Privacy Statement and Personal Information

 

As of 25th May 2018 it became a legal requirement under the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) for me to make clear to you my data processing procedure. It is also a legal requirement for me to give you the option of opting out of this agreement.

 

Reason for collecting Personal Data/Information I collect relevant personal information – name, address, date of birth, telephone number, doctors details – in order to have a working record of contact information for a therapeutic relationship to happen. With regards to how this information is used, you have the right to have information about you deleted, have inaccuracies corrected, the right to access information about you – free of charge – within 1 month, the right not to receive any unsolicited marketing, the right to determine how information about you is processed and the right to complain if you are unhappy about any of the above by contacting the Information Commissioners Office  at – https://ico.org.uk/concerns/, although I trust that you will try to discuss this with me in the first instance.

 

Confidentiality – Will my Counsellor share my Data? No your information will not be shared. Our sessions are strictly confidential and the contents will not be disclosed beyond good practice guidelines. These guidelines dictate the following exceptions to the confidentiality rule ….

  • During Supervision I may talk about what you have brought to a session but I will be discussing how it has affected me. Your identity will remain anonymous
  • Counsellors are required to break confidentiality
    1. If they assess you are a risk of harm to yourself or to others as explained in the contract. During counselling you were in need of emergency, medical, or additional support, I may ask for your consent to contact your GP or other appropriate services.
    2. Under the GDPR the counsellor also has a legal requirement to disclose data if you are involved in drug money laundering, planning terrorist’s offences or if a Court Order has been made.
  • See Confidentiality Clause on Contract.

 

How will my Counsellor/Psychotherapist or Supervisor store personal data and for how long?

  • Any data collected will be kept to a minimum and is stored identified by a client ID. Data stored on a computer is password. Any handwritten information will be coded and stored under lock and key. Personal data/records of our sessions will be kept for up to 7 years after our work together has ended. Your personal data will be disposed of by wiping any electronic files and shredding any handwritten information. You can also request (in writing) that all data is destroyed: during our contact, once our work together ends or at any-time thereafter.
  • Your telephone number will be stored only for contact purposes, until such time as our contact ceases. Then it will be completely deleted.
  • Should anything happen to me that prevents me from attending a session and from communicating with you directly – such as illness then I will contact the EAP who referred to contact you.

 

I abide by BACP guidelines – (British Association of Counsellor and Psychotherapists). More about them can be found at

https://www.bacp.co.uk/events-and-resources/ethics-and-standards/ethical-framework-for-the-counselling-professions/