Privacy Policy

A digital sanctuary requires transparency. Here is how we protect your space.

1. Our Commitment to Your Privacy

At Soma + Soul Practice, we understand that the information you share with us is deeply personal. Your trust is the foundation of our therapeutic relationship. We are committed to protecting your privacy and handling your personal and health information with the highest level of integrity, in strict accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs), and the NSW Health Records and Information Privacy Act 2002 (HRIP Act).

2. Information We Collect

To provide you with high-quality, safe, and ethical care, we need to collect specific personal and health information. This includes:

• Personal Details: Name, contact information, date of birth, and emergency contact details.
  
  
• Clinical Data: Session notes, clinical assessments, intake forms, and relevant medical or therapeutic histories.
  
  
• Administrative & Billing Data: Transaction histories, invoices, and payment details. As a private-fee practice, we do not collect or store Medicare details, nor do we operate under or hold data related to Mental Health Care Plans (MHCP).
  
  

3. Purpose of Collection

We collect, hold, and use this information primarily for:

• Providing comprehensive clinical assessments and ongoing therapeutic interventions.
  
  
• Maintaining accurate, secure, and legally compliant clinical records.
  
  
• Managing the administrative operations of our practice, including scheduling and billing.
  
  
• Collaborating with other health professionals involved in your care, strictly and exclusively with your explicit, written consent.
  
  

4. Confidentiality & Its Limits

We strive to maintain a safe, secure, and confidential container for our work together. However, in accordance with the AHPRA and PACFA codes of conduct, there are legal and ethical limits to confidentiality. Information will not be disclosed without your consent unless:

• There is a legal obligation to do so (e.g., a subpoena or court order).
  
  
• There is a reasonable belief that a failure to disclose information would place you or another person at serious risk of imminent harm.
  
  
• There is a statutory obligation to report (e.g., mandatory reporting requirements regarding child protection).
  
  
• It is part of professional clinical supervision (detailed below).
  
  

5. Professional Registration & Supervision

As part of our commitment to professional excellence and regulatory compliance, our practitioners participate in regular professional supervision.

• Daniel Novikov is a Registered Provisional Psychologist with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and practices under the direction of a Board-approved supervisor.
  
  
• Tammy Stander is a Registered Clinical Counsellor with the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA).
  
  

Practitioners may discuss de-identified clinical themes or case details within these secure, professional supervision structures to ensure the highest standard of therapeutic care. No identifying personal details are ever shared.

6. Data Security & Retention

Your records are stored securely in an encrypted digital format using specialized, privacy-compliant practice management software. In accordance with NSW health regulations, your records are retained for a minimum of seven (7) years from the date of your last service. For clients who commence therapy as minors, records are legally retained until the client reaches 25 years of age. After this period, records are permanently and securely destroyed.

7. Access to Your Information

You have a right to request access to the personal and health information we hold about you. Requests to access or correct your information must be submitted in writing. We will review and respond to your request within statutory timeframes, noting that certain legal exceptions to access may apply under the HRIP Act (such as when access would pose a serious threat to life or health).

8. Concerns & Complaints

If you have any questions or concerns regarding how your privacy or health data has been handled, we encourage you to discuss them with us directly so we can resolve them together. If you feel your concerns have not been adequately addressed, you have the right to lodge a formal complaint with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC), AHPRA, or PACFA.