Therapy That Meets You Exactly Where You Are.
Essence Psychotherapy offers secure, video-based counselling for teens, adults, couples, and families across Ontario. Grounded in cultural humility and backed by evidence-informed techniques, we meet you where you are, and honour your story. Together we work toward connection, and intentional living.
Our Values
Authenticity, personalized care, and evidence-informed
practice shape every conversation we have with you.
Authenticity
Personalized Care
Evidence-Informed
Our Story
Your wellbeing is the heart of our story
According to Canadian Institute for Health Information, in 2023-24, half of Canadians waited roughly 25 days for their first community mental-health counselling session, and 1 in 10 waited almost five months.*
Essence Psychotherapy was created to change that reality for people across Ontario. We envisioned a secure, online practice where every story—newcomer, second-generation, rural or urban—can be honored without judgment.
Essence Psychotherapy and Counselling Privacy Policy
Effective Date: April 23, 2026
Essence Psychotherapy and Counselling (“Essence”, “we”. “us”, “or”, “our”) respect your privacy and is committef to protecting ypur personal information and personal health information.
This Privacy Policy explains hoe we collect use, disclose, store, and protect information through our website and int the course of providing online psychotherapy and counselling services.
1. Who We Are
Essence Psychotherapy and Counselling is an Ontario-based virtual psychotherapy practice operated by Shereen Ishag, RP (Qualifying).
2. Information We Collect
We may collect:
Identifying information
Name, date of birth, address, email address, phone number, and emergency contact information.
Health information
Intake forms, presenting concerns, health history, treatment plans, progress notes, assessments, and communications related to your care.
Administrative and financial information
Appointment records, invoices, receipts, billing details, and payment history.
Website and technical information
IP address, browser type, device information, pages visited, cookie data, and general website usage information.
3. Website Information
You may browse our website without providing identifying information. Information submitted through forms, email, or other online communication may be collected and used to respond to your inquiry and manage communications.
Clinical and therapeutic information is not collected for care purposes through the public website. Health information related to therapy services is collected through secure systems.
4. Online Services and Jane App
We use Jane App for booking, forms, charting, invoicing, secure communication, and related practice management functions.
Information entered through Jane App is handled through that secure platform and may be stored or processed by Jane App as part of providing our services.
We collect, use, and disclose personal information and personal health information with your knowledge and consent, except where permitted or required by law.
Consent may be:
Implied for purposes directly related to providing and coordinating your care.
Express for uses or disclosures outside routine care, or where express consent is required by law or professional standards.
You may withdraw or limit consent at any time, subject to legal, ethical, and professional obligations.
5. How We Use Information
We use information only as necessary to:
- provide psychotherapy and counselling services
- communicate with you about care, appointments, and administration
- maintain accurate clinical and administrative records
- issue receipts and process payments
- meet legal, professional, and regulatory obligations
- manage and protect our website and practice operations
We do not sell your personal information. We do not use personal health information for advertising or targeted marketing.
6. Disclosure of Information
We may disclose information:
- with your consent
- to service providers supporting our operations, such as Jane App, under confidentiality and data-protection safeguards
- where required or permitted by law
- where necessary to reduce or prevent serious harm
- where required for professional, regulatory, or legal purposes
7. Safeguards and Security
We use reasonable administrative, physical, and technical safeguards to protect information, including secure systems, access controls, password protection, confidential handling of records, and secure storage and disposal practices.
No method of transmission or storage is completely risk-free, but we take privacy and security seriously.
8. Retention of Information
We retain records for 10 years following the later of the date of last contact or completion of services, unless a longer period is required by law or professional obligations.
Records involving minors may be retained longer where required.
When records are no longer required, they are securely destroyed.
9. Your Privacy Rights
Subject to legal limitations, you may request:
- access to your records
- corrections to your records
- limits on certain uses or disclosures
- information about how your data is collected, used, or disclosed
Requests should be made in writing to Shereen Ishag, RP (Qualifying).
10. Cookies and Website Analytics
Our website may use cookies or similar technologies to improve site performance and understand general website usage. You can disable cookies through your browser settings, although some site features may not function properly.
11. Third-Party Links
Our website may contain links to third-party websites. We are not responsible for their privacy practices.
12. Privacy Concerns
Privacy Contact Person: Shereen Ishag, RP (Qualifying)
Clinic: Essence Psychotherapy and Counselling
Email: Shereen.ishag@protonmail.com
Phone: (289) 813-2750
If your concern is not resolved, you may contact the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario (IPC) or the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO).
13. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Updates will be posted on this page with a revised effective date.