Effective Date: 1 August 2025
Gwenda Miriam Willis (“we”, “our”, or “us”) respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website.
1. Collection of Personal Information
We may collect personal information directly from you, including when you:
- Contact us via our website, phone, or email
- Book or attend a consultation
- Fill out forms or assessments
- Use our website and digital tools
Types of Information We May Collect
- Your name
- Contact details (e.g., phone number, email address)
- Date of birth
- Health and psychological information relevant to our services
- Emergency contact details
- Payment and billing information
- Information from your use of our website (e.g., IP address, browser, cookies)
We will always endeavour to collect information directly from you, unless it is unreasonable or impractical to do so.
2. Use of Personal Information
We use your personal information for the following purposes:
- To provide consultation services
- To schedule and manage appointments
- To maintain client records and case notes
- To communicate with you
- To comply with legal, professional, and ethical obligations
- To improve our website and services
We will only use your personal information for the purpose for which it was collected, or where required or permitted by law.
3. Disclosure of Personal Information
We may disclose your personal information:
- To other health professionals with your consent (e.g., GP, specialist)
- When required by law (e.g., court orders, public health requirements)
- If there is a serious threat to your safety or the safety of others, as permitted under relevant legislation and the Code of Ethics for Psychologists working in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Any third parties we engage are required to comply with confidentiality obligations and data protection standards.
4. Storage and Protection
We take reasonable steps to ensure your personal information is stored securely and protected against:
- Loss or unauthorised access
- Use, modification, or disclosure
- Misuse or destruction
This includes secure physical and electronic storage, encryption, password protection, and secure communication practices.
We store client records in accordance with ethical obligations and for as long as legally required. After this period, records will be securely destroyed.
5. Access to and Correction of Your Information
Under the Privacy Act, you have the right to:
- Access the personal information we hold about you
- Request corrections to any inaccurate or incomplete information
To make a request, contact us using the details below. We may require proof of identity before fulfilling your request. If we decline to make a correction, we will explain why and attach a statement of correction if you request it.
6. Use of Cookies and Website Analytics
Our website may use cookies to enhance your browsing experience. Cookies are small text files stored on your device. They help us understand website traffic and improve our services.
You can modify your browser settings to disable cookies, but this may affect website functionality.
7. Third-Party Links
Our website may contain links to external websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these third parties. We encourage you to read their privacy policies before providing any personal information.
8. Privacy Breaches
In accordance with the Privacy Act 2020, if a privacy breach occurs that is likely to cause serious harm, we will notify:
- The Office of the Privacy Commissioner
- You, as soon as possible
We maintain processes to identify, respond to, and mitigate the impact of any potential breaches.
9. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this policy from time to time to reflect changes in law or our practices. The updated version will be posted on our website with the new effective date. Continued use of our services after changes are made will constitute acceptance of the new policy.
10. Contact Us
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to access or correct your information, please contact me directly using the Get In Touch form.
You may also contact the Office of the Privacy Commissioner:
Website: https://www.privacy.org.nz