General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement privacy notice
I ask that you read this privacy notice carefully as it contains important information on, how and why I collect, store, use and share personal information and your rights in relation to your personal information.
Personal Information I will Collect: Name; Gender (or preferred identity); Age; Date of Birth; Relationships & Progeny; Occupation; Address;
Telephone/SMS number (plus permission to send SMS & leave voice message); Email address; Counselling History; Medical conditions relevant to counselling; Prescribed medication; Difficulties.
How I will store your Personal Information
Paper: brief written notes, stored in a locked file cabinet.
Smartphone: I will store your contact information in my phone using only your first name. This allows me to contact you in case of emergencies or to contact my clients or supervisees, if necessary, primarily to cancel sessions (by text or phone call) or to contact those who have missed sessions.
Email/SMS/WhatsApp: your email address and correspondence will be stored in my email account (currently Ymail. By nature of you contacting me your telephone number may be stored in my SMS or WhatsApp app should we exchange messages this way. Electronic correspondence will also be held by the corresponding app (Ymail, Phone's SMS, WhatsApp).
Website: none of your personal information is stored on my website, other than to momentarily collect & send it to my Ymail account for the purposes of our initial contact.
Supervision
I seek a monthly consultation with another therapist qualified in this process. The consultation process is for my practice (rather than seeking instruction on working with you). In order to protect your privacy, my consultant will not know you personally nor professionally. I will refer to you by your first name, and I may refer to your information verbally when it's helpful to my professional processes.
Therapeutic Will
Your name and contact details will be shared with my Therapeutic Executor. This is so that you will be contacted on the event of my death, should you still be in therapy with me.
Emergencies
If your health is in jeopardy (provided I have your consent) I may share your contact information with an emergency healthcare service (e.g. Mental Health Crisis Team). If I have become aware of your intent to cause harm to another person/organisation (e.g. terrorism), the law may require that I inform an authority without seeking your permission. In such a situation, the law may require that I share your personal information without your knowledge.
How long your personal information will be kept
All personal data is kept securely in a locked filing cabinet within my office and destroyed upon completion of our work.
All notes and correspondence are kept for 7 years, from the date of the last counselling or supervision session. Communications received from any source regarding any client or supervisee are securely stored.
How to complain
I take any complaints or concerns very seriously. Please let me know if you think that my collection or use or storage is unfair, misleading or inappropriate and I welcome any suggestions for improving my procedures. If you wish to make a complaint you can contact the ICO as the statutory body which oversees data protection law.
Payments
Should you decide to pay for my services directly from your bank account into my bank account you are also allowing the companies involved to see and store your transactions and personal data. I will, employ reasonable administrative, technical and physical measures to maintain security and confidentiality of any and all such payments and information, but as the banks are involved please see their Privacy Policies for further information.
This policy is advertised here at all times and will be updated regularly to ensure it continues to comply with the latest regulations and best practice.
