Privacy & Cookie Policy
Privacy Policy
1. Our commitment to your privacy
Living Stones Counselling / Connection Point Therapy (“we”, “us”, “our”) are committed to protecting your privacy and the confidentiality of your personal information. We comply with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs), as well as relevant professional codes of ethics for counsellors in Australia.
2. What information we collect from this website
We collect personal information that is reasonably necessary to provide counselling services, including:
- Identification and contact details (name, city and state, phone, email).
- Administrative information (for quote estimates - household situation details, appointment history, questions or information you may write on our forms). Please leave out “sensitive information” such as health, cultural background, and detailed relationship information.
3. How we collect your information
We usually collect information directly from you from this website when you:
- Make an enquiry, complete an embedded form, or book an appointment.
4. Why we collect and use your information**
We collect, hold, and use your personal information from this website to:
- Refer you to the most safe, effective counselling and related services.
- Manage bookings, billing, and practice administration.
- Meet our legal, regulatory, and professional obligations.
We do not use your personal information for unrelated marketing without your explicit consent. This would be done by directly contacting you via phone, text, or email.
5. Confidentiality and its limits
Everything you share in counselling is treated as confidential and is stored in a secure client record. Information may be disclosed without your consent only when:
- There is a serious and imminent risk of harm to you or another person.
- There is a reasonable belief that a child or young person is at risk of abuse or neglect.
- We are required by law to do so (for example, by subpoena, court order, or other legal obligation).
- It is necessary to prevent or lessen a serious threat to life, health, or safety.
- You give us written consent to share to approriate professionals.
Wherever possible and appropriate, we will discuss any proposed disclosure with you and share only what is necessary.
6. Supervision and professional consultation
To ensure quality and safety of practice, your counsellor may discuss aspects of their work in professional supervision or peer consultation. Your identity is protected; identifying details are removed or minimised, and supervisors are bound by confidentiality and professional ethics.
7. Access to and correction of your information
You can request access to the personal information we hold about you, and you may ask us to correct information that is inaccurate, out‑of‑date, or incomplete.
- We may ask you to put your request in writing and verify your identity.
- We will respond within a reasonable time and may charge a reasonable fee for providing copies.
- If we cannot provide access in the way requested, we will explain why and discuss options.
If we decline to amend your information, you may ask us to note your disagreement on your record.
8. Website and cookies (if applicable)
If you use our website, we may collect basic technical information (such as IP address, browser type, pages visited) to maintain and improve the site. This information is usually de‑identified. Our website may contain links to third‑party sites that have their own privacy policies; we are not responsible for their practices.
9. Complaints and contact details
If you have questions or concerns about how we handle your personal information, or wish to make a complaint, please contact:
Living Stones Counselling & Connection Point Therapy1/20 Maitland Place, Norwest NSW 2153christina@livestones.com.au
We will respond as soon as reasonably practicable. If you are not satisfied with our response, you can contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) at www.oaic.gov.au or on 1300 363 992.
10. Changes to this policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in law or our practice. The most current version will be available on our website (if applicable) or on request.
Living Stones Counselling / Connection Point Therapy (“we”, “us”, “our”) are committed to protecting your privacy and the confidentiality of your personal information. We comply with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs), as well as relevant professional codes of ethics for counsellors in Australia.
2. What information we collect from this website
We collect personal information that is reasonably necessary to provide counselling services, including:
- Identification and contact details (name, city and state, phone, email).
- Administrative information (for quote estimates - household situation details, appointment history, questions or information you may write on our forms). Please leave out “sensitive information” such as health, cultural background, and detailed relationship information.
3. How we collect your information
We usually collect information directly from you from this website when you:
- Make an enquiry, complete an embedded form, or book an appointment.
4. Why we collect and use your information**
We collect, hold, and use your personal information from this website to:
- Refer you to the most safe, effective counselling and related services.
- Manage bookings, billing, and practice administration.
- Meet our legal, regulatory, and professional obligations.
We do not use your personal information for unrelated marketing without your explicit consent. This would be done by directly contacting you via phone, text, or email.
5. Confidentiality and its limits
Everything you share in counselling is treated as confidential and is stored in a secure client record. Information may be disclosed without your consent only when:
- There is a serious and imminent risk of harm to you or another person.
- There is a reasonable belief that a child or young person is at risk of abuse or neglect.
- We are required by law to do so (for example, by subpoena, court order, or other legal obligation).
- It is necessary to prevent or lessen a serious threat to life, health, or safety.
- You give us written consent to share to approriate professionals.
Wherever possible and appropriate, we will discuss any proposed disclosure with you and share only what is necessary.
6. Supervision and professional consultation
To ensure quality and safety of practice, your counsellor may discuss aspects of their work in professional supervision or peer consultation. Your identity is protected; identifying details are removed or minimised, and supervisors are bound by confidentiality and professional ethics.
7. Access to and correction of your information
You can request access to the personal information we hold about you, and you may ask us to correct information that is inaccurate, out‑of‑date, or incomplete.
- We may ask you to put your request in writing and verify your identity.
- We will respond within a reasonable time and may charge a reasonable fee for providing copies.
- If we cannot provide access in the way requested, we will explain why and discuss options.
If we decline to amend your information, you may ask us to note your disagreement on your record.
8. Website and cookies (if applicable)
If you use our website, we may collect basic technical information (such as IP address, browser type, pages visited) to maintain and improve the site. This information is usually de‑identified. Our website may contain links to third‑party sites that have their own privacy policies; we are not responsible for their practices.
9. Complaints and contact details
If you have questions or concerns about how we handle your personal information, or wish to make a complaint, please contact:
Living Stones Counselling & Connection Point Therapy1/20 Maitland Place, Norwest NSW 2153christina@livestones.com.au
We will respond as soon as reasonably practicable. If you are not satisfied with our response, you can contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) at www.oaic.gov.au or on 1300 363 992.
10. Changes to this policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in law or our practice. The most current version will be available on our website (if applicable) or on request.
Cookie Policy
In this area you can list out the key services and product groups that your business offers.
1. What are cookies?Cookies are small text files that are placed on your device when you visit our website. They help the site work properly and provide information about how visitors use the site.
2. Why we use cookies
We use cookies to: - Make our website function correctly and securely (for example, page navigation, basic security). - Understand how visitors use our site so we can improve content and usability (for example, simple analytics). - Remember certain preferences such as your cookie choices.
We do not use cookies to collect counselling session notes or clinical information.
3. Types of cookies we use
Depending on how our website is set up, we may use: Strictly necessary cookies – required for the site to work (for example, security and basic functions). Performance/analytics cookies – to collect anonymised or aggregated information about how visitors use the site (for example, which pages are visited and for how long). Functionality cookies** – to remember your choices (for example, cookie consent settings).
If we use third‑party tools (such as Google Analytics), these providers may set their own cookies; they do not receive your counselling records and are bound by their own privacy policies. 4. Personal information and cookies
Under the Australian Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), information collected by cookies can be “personal information” if it can reasonably identify you. Where cookies collect personal information (for example, IP address combined with other data), we handle that information in line with our Privacy Policy and the Australian Privacy Principles.
5. Your choices – how to control cookies
You can control cookies in several ways: Use your browser settings to block or delete cookies from this and other websites. Adjust preferences in any cookie banner or pop‑up we provide (if available).
If you block all cookies, some parts of our website may not function properly or may not be accessible.
6. International visitors (if applicable)
If you are visiting from the European Union, United Kingdom or other regions with specific cookie laws, we aim to honour those requirements by showing a cookie banner and obtaining consent where required before using non‑essential cookies.
7. Changes to this Cookie Policy
We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time, for example if we change the cookies we use or to reflect legal or technical changes. The latest version will always be available on this page, with the date of the most recent update. 8. Contact us
If you have questions about our use of cookies or how your information is handled, please contact:
Living Stones Counsellingchristina@livestones.com.au
We use cookies to: - Make our website function correctly and securely (for example, page navigation, basic security). - Understand how visitors use our site so we can improve content and usability (for example, simple analytics). - Remember certain preferences such as your cookie choices.
We do not use cookies to collect counselling session notes or clinical information.
3. Types of cookies we use
Depending on how our website is set up, we may use: Strictly necessary cookies – required for the site to work (for example, security and basic functions). Performance/analytics cookies – to collect anonymised or aggregated information about how visitors use the site (for example, which pages are visited and for how long). Functionality cookies** – to remember your choices (for example, cookie consent settings).
If we use third‑party tools (such as Google Analytics), these providers may set their own cookies; they do not receive your counselling records and are bound by their own privacy policies. 4. Personal information and cookies
Under the Australian Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), information collected by cookies can be “personal information” if it can reasonably identify you. Where cookies collect personal information (for example, IP address combined with other data), we handle that information in line with our Privacy Policy and the Australian Privacy Principles.
5. Your choices – how to control cookies
You can control cookies in several ways: Use your browser settings to block or delete cookies from this and other websites. Adjust preferences in any cookie banner or pop‑up we provide (if available).
If you block all cookies, some parts of our website may not function properly or may not be accessible.
6. International visitors (if applicable)
If you are visiting from the European Union, United Kingdom or other regions with specific cookie laws, we aim to honour those requirements by showing a cookie banner and obtaining consent where required before using non‑essential cookies.
7. Changes to this Cookie Policy
We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time, for example if we change the cookies we use or to reflect legal or technical changes. The latest version will always be available on this page, with the date of the most recent update. 8. Contact us
If you have questions about our use of cookies or how your information is handled, please contact:
Living Stones Counsellingchristina@livestones.com.au