Jenny Claire Counselling is committed to protecting your personal information in accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) of South Africa and applicable ethical guidelines of the Health Professions Council of South Africa.
1. Personal Information Collected
The following personal information may be collected and processed:
- Name and surname
- Contact details (e.g. telephone number, email address)
- Demographic information (where relevant)
- Information relevant to counselling services
- Medical aid details (if applicable)
Certain information collected may be classified as special personal information, including health-related information.
2. Purpose of Processing
Personal information is collected and processed for the following purposes:
- Providing counselling services
- Communication and appointment scheduling
- Administrative and billing functions
- Record-keeping in accordance with legal and ethical obligations
3. Lawful Basis for Processing
Information is processed in accordance with POPIA on the following bases:
- Your voluntary consent
- The necessity to provide counselling services
- Compliance with legal and professional obligations
4. Confidentiality and Disclosure of Information
All personal information is treated as confidential. Information will only be disclosed:
- With your consent
- Where required by law
- Where there is a duty to prevent harm to yourself or others
- To relevant third parties involved in administration (e.g. billing services), where necessary
5. Storage and Security
Reasonable technical and organisational measures are implemented to safeguard personal information against loss, unauthorised access, misuse, or disclosure.
Information may be stored:
- Electronically (e.g. secure digital systems, email)
- In physical files (where applicable)
Please note that some electronic service providers (such as email or cloud storage platforms) may store information outside of South Africa.
6. Retention of Records
Personal information and counselling records are retained in accordance with legal and professional requirements, including guidelines from the Health Professions Council of South Africa, generally for a minimum period of six (6) years, unless otherwise required.
7. Your Rights
In terms of POPIA, you have the right to:
- Request access to your personal information
- Request correction or updating of your information
- Request deletion of information where appropriate
- Withdraw consent (subject to legal and ethical limitations)
Requests must be made in writing using the contact details below.
8. Cookies and Website Use
This website may use cookies or basic tracking tools to enhance user experience and monitor website performance. By using this website, you consent to the use of such technologies.
9. Information Officer
Jenny Claire Counselling operates as a sole practitioner. The Information Officer is:
Jennifer Schulze [info@jennyclairecounselling.co.za]
10. Updates to This Policy
This Privacy Policy may be updated from time to time. The most recent version will always be available on this website.