Fees, Policies & Guidelines

Privacy & Confidentiality Policy

Privacy

Your Privacy is protected by the Personal Data Protection Act 2012 (2020 Rev Ed) (PDPA) and we adhere to the Singapore Psychological Society Code of Ethics.

Hearth Ecotherapy and Psychology Practice ensures best practice governance surrounding information we receive from you. By engaging with us, you consent for information to be collected and recorded. We have the highest regard for your safety, confidentiality, legal and ethical rights. You choose what information you wish to disclose.

This privacy policy covers all personal information we hold, that is, information, or an opinion about an individual, whose identity is apparent, or can be reasonably ascertained, from that information or opinion. This includes information we have collected from people through over the phone or internet.

What is Personal Data?

Personal data refers to data, whether true or not, about an individual who can be identified from that data; or from that data and other information to which the organization has or is likely to have access. Personal data in Singapore is protected under the Personal Data Protection Act 2012 (PDPA).The PDPA establishes a data protection law that comprises various rules governing the collection, use, disclosure and care of personal data. It recognizes both the rights of individuals to protect their personal data, including rights of access and correction, and the needs of organizations to collect, use or disclose personal data for legitimate and reasonable purposes.

How does the Personal Data Protection Act work?

The PDPA will ensure a baseline standard of protection for personal data by complementing sector-specific legislative and regulatory frameworks. This means that organizations will have to comply with the PDPA as well as the common law and other relevant laws that are applied to the specific industry that they belong to, when handling personal data in their possession.

The PDPA takes into account the following concepts:

• Consent – Organizations may collect, use or disclose personal data only with the individual's knowledge and consent (with some exceptions);

• Purpose – Organizations may collect, use or disclose personal data in an appropriate manner for the circumstances, and only if they have informed the individual of purposes for the collection, use or disclosure; and

• Reasonableness – Organizations may collect, use or disclose personal data only for purposes that would be considered appropriate to a reasonable person in the given circumstances.
  
  Source: https://www.pdpc.gov.sg/overview-of-pdpa/the-legislation/personal-data-protection-act ​

Confidentiality

In order to keep track of important and relevant themes/issues covered in therapy and to provide an informed psychological service to you, your therapist may document what happens in session. You may also be asked to complete questionnaires to facilitate a better understanding of your circumstances and to monitor progress in therapy. These will be kept securely to ensure that your privacy is protected.

Legally and ethically, the relationship between the psychologist and clients is of a confidential nature. This means that the expressed information given to the psychologist cannot be divulged by the psychologist to anyone without the client’s expressed, written consent except:

• in the event that a clear and present danger of physical harm to the client and/or others becomes apparent, or

• in situations where separate parents share custody of a child under court order such that each parent may be provided access to the record of the child, or

• in situations where the psychologist becomes aware that a person under the age of 18 is being sexually or physically abused.

• your personal information is subpoenaed by a court, or disclosure is otherwise required or authorised by law; or

• your prior approval has been obtained to:

  • provide a written report to another professional or agency. e.g., a GP or a lawyer; or 

  • discuss the material with another person, e.g. a parent, employer, health provider, or 

  • disclose the information in another way; or

  • disclose to another professional or agency (e.g. your GP, treating psychiatrist) and disclosure of your personal information to that third party is for the purpose of treatment
     

Data Storage and Disposal

All reasonable steps are taken to ensure that information is kept physically and digitally secure, protected against unauthorized use, and stored for the legally required amount of time.