Social Media is used by Ember Relationship Psychology and we are committed to using it responsibly and in an ethical fashion.  This document describes our social media policy, and various interactions that may occur between Ember Relationship Psychology, our clinician (s) and the internet. 

If you are a client and have questions about this document, please bring them to our attention when you meet with your clinician. In addition, as the internet and standards for professional practice change, this document may be revised. It is your responsibility to stay up to date on how your information via social media will be collected, used or disclosed. Please review this document regularly to ensure you are aware of how social media is used in this practice. 

Social Media Presence

A social media presence is maintained under the clinic, and our clinician(s) may also have an online presence. The practice’s social media presence is listed under Ember Relationship Psychology or Relationship Psych. Our clinicians may maintain a social media presence under at least part of their true name, so it is clear they are representing themselves. 

How Social Media Is Used

Social media is used by Ember Relationship Psychology for the purpose of providing resources, education and advertising about the company. The goal is to provide information using channels the population at large consumes it, provide general relationship education, as well as create public awareness about the practice. 

Social Media for Ember Relationship Psychology

Ember Relationship Psychology may have professional pages on Instagram, Facebook etc. We also have other forms of social media such as blogs and Relationship-Psych The Podcast. There is a text line for social purposes, while it is Amber Dalsin/ Ember Relationship Psychology’s number, it is used for social purposes only. In addition, we use Kajabi as the delivery service for our social emails. 

Clients of Ember Relationship Psychology

If you are a client of Ember Relationship Psychology, you may use Ember Relationship Psychology’s social media in conjunction with your relationship with Ember Relationship Psychology at your discretion. Should you choose to continue to follow Ember Relationship Psychology while in treatment, there are a number of risks you should be aware of:

You should be aware that other people may be able to see your presence and make guesses about why you are following. This could lead to a breach of your information. 

If you are a client, NEVER comment or like a post. Doing this increases your risk that others could see your online activity and your confidentiality could be breached. In addition, there is a risk that your communication could be added to your clinical file. 

Do not contact your clinician or the practice through direct message. Doing this increases your risk that others could see your online activity and your confidentiality could be breached. In addition, there is a risk that your communication could be added to your clinical file. 

Do not use the text line to communicate about your treatment or the practice. Doing this increases your risk that others could see your online activity and your confidentiality could be breached. In addition, there is a risk that your communication could be added to your clinical file.

General Public and Ember Relationship Psychology 

If you are a member of the general public, you are welcome to follow, comment, like or share as you see fit. Be aware that any time you interact online other people can see your presence; they may guess about why you are following. This could lead to unwanted sharing of your personal information. Do not share something online if you do not want other people to know. 

In some circumstances, people who have followed and commented on Ember Relationship Psychology may request to come in for therapy. If we agree that therapy would not constitute a problematic conflict of interest, it may be appropriate for us to work together. Should we work together, please do not comment, like or share information from Ember Relationship Psychology during your treatment. 

Personal Social Media for Clinicians

Our clinician (s) may maintain personal social media. They will use part of their true name. Our clinicians do not accept friend requests, or follow requests from clients or former clients. Adding friends/ followers may compromise your confidentiality and privacy. It could also confuse the boundaries of a therapeutic relationship, feeling like a friendship, or encourage voyeurism. If you are a client, and have questions about this, please bring these up in person. 

 Online Contact with Ember Relationship Psychology

The ONLY means for clients to contact Ember Relationship Psychology online with respect to treatment are via Ember Relationship Psychology’s official email (and that of each individual clinician), and Owl Practice. 

Ember Relationship Psychology and clinicians do not use text message, or messaging on social media such as Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, or Blog comments to correspond with clients about their treatment. These sites are not secure and will not be referred to in a timely fashion, if at all. DO NOT engage with Ember Relationship Psychology or clinicians online if you have an established therapeutic relationship. This could compromise your confidentiality, and these exchanges could become part of a client’s official legal record. 

Ember Relationship Psychology has a blog, social media, email marketing, text line and podcast. Moderated comments may be allowed on these platforms. Members of the public may comment as long as they understand the risk of unwanted others knowing personal and protected health information about them. Except for in rare circumstances, clients should not comment on these forums. Should a client do so, they are doing so at their own risk. 

Any contact with Ember Relationship Psychology may fall under special circumstances where we are required by law to contact appropriate authorities. 

Limits of Confidentiality

Conditions under which your personal information or personal health information may be disclosed are as follows:

If you indicate you are in imminent danger to yourself or someone else, we will be required to contact the authorities in your area, in order to prevent harm to you or any intended victim. Please note, this is NOT an emergency service, and messages, email, comments, or any mode of communication will NOT be responded to in a timely manner, if at all. 

If we learn of sexual or physical abuse by another registered health care provider.

If we suspect or are informed that a child is being harmed or is at risk of being harmed, in any way. 

If the contents of a file are subpoenaed to court and we are required to release data, or are ordered to testify in court. 

If the College of Psychologists of Ontario wishes to access records to ensure quality of care.

If we become aware of unlawful conduct resulting in harm or risk of harm to a resident of a retirement home or long term treatment facility.

Social Media Contact

While you may decide to assume the risks of following Ember Relationship Psychology, a clinician or Ember Relationship Psychology will never knowingly be following a client. Should a client use a pseudonym, you may be accidentally followed. If you are accidentally followed by a clinician or the practice, please let us know and we will unfollow you. 

Community Text Messaging

Through Ember Relationship Psychology, Amber Dalsin, has a text line 1 (313) 710- 9683. This texting is composed of both automated and real time messaging. This is used for the purposes of providing resources, education and advertising about the company. If you are a client do not use this line to share problems, book or cancel appointments. 

Automated Marketing Emails

This is used for the purposes of providing resources, education and advertising about the company. If you are a client do not respond to these emails to share problems, book or cancel appointments. 

Viewing Your Online Presence

Except for in rare circumstances, Ember Relationship Psychology and clinician (s) will not view your online activities without your explicit consent. It is your right to choose the information shared about you with a clinician. If a clinician were to become aware of your presence, it will be raised to you in session. If you have information from your online presence you wish to share with your clinician, please bring it to the session to share. Do not email, or share online information with your clinician. 

Use of Search Engines

Ember Relationship Psychology typically does not search for clients on a search engine. Rare exceptions may occur if required in an emergency circumstance (e.g., if you are in danger and other means of contacting you have been exhausted). Should this happen, this search would be documented in your clinical record. 

Accessing Ember Relationship Psychology Online Activity

Ember Relationship Psychology hosts a blog, social media, text line and podcast. In addition, our clinician (s) may author content on the podcast, blog, social media, news, or be featured elsewhere on the internet. Our clinician (s) may have academic publications as well as book publications. There is no expectation that clients will want to follow any of the online work produced by the company or a clinician. 

Ember Relationship Psychology and its clinician (s) may appear in other forums such as online advertising, in online groups, or through shared online friends. It is possible you may also see third party reviews about our clinician (s) or our practice. 

Should a client come across any of this information intentionally or accidentally, please rest assured our clinician (s) want to discuss the impact it had on you, your feelings and any potential impact on our work together. Clients are welcomed to bring up this information to keep our working relationships comfortable. 

Use of Cases in Posts or Podcasts

In most of the work published by Ember Relationship Psychology or its clinician (s) there are references to clinical work. When this is done it references composite cases, and general themes and problems found in couples therapy or relationship counselling, and not any specific case. Many issues may be quite similar to the issues of the clients seen in practice, rest assured, the story will not come from one specific case.  

Business Review Sites

Ember Relationship Psychology may appear on websites such as Google, Sunlife, Healthgrades, Bing, or other online business review platforms. Many of these sites include a place to leave a testimonial. If Ember Relationship Psychology does appear on any of these sites, this is not a request for a testimonial, rating, or endorsement from any client. 

ONTARIO REGULATION 209/94 states “(1) An advertisement with respect to a member’s practice must not contain,… (e) a testimonial by a client or former client or by a friend or relative of a client or former client;…” 

However, people have the right to express themselves as they see fit. Clients are urged to consider their confidentiality before posting and the risks associated with that. Please note Ember Relationship Psychology, nor its clinicians will respond to any comment provided, positive or negative. 

Location-Based Services/ Checking-In at Locations Online/ Browser History 

If you use location-based services or check-in at services online, please note there are privacy issues associated with this. In addition, even if you are accessing services from your home and not checking-in, other people may be able to learn, based on your browsing history, the content or services you have been accessing.  Keep your information private by turning off location-based services should be we meet in person, avoid checking-in online using social media, and be sure to clear browser history. 

In addition, if you opt into a mailing list or text message list, your location is displayed to the administrators. 

Questions or Concerns About Social Media Policy 

Our information officer, Amber Dalsin can be reached should you have any questions or concerns regarding our social media policy. She can be reached at info@emberrelationshippsychology.com. Please put the subject line as “social media policy”. 

If you wish to make a formal complaint about our privacy practices, you may make it in writing to our Information Officer. She will acknowledge receipt of your complaint, ensure that it is investigated promptly and that you are provided with a formal written decision with reasons.

If you have a concern about the professionalism or competence of our services or the mental or physical capacity of any of our professional staff we would ask you to discuss those concerns with us.  If we cannot satisfy your concerns, you are entitled to complain to our regulatory body:

The College of Psychologists of Ontario

110 Eglinton Avenue West, Suite 500

Toronto, Ontario  M4R 1A3

Phone: (416) 961-8817 | (800) 489-8388 |  Fax (416) 961-2635

www.cpo.on.ca

For more general inquiries, the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario oversees the administration of the privacy legislation.  The Commissioner also acts as a kind of ombudsman for privacy disputes.  The Information and Privacy Commissioner can be reached at: 

Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario

2 Bloor Street East, Suite 1400

Toronto, Ontario M4W 1A8

Phone (416) 326-3333  | 800-387-0073

Fax (416) 325-9195 | TTY (416) 325-7539 

www.ipc.on.ca

Updated March 11, 2021