Privacy Policy
ASCEND MindSpace
Effective Date: March 14, 2026
Last Reviewed: March 14, 2026
1. Introduction and Purpose
ASCEND MindSpace is a private counselling practice operated by Tasleem, Registered Therapeutic Counsellor – Candidate (RTCc), credentialed through the Association of Cooperative Counselling Therapists of Canada (ACCT). The practice provides therapeutic counselling services to adults and adolescents in British Columbia, delivered online via secure video platform and, when available, in person in the Vancouver area.
This Privacy Policy explains how ASCEND MindSpace collects, uses, stores, protects, and discloses personal information in accordance with:
– British Columbia’s Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA, SBC 2003, c. 63)
– Canada’s Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA)
– Applicable professional ethical standards established by ACCT
– Applicable standards of the Canadian Professional Counsellors Association (CPCA), upon future credential transition
By using this website or engaging services through ASCEND MindSpace, you consent to the practices described in this policy.
2. Information Collected
2a. Information You Provide Directly
ASCEND MindSpace collects personal information that you voluntarily provide, including:
– Name and preferred name
– Email address and telephone number
– Date of birth (where relevant to service eligibility)
– Presenting concerns and reason for seeking counselling
– Emergency contact information
– Extended health benefit provider information (where provided for receipt purposes)
– Information shared during sessions, including health history relevant to therapeutic work
For adolescent clients, information may also be collected from a parent or guardian with appropriate consent.
2b. Information Collected Through the Website
When you visit ascendmindspace.com, limited technical data may be collected automatically through Squarespace (the website platform), including:
– IP address and approximate geographic location
– Browser type and operating system
– Pages visited and time spent on site
– Referral source (how you arrived at the site)
This data is collected by Squarespace for analytics purposes. ASCEND MindSpace does not purchase or sell this data and does not use it to identify individual visitors.
2c. Booking and Scheduling Information
ASCEND MindSpace uses JaneApp, a Canadian-hosted practice management platform, to manage session scheduling, intake forms, and payment processing. JaneApp collects and stores the information necessary to book and confirm appointments, process payments, and generate receipts. JaneApp’s own privacy policy governs data held within their platform. Information entered into JaneApp is stored on Canadian servers.
ASCEND MindSpace does not have access to stored payment card details; payment processing is managed directly by JaneApp’s integrated payment system.
2d. Email Subscriptions
If you subscribe to receive resources or updates through the website, your email address is collected and stored through Squarespace’s email marketing system. Subscription is voluntary. You may unsubscribe at any time using the link provided in any email communication.
3. How Information Is Used
Personal information is used solely for the following purposes:
– Providing and coordinating counselling services
– Communicating about appointments, scheduling, and session logistics
– Processing payments and issuing receipts
– Maintaining clinical records as required by professional and ethical standards
– Sending requested resources or general updates (email subscribers only)
– Complying with legal obligations or responding to lawful requests
Information is not used for marketing profiling, sold to third parties, or shared with advertisers.
4. Clinical Records and Confidentiality
Counselling is a confidential professional service. Session content, clinical notes, and identifying client information are treated with the strictest professional discretion. Clinical records are maintained in compliance with professional standards established by ACCT and applicable BC legislation.
Limits of confidentiality exist as required by law and professional ethics. ASCEND MindSpace will disclose client information without consent only in the following circumstances:
– Where there is a risk of serious and imminent harm to the client or an identifiable third party
– Where there is reasonable suspicion of abuse or neglect of a child or vulnerable adult, as required under BC’s Child, Family and Community Service Act
– Where disclosure is ordered by a court of law
– Where required by a regulatory body conducting a professional investigation
These limits of confidentiality are explained in detail in the Informed Consent agreement provided prior to the first session. Clients are encouraged to ask questions about confidentiality before sessions begin.
5. Information Sharing and Disclosure
ASCEND MindSpace shares personal information only as described below:
– With clinical supervisors, as required under the RTCc credential designation and consistent with ACCT ethical standards. Supervisors are bound by equivalent confidentiality obligations.
– With JaneApp, for appointment management and payment processing, as described in Section 2c above.
– With Squarespace, for website analytics and email subscription management, as described in Sections 2b and 2d above.
– With other service providers (e.g., secure video platforms) to the minimum extent necessary to deliver online counselling sessions.
Personal information is not sold, rented, or traded to any third party for commercial or marketing purposes.
6. Data Storage and Security
ASCEND MindSpace takes reasonable steps to protect personal information against unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. Measures include:
– Use of password-protected, encrypted systems for clinical records
– Use of PHIPA-compliant or equivalent secure video platforms for online sessions
– Limiting access to personal information to ASCEND MindSpace and authorized clinical supervisor only
– Secure and professional management of paper records, where applicable
No method of electronic transmission or storage is entirely secure. While ASCEND MindSpace takes reasonable protective measures, absolute security cannot be guaranteed.
Clinical records are retained for a minimum period consistent with BC professional standards, generally a minimum of seven years following the last date of service, or seven years following a minor client reaching the age of majority.
7. Your Rights Regarding Personal Information
Under PIPA (BC) and PIPEDA, you have the right to:
– Request access to personal information held about you
– Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete personal information
– Withdraw consent to the collection or use of personal information, subject to legal and professional limitations
– Request information about how your data has been used or disclosed
To exercise these rights, contact ASCEND MindSpace at hello@ascendmindspace.com. Requests will be responded to within 30 calendar days.
Please note that some information cannot be removed from clinical records where retention is required by professional standards, legal obligation, or where removal would affect the accuracy of the record.
8. Cookies and Website Analytics
ascendmindspace.com is hosted on Squarespace, which uses cookies and similar tracking technologies to support website functionality and analytics. Squarespace’s privacy practices govern the use of cookies on this platform.
Most browsers allow you to manage or disable cookies through browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect the functionality of certain website features.
9. Children and Adolescent Clients
ASCEND MindSpace serves adolescent clients in addition to adults. Where services are provided to individuals under 19 years of age, parental or guardian consent is required for service commencement, consistent with BC’s Infants Act and professional ethical standards. Adolescent clients retain a right to appropriate confidentiality within the therapeutic relationship, consistent with their developmental stage and applicable legal requirements.
Where parents or guardians request access to information provided by an adolescent in the course of counselling, ASCEND MindSpace will balance confidentiality, therapeutic safety, and applicable legal requirements on a case-by-case basis.
10. Third-Party Links
The ASCEND MindSpace website may contain links to external resources or platforms (such as crisis support lines or professional associations). ASCEND MindSpace is not responsible for the privacy practices of linked third-party sites and encourages users to review the privacy policies of any external sites they visit.
11. Policy Updates
This Privacy Policy may be updated periodically to reflect changes in practice, legislation, or professional standards. The current version will always be available at ascendmindspace.com/privacy-policy. Continued use of the website or services following a policy update constitutes acceptance of the revised policy. Where updates are material, notice will be provided via the website.
12. Contact
For questions, concerns, or privacy-related requests, contact:
ASCEND MindSpace
Tasleem, RTCc (ACCT)
If you believe your privacy rights have not been adequately addressed, you may also contact the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner for British Columbia (OIPC BC) at oipc.bc.ca.