Privacy Policy

Last updated: November 2026

About this policy

This policy explains how Joseph Counselling & Psychotherapy (JC&P), the counselling practice of Rev. Father Joseph Makdessi (ABN 56 746 292 966), handles personal information. It applies to clients, people who contact us, and visitors to our website.

We take your privacy seriously. We comply with the Australian Privacy Principles in the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and, because we provide a health service in New South Wales, the Health Privacy Principles in the Health Records and Information Privacy Act 2002 (NSW). We also follow the confidentiality requirements of our professional body, PACFA.

What information we collect

Personal information is information that identifies you, or could reasonably identify you. We may collect:

• your name, address, phone number, email address and date of birth

• emergency contact details, and the details of your GP or referrer

• billing and payment records

Sensitive and health information needs a higher level of protection, because its disclosure could cause harm, discrimination or embarrassment. In counselling we may collect:

• information about your mental and physical health, relationships and family life

• session notes, assessment questionnaires and treatment plans

• religious or spiritual beliefs, if you choose to share them

• other sensitive information you choose to share, such as cultural background, sexual orientation, family court orders or criminal history

Why we collect it

We collect only what we need to provide a safe, ethical and effective counselling service. We use your information to:

• assess your needs, plan and provide counselling, and keep accurate clinical records

• manage bookings, reminders, invoices and payments

• communicate with your GP, referrer or other practitioners, with your consent

• respond to enquiries, and send the free resources you request

• meet our legal, insurance and professional obligations

Anonymity and pseudonyms

Because of our professional duty of care, we cannot provide counselling to someone who remains fully anonymous. You may ask to use a pseudonym in some communications, but we may still need your legal name for administrative, billing or legal purposes.

How we collect it

We usually collect information directly from you, including through:

• what you share in sessions, by phone, email or SMS

• our online booking system and client portal, intake forms and questionnaires

• forms on our website, including the free guide sign-up

• parents or guardians of clients under 18

• referrals from GPs, schools, parishes or other practitioners

Couples, families and young people

In couples and family counselling, what is said in a joint session is heard by everyone present. How information shared in individual conversations within couples or family work is handled is explained before counselling begins, in your Terms of Service and Informed Consent.

For clients under 18, we usually involve a parent or guardian. We also respect a young person’s privacy in a way that fits their age and maturity, and within the law.

How we store and protect it

Client records are kept in secure, password-protected practice management software, with access limited to authorised people. Paper records are kept to a minimum and stored securely.

We do not keep credit card or bank details once a payment has been processed. Online sessions use a secure video telehealth platform.

Email and SMS are convenient, but they cannot be guaranteed to be completely secure. Please let us know if you would prefer we contact you another way.

How long we keep records

As required by NSW law, we keep health records for at least seven years after your last session. If you were under 18 when the information was collected, we keep it at least until you turn 25. After that, records are securely destroyed.

When we share information

We will not share your personal information without your consent, except where:

• it is required or authorised by law, such as a subpoena or court order

• it is necessary to lessen or prevent a serious threat to someone’s life, health or safety

• we are required to report a risk of significant harm to a child

• we discuss our work in clinical supervision, which is done without identifying you

• trusted service providers help us run the practice (such as our booking, website and payment systems), under confidentiality obligations

Wherever it is safe and appropriate, we will talk with you before sharing information.

Information stored outside Australia

Some of the online services we use, such as our website host and website analytics, may store information on servers outside Australia, including in the United States. We choose reputable providers and take reasonable steps to make sure your information is protected.

Accessing and correcting your information

You can ask to see the personal information we hold about you, and ask us to correct anything that is inaccurate, incomplete or out of date. We will respond within a reasonable time. A reasonable administrative fee may apply to providing copies.

In some limited situations the law allows us to refuse access, for example where it could pose a serious risk to someone’s safety. If so, we will explain why in writing.

If a data breach happens

If a data breach occurs, we will act quickly to contain it and assess the risk. Where it is likely to cause serious harm, we will notify the people affected and the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner, as the law requires.

Our website

Cookies. Our website may use cookies, small text files stored on your device, to help it work and to understand how it is used. They may record information such as your browser and device type, pages visited, time spent and the website that referred you. You can manage or turn off cookies in your browser settings, although some features may then not work as well.

Analytics. We may use analytics services to understand, in general terms, how visitors use the website: pages visited, time on pages, approximate location, and device and browser. This is used for statistics only, not to identify you.

Forms and the free guide. Information you send through a form, such as your name, email and message, is only used to respond to you, arrange services, or provide the resource you asked for. We do not sell your information, and we will not add you to a mailing list without your consent. Please avoid including highly sensitive information in website forms.

Other websites. Our site links to other websites, such as our online booking portal. Those websites have their own privacy policies.

Questions and complaints

If you have a question, or believe your information has not been handled properly, please contact us first so we can look into it and try to put it right.

If you are not satisfied with our response, you can contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (oaic.gov.au, 1300 363 992) or, for health information, the NSW Information and Privacy Commission (ipc.nsw.gov.au, 1800 472 679).

Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time. The current version will always be published on our website.

Contact us

Joseph Counselling & Psychotherapy
Email: info@jcandp.com.au
Phone: 0412 757 781
Shop 15, 94 Beamish Street, Campsie NSW 2194

See also our Website Terms of Use.