Informed Consent and Professional Credentials
All clinical services at CBT Online are provided by Mary Cross, a Registered Social Worker (RSW) in good standing with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW) Registered Social Worker # 82770. Mary is also an active member of the Ontario Association of Social Workers (OASW) and the Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW), adhering to their respective national and provincial codes of ethics. She holds a Master of Social Work (MSW) and is authorized to perform the controlled act of psychotherapy under the Social Work and Social Service Work Act, 1998. For your protection and to ensure professional accountability, this practice maintains professional liability insurance that meets or exceeds all requirements set by our provincial regulatory college. Therapy is a voluntary process, and by engaging in our services, you provide informed consent to participate in a collaborative, evidence-based treatment plan that follows the highest ethical standards of the Canadian and Ontario social work professions.
Professional Limitations
In accordance with the OCSWSSW Standards of Practice, Mary Cross, RSW/MSW, provides psychotherapy and counseling services only within the parameters of her professional competence, education, and clinical training. This practice is limited to psychotherapy, therapy and counselling and does not provide specialized services such as forensic assessments, child custody or access evaluations, or expert witness testimony for legal proceedings. Furthermore, as a private virtual practice, we do not provide 24/7 crisis intervention or intensive psychiatric care; patients requiring a higher level of clinical support will be referred to the appropriate hospital or community-based resource as outlined in our Emergency Protocol. Should your clinical needs fall outside this scope of practice, I have an ethical obligation to inform you and facilitate a referral to a professional with the necessary specialized expertise to ensure your best interests remain paramount
Jurisdictional Boundaries
In accordance with the Social Work and Social Service Work Act, 1998, clinical services are primarily provided to patients physically located within the province of Ontario at the time of their session. However, Mary Cross, RSW/MSW, may provide virtual services to established Ontario residents who are temporarily residing outside of Ontario (e.g., for travel or post-secondary education), provided that such services remain compliant with the regulatory requirements of the patient’s temporary jurisdiction. If you permanently relocate outside of Ontario, I cannot continue to provide ongoing therapy and will facilitate a professional referral to a practitioner in your new location to ensure continuity of care.
Booking Cancellation Policy
Your appointment time is reserved just for you. A late cancellation or missed visit leaves a hole in the therapists’ day that could have been filled by another patient. As such, I require 24 hour notice for any cancellations or changes to your appointment. If you know 48 hours ahead, there is an easy Cancellation link in your session time reminder email. Patients who provide less than 24 hour notice, or miss their appointment, may be charged a cancellation fee.
Please email admin@myonlinetherapy.ca or call (226) 770-0336 to cancel if is within 24 hours.
Emergency and Crisis Protocol
Please be advised that CBT Online is not a crisis intervention service; clinical emails and texts are for administrative purposes only and are not monitored 24/7. If you are experiencing an immediate mental health crisis or a life-threatening emergency, please call 988 (Crisis Services Canada), 911, or proceed to the nearest hospital emergency room.
Technology Failure Policy
In the event of a technical disruption during a scheduled video session, please wait five (5) minutes for the therapist to attempt a re-connection. If the video connection cannot be restored, Mary Cross, RSW/MSW, will contact you at the primary phone number listed in your JaneApp profile to complete the session or discuss rescheduling. It is the patient’s responsibility to ensure a stable internet connection and a private, secure space for the duration of the virtual appointment.
Clinical Social Media Policy
To maintain professional boundaries and protect your confidentiality, Mary Cross, RSW/MSW, does not accept ‘friend’ or ‘contact’ requests from current or former patients on any personal social networking sites (e.g., Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn). While you are welcome to follow professional accounts for psychoeducational purposes, please be aware that engaging with this content (such as ‘liking’ or ‘commenting’) may publicly link you to the practice and compromise your privacy. Direct messaging (DMs) through social media platforms is strictly prohibited for clinical communication or scheduling, as these channels are not secure or PHIPA-compliant. Additionally, out of respect for your privacy, the therapist has a policy against ‘googling’ or searching for patients online, except in rare circumstances involving imminent risk to safety.
Data Security and PHIPA Compliance
Mary Cross, RSW/MSW, acts as the Health Information Custodian (HIC) for all personal health information (PHI) collected during your care, in strict adherence to Ontario’s Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA). We utilize Jane Software Inc. (‘JaneApp’) as our Electronic Service Provider (ESP) to manage administrative and clinical functions, including appointment scheduling, secure record storage, and telehealth delivery. JaneApp is a Canadian PHIPA-compliant platform that utilizes bank-level (128-bit or 256-bit) encryption for all data in transit and at rest, and all PHI is stored on secure servers located exclusively within Canada. Our virtual care sessions are end-to-end encrypted and are never recorded or stored on the platform, ensuring your digital privacy is maintained to the highest clinical standard