Privacy Policy

Introduction

This Privacy Policy outlines how Lara Beaton Psychology ("we," "our," or "us") collects, uses, discloses, and protects the personal information of visitors and clients on our website [www.larabeatonpsychology.com] and throughout the services we provide. We are committed to protecting your privacy in compliance with the Privacy Act 1988 and the Australian Privacy Principles.

Information We Collect

• Administrative Information – This is to maintain our administrative records and includes your name, address, contact details, calendar appointments, Medicare details, billing information, referring doctor, consent and other administrative forms. It may include compliance information such as contacts with medical practitioners, lawyers, or insurance companies. The administrative record is held and maintained by Lara Beaton Psychology.
• Clinical Records – This information is collected to provide effective treatment or comprehensive assessment. It may include current personal concerns, family history, presenting psychological and medical symptoms, legal issues and other relevant information needed for psychological assessment and treatment. This clinical record is held and maintained by your treating practitioner.

There is an ethical obligation for psychologists to make and keep accurate records in relation to ongoing treatment and scheduled consultations. You cannot request information to be excluded from the practitioner’s file. If you do not wish for your personal information to be collected in a way anticipated by this Privacy Policy, Lara Beaton Psychology may not be able to provide services to you.

Storage of Information

Lara Beaton Psychology maintains storage of administrative records. Both practitioners and administration follow both Australian Psychological Society code of ethical guidelines and Australian Privacy Principles. Please contact Lara Beaton Psychology’s administration should you need to make any changes to your administrative details. 

While you are able to withdraw your consent to engage with our services, Lara Beaton Psychology is legally required to maintain a copy of both your administrative record and clinical record. These records will be stored in accordance with this privacy policy and relevant legislation.

To the best of our knowledge, the computer systems used for administrative and clinical record storage are based in Australia, encrypted and protected. A client’s information will not be disclosed to anyone unless the client consents to such a disclosure or is otherwise required by law. Your personal information will never be used or disclosed for any purpose other than to provide our services in accordance with consent gained.

Disclosure of Information

To provide our services under third party referrals, Lara Beaton Psychology may be required to disclose personal information to these third parties. Disclosure may include but is not limited to:

• Referring Doctor (General Practitioner, Psychiatrist) – to assist in continuation of care and for Medicare rebate requirements
• Insurance Company – to enable an insurer to make decisions about their liability, funding or to assess if relevant treatment is appropriate.
• Court – on subpoena, all relevant psychological information legally must be provided to a court.
• Administrative record information may be released in the instance of debt collection, Medicare audits and insurance purposes. When information is released for these purpose, only the minimum required information will be disclosed.
• Clinical information may be released for AHPRA compliance and investigations. 

Please also be aware that the general principles of privacy can be waved if failure to disclose information places yourself or another person at risk. If you are deemed a risk of suicide or harming another individual, your practitioner holds a duty of care and is required to disclose relevant information to reduce/prevent risk of harm. 

Court Proceedings 

In the case of legal proceedings, Lara Beaton Psychology may be required to disclose administrative or clinical records to the court, your lawyer or an insurer participating in the proceedings. If you have a legal representative acting for you and that person seeks information about you, Lara Beaton Psychology will not release any information without your written consent. 

In the event of a subpoena, where possible, Lara Beaton Psychology will endeavour to advise you about the disclosure or personal records to the court.

Requesting Access to your Personal Information

As a client of Lara Beaton Psychology, you can request a copy of your clinical record at any time. Any request to access a copy of your clinical record must be made in writing and addressed to your treating psychologist. 

Website Analytics

Our website uses cookies to enhance user experience, analyse website traffic, and help improve our services. Cookies are small files stored on your device, and you can disable them in your browser settings if preferred.

We use the information you provide to deliver and manage our services, communicate with you, and respond to your enquiries. We may also use anonymised data to improve our website.

SMS

Lara Beaton Psychology may use SMS messaging to communicate with current clients, particularly for appointment reminders. When you become a client of Lara Beaton Psychology your mobile number is added to your administrative file. We do not use your phone number for marketing purposes and is not disclosed to any third party. 

Please note that SMS messaging is not monitored outside of business hours. The sole purpose of SMS messaging is to provide appointment reminders/confirmation or to assist with communication around the rescheduling of appointments.

Email

Lara Beaton Psychology uses email to communicate with current clients for appointment reminders, to generate receipts/invoices and to schedule appointments. When you become a client of Lara Beaton Psychology your email is added to your administrative file. We do not use your email for marketing purposes and is not disclosed to any third party.

Please note that Lara Beaton Psychology does not provide crisis services and emails at the business are not monitored outside of business hours. 

Feedback

If you have any feedback in relation to the services provided at Lara Beaton Psychology you can provide this by emailing administration at hello@larabeatonpsychology.com