Ecounselling Terms and Conditions of Use and Privacy Policy
1. Introduction
1.1 These terms and conditions shall govern your use of the ecounselling service, as provided by Ecounselling Western Canada. It is the responsibility of the individual client to review the terms and conditions, and it is the client’s responsibility to contact Ecounselling Western Canada’s counsellor, Ryan Gaehring, to clarify any questions that may arise following the review of the material contained in this document.
1.2 By submitting an intake form to Ryan Gaehring for ecounselling, you are agreeing to the terms and conditions in the following document.
1.3 This agreement is between you, hereinafter referred to as “the client”, and Ryan Gaehring, MA (Registered Clinical Counsellor with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors, Registration #10937), operating as Ecounselling Western Canada, hereinafter referred to as “Ecounselling WC”.
2. Personal Identification
2.1 Clients may only use Ecounselling WC for their own personal use. Clients must not represent themselves to be anyone other than themselves when registering to use, or continuing to access Ecounselling WC.
2.2 Clients must honestly represent themselves, this meaning their identity and all information provided to Ecounselling WC, at all times when in communication with Ecounselling WC.
2.3 The account clients hold with Ecounselling WC must be protected, and no other individuals are to log in under their account. Account login is necessary for Ecounselling WC to confirm client identity, and to allow another individual access would be a breach of Section 2.1 and 2.2.
3. Benefits and Risks of Counselling and Psychotherapy
3.1 Counselling is experienced differently by every client. It is the client’s responsibility to familiarize themselves with potential benefits and risks, depending on their individual differences in personality, presenting issues, levels of intensity, and general comfort with the counselling process. Counselling requires active participation from clients to result in any change; however, no client change is guaranteed, whether it be a benefit or a risk, and clients have the right not to engage in counselling at any time.
3.2 Potential benefits to counselling may include, but are not limited to:
(a) Clarification of issues, and/or increases in self-awareness.
(b) Development of new skills, and/or of coping strategies for managing distress.
(c) Changes in maladaptive behaviours, and/or decreases in unwanted thoughts.
(d) Improvements in relationships, and/or decreases in conflict.
3.3 Potential Risks to counselling may include, but are not limited to:
(a) Unwanted changes in self-awareness, and/or in ways of relating to others.
(b) Triggering difficult feelings such as anger, sadness, guilt, frustration, etc.
(c) Triggering difficult memories.
3.4 Ecounselling WC understands that not every counsellor is a fit for every client, and as such, clients concerned about risks must inform Ecounselling WC and request a referral elsewhere. A client may also choose to discontinue counselling at their own discretion.
4. Limitations of Online Psychotherapy or Ecounselling
4.1 Face-to-face counselling allows the counsellor to assume greater control of the therapeutic process as opposed to online counselling. Therefore, there are limitations in liability for the online counsellor, specifically Ecounselling WC, and greater onus on the client to assume responsibility for the process.
4.2 Prospective client responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
(a) Deciding if online counselling is an appropriate fit for their needs, and specifically for their goals or issues.
(b) Deciding if they have the appropriate computer and language literacies to participate in online counselling.
4.3 Active clients must consider and/or take responsibility for the following:
(a) Client interpretations of the counsellor must be based solely on the written and emailed transcripts sent by the counsellor to the client’s personal Hushmail account.
(b) Counsellor interpretations of the client are only possible through the written transcript sent by the client to the counsellor, via their personal Hushmail account.
(c) No visual or audio cues are present with online counselling.
(d) Ecounselling WC is not liable for decisions made by the client as to whether, when, or where they decide to read messages from their counsellor, or whether, when or where they decide to write messages back to their counsellor.
(e) Clients have the responsibility of deciding how much of the counsellor’s transcript they would like to read, and of what portions of the communication they would like to accept or reject.
(f) The onus is on the client to set up in-person support, should it be required, upon reading or writing a message to their counsellor.
5. Confidentiality
5.1 Ecounselling WC adheres to Canadian laws and ethical codes acknowledging that confidentiality is an important expectation in the counselling profession. Ecounselling WC will not share client information with any third party without client knowledge or consent.
5.2 Ecounselling WC reserves the right to limit client confidentiality if given the following situations:
(a) Ecounselling WC has a duty to report to applicable authorities if the client presents as a risk to either themselves or others. This duty to report may also include the client’s emergency contact, or the person believed to be at risk of harm. Examples of this kind of situation include, but are not limited to, risk of suicide or homicide.
(b) Ecounselling WC has a legal obligation to cooperate with a court of law in the event that there is a formal request made for client information.
(c) Ecounselling WC reserves the right to consult with colleagues or supervisors in the counselling profession for the interest of providing clients with the best and most ethical service as possible.
5.3 Ecounselling WC is not liable for breaches in confidentiality that are a result of, but not limited to the following circumstances:
(a) Instances where clients use any other form of communication outside of the Hushmail forum to send messages to their counsellor, or instances involving where, when or how clients engage in online counselling that do not protect their own privacy.
(b) Instances where there is technical failure that is out of Ecounselling WC’s control. Examples of this could include but are not limited to system failures or attacks on the security of the Hushmail platform, system failures or attacks on the client’s personal equipment, or system failures or attacks on Ecounselling WC’s equipment.
5.4 Ecounselling WC is not liable for instances where the counsellor is unable to make a timely report of risk regarding the client or others if the client’s personal information is not accurate or updated with Ecounselling WC. Inaccurate or out of date personal information would be a violation of section 2.
6. Privacy
6.1 Ecounselling WC will, as recommended by the BCACC, adhere to the standards as outlined in the Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) of British Columbia. The responsibilities of Ecounselling WC to the client are as follows:
(a) To identify the purpose. The purpose of collecting any personal information is strictly for providing online counselling to the client. Information collected is based on voluntary submissions from the client, and will not be shared with any third party, with the exception of instances resulting in limitations of confidentiality as described in section 5. Ecounselling WC will update the client on any changes or new purposes for the collection of personal information before any said changes or new purposes take place.
(b) To obtain consent. The counsellor is responsible for ensuring that clients consent to the collection of personal information, and that they understand what consent means. In the case of Ecounselling WC, clients are providing consent with the submission of their intake form to the counsellor through their Hushmail account. Clients are offering consent for further information collection, by sending their counselling messages to their counsellor through their Hushmail account. Clients are free to withdraw consent at any time, and while it is the counsellor’s responsibility to inform them of potential risks to withdrawing consent, the counsellor may not prohibit a client from withdrawing their consent in any way.
(c) To collect relevant information. Ecounselling WC will only request personal information that is relevant and appropriate for the purposes of counselling, and must ensure that information collected is directly from the client only.
(d) To maintain client records. The counsellor is responsible for managing the client’s Hushmail account, and for closing it when the client is finished with counselling. Ecounselling WC will retain client Hushmail accounts for up to 60 days following that last contact with the counsellor. After termination of the client Hushmail account, the counsellor will retain a client record for 7 years.
(e) To minimize using incorrect or incomplete information when sharing client information with approved third parties. Ecounselling WC is responsible for the accuracy and completeness of personal information collected.
(f) To safeguard information. Ecounselling WC uses the Hushmail platform for secure transmission of information between the client and counsellor, and for a secure server for the information to be stored. Following the termination of the client’s Hushmail account, their encrypted information will be non-recoverable. The counsellor will retain a client record following a double locked system in the counsellor’s personal office.
(g) To be open to questioning. The client has the right to ask questions for clarification, and Ecounselling WC has the duty to respond to any such questions in effort to help the client understand any privacy policy or procedure.
(h) To facilitate access and corrections. If the client asks for access to their records, Ecounselling WC will facilitate access, or will provide a document explaining why access cannot be granted including further procedures necessary. If the client asks for a correction to be made to their records, the counsellor will facilitate the corrections following the guidelines of PIPA, or will provide a document explaining why the corrections cannot be made.
(i) To facilitate a complaint procedure. Should the client wish to present a complaint regarding the counsellors handling of their personal information, Ecounselling WC is obligated to handle such complaints in an ethical manner. The counsellor will acknowledge the client complaint in a timely manner, fairly and impartially investigate the concern, take measures to correct the concern if deemed appropriate, and report the corrections back to the client. The counsellor must inform the client of their right to file a grievance with the BCACC or BC Privacy Commissioner if they would like to take further action.
(j) To update and review privacy policies. Ecounselling WC will update the terms and conditions, including privacy policies, on the website immediately after any changes are made.
6.2 The client shares responsibility to protect their own privacy, and Ecounselling WC cannot be held liable for breaches in client privacy if the client does not adhere to reasonable due diligence. The responsibilities of the client include, but are not limited to:
(a) Clients must protect the privacy of their Hushmail account, and ensure that no one else gains access.
(b) Clients must ensure that the computer, with which they choose to use for ecounselling, is secure. An example may include, but is not limited to, clients who choose to use work computers that may not be secure.
(c) Clients must be aware of the risks associated with downloading or saving information to their personal computer or other storage devices or drives. Once information is taken off of Hushmail, it is no longer encrypted, and may be at risk.
(d) Clients must ensure that they have appropriate anti-virus protection to ensure the safety and confidentiality of their computer and information.
6.3 While Ecounselling WC will do everything possible to ensure the protection of client information, clients must be aware that information transmitted over internet connection can never be guaranteed to be 100% secure. Therefore, Hushmail cannot guarantee complete security, and clients must use this system at their own risk.
7. Response Time
7.1 Ecounselling WC will make every reasonable effort to reply to client requests for an intake package within 24 hours of receiving the request, and to reply to client counselling messages within 72 hours of receiving the counselling message and payment. However, Ecounselling WC cannot guarantee that this will always be the case, and is not to be held liable for longer wait times than mentioned above.
7.2 It is possible that the counsellor’s technological equipment could fail at any time, and it is also possible that the counsellor could suffer some form of incapacitation at any time. If the counsellor has not responded within the times discussed in section 7.1, and if no other arrangements have been made, please email ryan.gaehring@ecounsellingwc.com or phone 604-818-4780.
8. Payment
8.1 The fees for Ecounselling WC are $90 Canadian for a 60 minute session. A 60 minute session includes the amount of time it takes to read and carefully consider a client’s counselling message, write a therapeutic response back to the client, and other short administrative tasks associated with counselling.
8.2 Where sliding scale fees apply, it is at the sole discretion of Ecounselling WC to decide on a reduced fee schedule. The counsellor may need to ask about the client’s occupation and income in order to determine a fair fee.
8.3 Clients are to pay their fees before receiving a therapeutic response from their counsellor. Upon receiving a counselling message from a client, the counsellor will reply with a confirmation, and an invoice emailed through PayPal. All reasonable attempts will be made by Ecounselling WC to ensure that this confirmation and invoicing occurs within the 72 hour time as mentioned in section 7.1; however, Ecounselling WC is not to be held liable for any form of delays caused by either the client or counsellor.
8.4 Clients wishing to receive compensation through third party insurance plans are responsible for their own claim procedure. Ecounselling WC is obligated to provide a receipt of payment with the counsellor’s BCACC registration number to support the client’s claim, but payment must be made through PayPal to Ecounselling WC before such receipt can be issued.
8.5 Ecounselling WC reserves the right to change the fees for counselling at any time, without notice. Fees will remain the same for active clients, and will only increase if the client’s account becomes inactive after 60 days as per section 6.1 (d).
9. Managing Crisis
9.1 Due to the asynchronous nature of online counselling, it is not appropriate to use Ecounselling WC in times of crisis. If a client is experiencing intense distress, is in an emergency situation, or is in any other type of crisis, Ecounselling WC will not be able to provide appropriate or immediate support. Clients are encouraged to see the “Emergency Contacts” page on the Ecounselling WC website for a directory of crisis services.
9.2 If Ecounselling WC is made aware of a possible crisis situation, the counsellor will have a duty to report as described in section 5.2. However, the counsellor cannot be held liable for a crisis that occurs as a result of delays in response time.
10. Dissatisfaction Procedures
10.1 While every reasonable effort will be made by Ecounselling WC to serve clients in the best and most ethical manner possible, clients reserve the right to voice their concerns with the service at any time. As per section 6.1 (i), clients are encouraged to first present their concerns directly to their counsellor to provide the counsellor the opportunity to resolve the situation. The counsellor is ethically bound to handle the situation in a fair and non-judgemental manner, and Ecounselling WC will make every attempt to rectify client concerns.
10.2 If the counsellor is unable to rectify a client’s concern directly, clients reserve the right to file a complaint with the counsellor’s regulatory body, the BCACC. The BCACC can be reached through their website at www.bc-counsellors.org, or by calling 1-800-909-6303.
11. Legal Action
11.1 For all legal purposes, Ecounselling WC is located in Canada, and abides by Canadian laws. Any legal claims made against Ecounselling WC, or its counsellors or staff must be tried only within Canada.
11.2 Any client that resides anywhere outside of Canada is prohibited from accessing services through Ecounselling WC. Governing laws from any jurisdiction other than Canada do not apply to Ecounselling WC, and no legal claim against Ecounselling WC can originate in any other country.
11.3 Any client, whom construes their location to be within Canada, when they live elsewhere, waives their right to initiate any form of claim against Ecounselling WC. Clients must honestly and accurately represent themselves and their true location when accessing Ecounselling WC services, and not doing so is in violation of section 2.
11.4 Ecounselling WC does not in any way suggest that Ecounselling WC’s services are appropriate for anyone that resides outside of Canada.
12. Limitations on Damages
12.1 Ecounselling WC will not be held liable for more than the fees paid by the client in the event of a lawsuit filed against Ecounselling WC claiming any form of damages.
13. Refusal and Withdrawal
13.1 Clients reserve the right to terminate counselling services with Ecounselling WC at any time without any obligation to the counsellor. Clients also reserve the right to not accept the therapeutic responses of the counsellor.
14. Duration of Agreement
14.1 The Ecounselling Terms and Conditions of Use agreement will remain in effect for seven years following clients’ last contact with Ecounselling WC. The agreement may change at any time without notice, but the most recent agreement will be updated on Ecounselling WC’s website as soon as changes are made.
15. Scope of Agreement
15.1 This entire agreement remains in effect unless part of it is deemed illegal, invalid, or unenforceable by a court in Canada. However, all other sections, or components of a section, of the agreement that remain legal, valid and enforceable will remain in effect to the maximum extent of the law.
15.2 This agreement, along with the Website Terms and Conditions of Use and Privacy Policy, represent the entire, final, complete and exclusive agreement between any client or party and Ecounselling WC. Only the most current version found on the website is valid, and no other agreement, written or oral, may supersede this most current agreement. Clients are not permitted to modify this agreement in any way.
16. Our Details
16.1 This website and counselling practice is owned and operated by Ecounselling WC, as represented by Ryan Gaehring.
16.2 Our principal location of business is Calgary, AB.
16.3 Clients may reach Ryan Gaehring by using the website contact form, by emailing ryan.gaehring@ecounsellingwc.com, or by telephone on 604-818-4780.
1.1 These terms and conditions shall govern your use of the ecounselling service, as provided by Ecounselling Western Canada. It is the responsibility of the individual client to review the terms and conditions, and it is the client’s responsibility to contact Ecounselling Western Canada’s counsellor, Ryan Gaehring, to clarify any questions that may arise following the review of the material contained in this document.
1.2 By submitting an intake form to Ryan Gaehring for ecounselling, you are agreeing to the terms and conditions in the following document.
1.3 This agreement is between you, hereinafter referred to as “the client”, and Ryan Gaehring, MA (Registered Clinical Counsellor with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors, Registration #10937), operating as Ecounselling Western Canada, hereinafter referred to as “Ecounselling WC”.
2. Personal Identification
2.1 Clients may only use Ecounselling WC for their own personal use. Clients must not represent themselves to be anyone other than themselves when registering to use, or continuing to access Ecounselling WC.
2.2 Clients must honestly represent themselves, this meaning their identity and all information provided to Ecounselling WC, at all times when in communication with Ecounselling WC.
2.3 The account clients hold with Ecounselling WC must be protected, and no other individuals are to log in under their account. Account login is necessary for Ecounselling WC to confirm client identity, and to allow another individual access would be a breach of Section 2.1 and 2.2.
3. Benefits and Risks of Counselling and Psychotherapy
3.1 Counselling is experienced differently by every client. It is the client’s responsibility to familiarize themselves with potential benefits and risks, depending on their individual differences in personality, presenting issues, levels of intensity, and general comfort with the counselling process. Counselling requires active participation from clients to result in any change; however, no client change is guaranteed, whether it be a benefit or a risk, and clients have the right not to engage in counselling at any time.
3.2 Potential benefits to counselling may include, but are not limited to:
(a) Clarification of issues, and/or increases in self-awareness.
(b) Development of new skills, and/or of coping strategies for managing distress.
(c) Changes in maladaptive behaviours, and/or decreases in unwanted thoughts.
(d) Improvements in relationships, and/or decreases in conflict.
3.3 Potential Risks to counselling may include, but are not limited to:
(a) Unwanted changes in self-awareness, and/or in ways of relating to others.
(b) Triggering difficult feelings such as anger, sadness, guilt, frustration, etc.
(c) Triggering difficult memories.
3.4 Ecounselling WC understands that not every counsellor is a fit for every client, and as such, clients concerned about risks must inform Ecounselling WC and request a referral elsewhere. A client may also choose to discontinue counselling at their own discretion.
4. Limitations of Online Psychotherapy or Ecounselling
4.1 Face-to-face counselling allows the counsellor to assume greater control of the therapeutic process as opposed to online counselling. Therefore, there are limitations in liability for the online counsellor, specifically Ecounselling WC, and greater onus on the client to assume responsibility for the process.
4.2 Prospective client responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
(a) Deciding if online counselling is an appropriate fit for their needs, and specifically for their goals or issues.
(b) Deciding if they have the appropriate computer and language literacies to participate in online counselling.
4.3 Active clients must consider and/or take responsibility for the following:
(a) Client interpretations of the counsellor must be based solely on the written and emailed transcripts sent by the counsellor to the client’s personal Hushmail account.
(b) Counsellor interpretations of the client are only possible through the written transcript sent by the client to the counsellor, via their personal Hushmail account.
(c) No visual or audio cues are present with online counselling.
(d) Ecounselling WC is not liable for decisions made by the client as to whether, when, or where they decide to read messages from their counsellor, or whether, when or where they decide to write messages back to their counsellor.
(e) Clients have the responsibility of deciding how much of the counsellor’s transcript they would like to read, and of what portions of the communication they would like to accept or reject.
(f) The onus is on the client to set up in-person support, should it be required, upon reading or writing a message to their counsellor.
5. Confidentiality
5.1 Ecounselling WC adheres to Canadian laws and ethical codes acknowledging that confidentiality is an important expectation in the counselling profession. Ecounselling WC will not share client information with any third party without client knowledge or consent.
5.2 Ecounselling WC reserves the right to limit client confidentiality if given the following situations:
(a) Ecounselling WC has a duty to report to applicable authorities if the client presents as a risk to either themselves or others. This duty to report may also include the client’s emergency contact, or the person believed to be at risk of harm. Examples of this kind of situation include, but are not limited to, risk of suicide or homicide.
(b) Ecounselling WC has a legal obligation to cooperate with a court of law in the event that there is a formal request made for client information.
(c) Ecounselling WC reserves the right to consult with colleagues or supervisors in the counselling profession for the interest of providing clients with the best and most ethical service as possible.
5.3 Ecounselling WC is not liable for breaches in confidentiality that are a result of, but not limited to the following circumstances:
(a) Instances where clients use any other form of communication outside of the Hushmail forum to send messages to their counsellor, or instances involving where, when or how clients engage in online counselling that do not protect their own privacy.
(b) Instances where there is technical failure that is out of Ecounselling WC’s control. Examples of this could include but are not limited to system failures or attacks on the security of the Hushmail platform, system failures or attacks on the client’s personal equipment, or system failures or attacks on Ecounselling WC’s equipment.
5.4 Ecounselling WC is not liable for instances where the counsellor is unable to make a timely report of risk regarding the client or others if the client’s personal information is not accurate or updated with Ecounselling WC. Inaccurate or out of date personal information would be a violation of section 2.
6. Privacy
6.1 Ecounselling WC will, as recommended by the BCACC, adhere to the standards as outlined in the Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) of British Columbia. The responsibilities of Ecounselling WC to the client are as follows:
(a) To identify the purpose. The purpose of collecting any personal information is strictly for providing online counselling to the client. Information collected is based on voluntary submissions from the client, and will not be shared with any third party, with the exception of instances resulting in limitations of confidentiality as described in section 5. Ecounselling WC will update the client on any changes or new purposes for the collection of personal information before any said changes or new purposes take place.
(b) To obtain consent. The counsellor is responsible for ensuring that clients consent to the collection of personal information, and that they understand what consent means. In the case of Ecounselling WC, clients are providing consent with the submission of their intake form to the counsellor through their Hushmail account. Clients are offering consent for further information collection, by sending their counselling messages to their counsellor through their Hushmail account. Clients are free to withdraw consent at any time, and while it is the counsellor’s responsibility to inform them of potential risks to withdrawing consent, the counsellor may not prohibit a client from withdrawing their consent in any way.
(c) To collect relevant information. Ecounselling WC will only request personal information that is relevant and appropriate for the purposes of counselling, and must ensure that information collected is directly from the client only.
(d) To maintain client records. The counsellor is responsible for managing the client’s Hushmail account, and for closing it when the client is finished with counselling. Ecounselling WC will retain client Hushmail accounts for up to 60 days following that last contact with the counsellor. After termination of the client Hushmail account, the counsellor will retain a client record for 7 years.
(e) To minimize using incorrect or incomplete information when sharing client information with approved third parties. Ecounselling WC is responsible for the accuracy and completeness of personal information collected.
(f) To safeguard information. Ecounselling WC uses the Hushmail platform for secure transmission of information between the client and counsellor, and for a secure server for the information to be stored. Following the termination of the client’s Hushmail account, their encrypted information will be non-recoverable. The counsellor will retain a client record following a double locked system in the counsellor’s personal office.
(g) To be open to questioning. The client has the right to ask questions for clarification, and Ecounselling WC has the duty to respond to any such questions in effort to help the client understand any privacy policy or procedure.
(h) To facilitate access and corrections. If the client asks for access to their records, Ecounselling WC will facilitate access, or will provide a document explaining why access cannot be granted including further procedures necessary. If the client asks for a correction to be made to their records, the counsellor will facilitate the corrections following the guidelines of PIPA, or will provide a document explaining why the corrections cannot be made.
(i) To facilitate a complaint procedure. Should the client wish to present a complaint regarding the counsellors handling of their personal information, Ecounselling WC is obligated to handle such complaints in an ethical manner. The counsellor will acknowledge the client complaint in a timely manner, fairly and impartially investigate the concern, take measures to correct the concern if deemed appropriate, and report the corrections back to the client. The counsellor must inform the client of their right to file a grievance with the BCACC or BC Privacy Commissioner if they would like to take further action.
(j) To update and review privacy policies. Ecounselling WC will update the terms and conditions, including privacy policies, on the website immediately after any changes are made.
6.2 The client shares responsibility to protect their own privacy, and Ecounselling WC cannot be held liable for breaches in client privacy if the client does not adhere to reasonable due diligence. The responsibilities of the client include, but are not limited to:
(a) Clients must protect the privacy of their Hushmail account, and ensure that no one else gains access.
(b) Clients must ensure that the computer, with which they choose to use for ecounselling, is secure. An example may include, but is not limited to, clients who choose to use work computers that may not be secure.
(c) Clients must be aware of the risks associated with downloading or saving information to their personal computer or other storage devices or drives. Once information is taken off of Hushmail, it is no longer encrypted, and may be at risk.
(d) Clients must ensure that they have appropriate anti-virus protection to ensure the safety and confidentiality of their computer and information.
6.3 While Ecounselling WC will do everything possible to ensure the protection of client information, clients must be aware that information transmitted over internet connection can never be guaranteed to be 100% secure. Therefore, Hushmail cannot guarantee complete security, and clients must use this system at their own risk.
7. Response Time
7.1 Ecounselling WC will make every reasonable effort to reply to client requests for an intake package within 24 hours of receiving the request, and to reply to client counselling messages within 72 hours of receiving the counselling message and payment. However, Ecounselling WC cannot guarantee that this will always be the case, and is not to be held liable for longer wait times than mentioned above.
7.2 It is possible that the counsellor’s technological equipment could fail at any time, and it is also possible that the counsellor could suffer some form of incapacitation at any time. If the counsellor has not responded within the times discussed in section 7.1, and if no other arrangements have been made, please email ryan.gaehring@ecounsellingwc.com or phone 604-818-4780.
8. Payment
8.1 The fees for Ecounselling WC are $90 Canadian for a 60 minute session. A 60 minute session includes the amount of time it takes to read and carefully consider a client’s counselling message, write a therapeutic response back to the client, and other short administrative tasks associated with counselling.
8.2 Where sliding scale fees apply, it is at the sole discretion of Ecounselling WC to decide on a reduced fee schedule. The counsellor may need to ask about the client’s occupation and income in order to determine a fair fee.
8.3 Clients are to pay their fees before receiving a therapeutic response from their counsellor. Upon receiving a counselling message from a client, the counsellor will reply with a confirmation, and an invoice emailed through PayPal. All reasonable attempts will be made by Ecounselling WC to ensure that this confirmation and invoicing occurs within the 72 hour time as mentioned in section 7.1; however, Ecounselling WC is not to be held liable for any form of delays caused by either the client or counsellor.
8.4 Clients wishing to receive compensation through third party insurance plans are responsible for their own claim procedure. Ecounselling WC is obligated to provide a receipt of payment with the counsellor’s BCACC registration number to support the client’s claim, but payment must be made through PayPal to Ecounselling WC before such receipt can be issued.
8.5 Ecounselling WC reserves the right to change the fees for counselling at any time, without notice. Fees will remain the same for active clients, and will only increase if the client’s account becomes inactive after 60 days as per section 6.1 (d).
9. Managing Crisis
9.1 Due to the asynchronous nature of online counselling, it is not appropriate to use Ecounselling WC in times of crisis. If a client is experiencing intense distress, is in an emergency situation, or is in any other type of crisis, Ecounselling WC will not be able to provide appropriate or immediate support. Clients are encouraged to see the “Emergency Contacts” page on the Ecounselling WC website for a directory of crisis services.
9.2 If Ecounselling WC is made aware of a possible crisis situation, the counsellor will have a duty to report as described in section 5.2. However, the counsellor cannot be held liable for a crisis that occurs as a result of delays in response time.
10. Dissatisfaction Procedures
10.1 While every reasonable effort will be made by Ecounselling WC to serve clients in the best and most ethical manner possible, clients reserve the right to voice their concerns with the service at any time. As per section 6.1 (i), clients are encouraged to first present their concerns directly to their counsellor to provide the counsellor the opportunity to resolve the situation. The counsellor is ethically bound to handle the situation in a fair and non-judgemental manner, and Ecounselling WC will make every attempt to rectify client concerns.
10.2 If the counsellor is unable to rectify a client’s concern directly, clients reserve the right to file a complaint with the counsellor’s regulatory body, the BCACC. The BCACC can be reached through their website at www.bc-counsellors.org, or by calling 1-800-909-6303.
11. Legal Action
11.1 For all legal purposes, Ecounselling WC is located in Canada, and abides by Canadian laws. Any legal claims made against Ecounselling WC, or its counsellors or staff must be tried only within Canada.
11.2 Any client that resides anywhere outside of Canada is prohibited from accessing services through Ecounselling WC. Governing laws from any jurisdiction other than Canada do not apply to Ecounselling WC, and no legal claim against Ecounselling WC can originate in any other country.
11.3 Any client, whom construes their location to be within Canada, when they live elsewhere, waives their right to initiate any form of claim against Ecounselling WC. Clients must honestly and accurately represent themselves and their true location when accessing Ecounselling WC services, and not doing so is in violation of section 2.
11.4 Ecounselling WC does not in any way suggest that Ecounselling WC’s services are appropriate for anyone that resides outside of Canada.
12. Limitations on Damages
12.1 Ecounselling WC will not be held liable for more than the fees paid by the client in the event of a lawsuit filed against Ecounselling WC claiming any form of damages.
13. Refusal and Withdrawal
13.1 Clients reserve the right to terminate counselling services with Ecounselling WC at any time without any obligation to the counsellor. Clients also reserve the right to not accept the therapeutic responses of the counsellor.
14. Duration of Agreement
14.1 The Ecounselling Terms and Conditions of Use agreement will remain in effect for seven years following clients’ last contact with Ecounselling WC. The agreement may change at any time without notice, but the most recent agreement will be updated on Ecounselling WC’s website as soon as changes are made.
15. Scope of Agreement
15.1 This entire agreement remains in effect unless part of it is deemed illegal, invalid, or unenforceable by a court in Canada. However, all other sections, or components of a section, of the agreement that remain legal, valid and enforceable will remain in effect to the maximum extent of the law.
15.2 This agreement, along with the Website Terms and Conditions of Use and Privacy Policy, represent the entire, final, complete and exclusive agreement between any client or party and Ecounselling WC. Only the most current version found on the website is valid, and no other agreement, written or oral, may supersede this most current agreement. Clients are not permitted to modify this agreement in any way.
16. Our Details
16.1 This website and counselling practice is owned and operated by Ecounselling WC, as represented by Ryan Gaehring.
16.2 Our principal location of business is Calgary, AB.
16.3 Clients may reach Ryan Gaehring by using the website contact form, by emailing ryan.gaehring@ecounsellingwc.com, or by telephone on 604-818-4780.