitted or required by law.
Personal information may be handled by third-party service providers that support the operation of our practice, such as:
Squarespace, for website services
Jane, for practice management, telehealth, records, scheduling, and payments
Proton, for email
Hushed, for telephone and limited appointment-related text communication
Payment providers associated with Jane or electronic funds transfer services
Third-party service providers may process or store information in jurisdictions outside British Columbia or Canada.
We take reasonable steps to select and use service providers with appropriate privacy and security practices.
12. Cross-Border Storage and Processing
Some service providers used by our website or practice may store or process personal information outside British Columbia or Canada.
When personal information is stored or processed outside Canada, it may be subject to the laws of the jurisdiction where the information is held. This may include circumstances in which information can be accessed by courts, law enforcement, or government authorities in that jurisdiction.
We take reasonable steps to understand how third-party providers handle personal information and to use appropriate contractual, technical, and administrative safeguards.
Information about specific third-party providers may be updated as our technology and practice systems evolve.
13. Confidentiality and Legal Limits
Information shared within the counselling relationship is treated as confidential, subject to the limits of confidentiality described in applicable professional standards, informed consent documentation, and law.
Circumstances in which information may be disclosed without your consent can include situations involving legal requirements, court orders, serious risk of harm, or other circumstances authorized or required by law.
The specific limits of confidentiality applicable to counselling services are explained as part of the client intake and informed consent process.
14. Security Safeguards
We take reasonable administrative, technical, and physical measures to protect personal information against unauthorized access, collection, use, disclosure, loss, theft, or other misuse.
These measures include, as appropriate:
Use of established third-party technology providers
Password protection and account security
Device security
Secure electronic systems
Limited access to personal information
Reasonable safeguards for electronic communications
Regular review of privacy and security practices
No method of electronic transmission or storage can be guaranteed to be completely secure.
15. Retention of Personal Information
Clinical records and other personal information are retained for as long as reasonably necessary to fulfill the purposes for which they were collected and to meet applicable professional, legal, regulatory, and record-retention requirements.
When information is no longer required, it will be securely deleted or destroyed in accordance with applicable requirements and our practice procedures.
16. Cookies and Website Technologies
Our website uses cookies and similar technologies to help the site function, maintain security, and understand how the website is used. Some cookies are necessary for the website to operate and cannot be disabled. Other, non-essential cookies may be used for analytics or other website functions.
We provide visitors with options to accept, decline, or manage non-essential cookies through our cookie-consent banner. Our website is configured so that non-essential cookies are restricted unless you choose to allow them.
We review our Squarespace privacy and cookie settings periodically and update this section and our cookie-consent settings as necessary to accurately reflect the technologies used on the website.
You can change your cookie preferences at any time by selecting “Cookie Preferences” on the website.
17. External Websites and Research Links
This website may contain links to external websites, including research publications, Google Scholar, professional organizations, and other educational resources.
When you follow an external link, you are leaving our website.
We do not control the privacy practices, security, cookies, or information collection of external websites. Those websites are governed by their own privacy policies and terms.
We encourage you to review the privacy practices of external websites before providing them with personal information.
18. Access to Your Personal Information
Under PIPA, individuals generally have the right to request access to their own personal information that is in the custody or control of a private organization.
You may request access to personal information we hold about you by contacting us in writing.
We will respond to access requests in accordance with applicable privacy legislation and may need to verify your identity before providing access.
There may be circumstances in which access must or may be limited or refused under applicable law.
19. Correction of Personal Information
You may request that personal information we hold about you be corrected if you believe it is inaccurate or incomplete.
We will make reasonable efforts to ensure that personal information is accurate and complete when it is used or disclosed in circumstances where accuracy is important.
If you believe information in your records is inaccurate, please contact us so that we can review and address the concern.
20. Withdrawing Consent
Where our collection, use, or disclosure of personal information is based on your consent, you may withdraw that consent, subject to legal, professional, contractual, or other reasonable limitations.
Withdrawing consent may affect our ability to provide certain services or fulfill particular purposes.
Where consent is withdrawn, we will explain any resulting limitations where appropriate.
21. Privacy Questions or Concerns
If you have a question, concern, or complaint about how your personal information is handled, please contact us first so that we have an opportunity to understand and address the concern.
Privacy Contact:
Annamarie Bowler
Wild Iris Counselling
Operated through Annamarie Bowler Counselling
Click here to: Contact Me
We will make reasonable efforts to respond to privacy concerns and requests in accordance with applicable requirements.
If you are not satisfied with how your concern has been addressed, you may contact the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner for British Columbia (OIPC BC). The OIPC recommends that individuals first raise their concern directly with the organization before making a complaint to the Commissioner.
22. Privacy Breaches
We maintain procedures for responding to privacy and security incidents involving personal information.
If we become aware of a privacy breach, we will assess the circumstances and take appropriate steps in accordance with applicable law, professional obligations, and our privacy breach procedures.
This may include containing the breach, investigating what occurred, taking steps to prevent further harm, and notifying affected individuals or authorities where appropriate or required.
23. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes to our practice, website, technology, service providers, or applicable privacy requirements.
When changes are made, the “Last Updated” date at the top of this page will be revised.
We encourage you to review this page periodically to remain informed about how personal information is handled.
24. Contact
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact:
Annamarie Bowler
Wild Iris Counselling
Operated through Annamarie Bowler Counselling
Click here to: Contact Me
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