Your Care & Your Rights at Body Brave

At Body Brave, your care is led by you. We offer a safe, respectful, and inclusive virtual space where you are in control of your journey. You choose how you participate, at what pace, and what feels right for you.

This page explains what you can expect when receiving services at Body Brave. We believe clear information helps you feel informed, supported, and confident in your care.

Body Brave does not provide emergency or crisis services. If you are in crisis or need immediate help, call 911 or your local crisis line.

What To Expect About Your Care

Your Care Is Led by You.

You are in control of your care. You decide:

Which services you want to participate in
The pace and depth of your involvement
When you want to stop, pause, or change services

We can offer recommendations based on your goals and needs, but the final decision is always yours.

A Respectful, Trauma-Informed Environment

You can expect:

Care that respects your identity, experiences, and boundaries
Judgment-free conversations
A space where you can pause at any time
Support that prioritizes your comfort and safety

Our team is trained in trauma-informed and anti-oppressive practices to ensure you feel safe throughout your care.

Culturally Safe and Inclusive Services

We do our best to honour your:

Culture
Identity
Pronouns
Lived experience

You can expect to be asked for your preferred name, pronouns, and accessibility needs at the start of your care.

Confidential and PHIPA-Protected Care

Your privacy matters. Your personal health information is:

Stored securely in our PHIPA-compliant platforms
Only shared with your consent
Accessible to you at any time

We will always tell you how your information is being used and confirm your consent before sharing anything.

Accessibility & Language Services

We aim to make our services accessible to everyone:

Materials in plain language and alternate formats, when possible(large print, digital)

Virtual accommodations available for closed captioning or communication needs

Contact info@bodybrave.ca before your session to arrange supports.

Electronic Communication

Body Brave’s services are fully virtual, enabling us to provide safe, flexible, and accessible support.

We may contact you by email or SMS text message for:

Appointment reminders and updates

Newsletters about upcoming programs

Client-experience surveys

Fundraising or community updates

You can learn more about how we protect your information in our privacy policy, or contact us directly with any questions.

Your Rights & Responsibilities

Your Rights

You have the right to:

Have your personal information kept private and confidential.

Access your record by emailing info@bodybrave.ca.

Get clear information about services and decide whether to take part.

Choose to join or stop Body Brave programs at any time.

Be treated with respect, safety, and dignity in all interactions.

Have equal access to services, regardless of age, gender, identity, culture, or background.
Share feedback or complaints safely, without fear of losing access to services.

Be informed and receive an apology if something goes wrong with your care or privacy.

Your Responsibilities

When taking part in Body Brave programs or services, please:

Respect other participants’ privacy and confidentiality.

Participate in a respectful and non-judgmental way.

Use technology safely and appropriately.

Give accurate information so we can offer appropriate support.

Share questions or concerns early so we can help.

Follow Group Norms and Body Brave’s policies.

Remember that Body Brave is not a crisis service.

Find detailed information about your rights and responsibilities here.

Group Guidelines and Cancellation Policies

Learn more about our Group Guidelines and Cancellation Policy here.

Accessing Your Records

You have the right to view and request a copy of your personal health record in accordance with Ontario’s Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA).

How to Request Your Records:

Send a written request to info@bodybrave.ca including:

Your full name and contact information
A description of the information you are requesting

We will:

We will send you a Release of Client Information Form to complete before we share any records.
Review and gather relevant records.
Provide access within 30 days whenever possible.

Fees:

As a small charitable organization, Body Brave can provide a letter summarizing the services you received at no cost.

For printed copies, extensive record retrieval, or third-party requests, a reasonable administrative fee may apply. We will notify you of any fees before processing your request.

Please let us know if these fees create any challenges or barriers.

Format & Delivery:

Records are usually provided securely by encrypted email. Printed copies may be arranged if needed.

Need help understanding your record?

We can connect you with a qualified team member to review it with you.

Ending Care with Body Brave

You are always in charge of your care. You can take a break, make changes, or stop using Body Brave’s services at any time. Ending care will never affect your ability to return in the future.

What Happens If You End Clinical Services?

If you choose to end Clinical Services, you can continue using the Recovery Support Program and are always welcome to participate in future Body Brave webinars, workshops, or community events.

If you are currently enrolled in a 10-week group or other clinical services and decide to stop, we kindly ask that you let us or your facilitator know (no explanation needed). This helps us update your records and offer the space to someone else who may be waiting.

Returning to Body Brave:

If you decide to return to services in the future, you are always welcome. You can reconnect by re-registering at bodybrave.ca/register whenever it feels right for you.

Your Privacy and Records:

Your personal health information is kept confidential and secure. Records are stored in accordance with Ontario privacy legislation (PHIPA) and Body Brave’s policies, and are retained for up to 10 years. This supports continuity of care if you return and allows you to request access to your records at any time.

Compliments, Feedback & Complaints

If you have a concern, suggestion, or compliment, please reach out:

📧 Email: info@bodybrave.ca
📞 Phone: (905) 312-9628
📝 Feedback Form

You may submit feedback anonymously or include your contact information if you would like a follow-up.

What Happens After You Submit Feedback:

All feedback is reviewed by the appropriate Body Brave team member.

When appropriate, we’ll contact you to discuss your experience and co-design improvements.

We take all concerns seriously and review them promptly.

We acknowledge feedback within 5 business days and aim to resolve complaints within 30 days.

Reporting a concern will never affect your care or access to services.

For your personal health information safety, please do not share any confidential personal and/or medical information in correspondence to the info@bodybrave.ca email or feedback form linked above.

Contact Us

📧 Email: info@bodybrave.ca

📞 Phone: (905) 312-9628

📠 Fax: (905) 481-2275

📍 Address: 688 Queensdale Ave East, Unit 3, Hamilton, ON L8V 1M1

📝 Feedback Form

Hours of Operation:

Our administrative team is available Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (EST).

Please note that hours may vary during holidays.

We aim to respond to emails and messages within 2–3 business days. Please note that Body Brave is not a crisis or emergency service.

For your personal health information safety, please do not share any confidential personal and/or medical information in correspondence to the info@bodybrave.ca email or feedback form linked above.