My commitments and obligations for client confidentiality and data protection are a key priority.

 

My privacy promise:

• To keep your personal information safe and private

• Not to sell your personal information

• To give you ways to review and manage your data at any time.

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​What data is collected?

In order to fulfil my role as a psychotherapist and to provide the best service I can, I collect and retain the following information:

 

• Initial assessment record which includes name, date of birth, gender, postal address, phone number, email, GP details, medical related information, any relevant cultural/religious information, name and contact details for emergencies

• A copy of your signed counselling agreement

• Bank account statements for accountancy purposes

• Brief clinical notes about salient aspects of each clinical session

• Emails and electronic conversations.

 

What is the data used for?

In order to fulfil my role as a psychotherapist and provide you with the relevant therapeutic services, I have a legitimate and necessary need to collect data about you. At your consent, I will collect information from you at the start of your treatment and important information throughout the process relevant to your therapy. All information I collect will remain confidential and between us at all times and no other individual will have access to that information. The only exceptions that I would have the right to break your confidence, were if I thought you were at risk of harming yourself or others, or if you disclosed to me any information regarding drug trafficking, terrorism or money laundering, in which case I am legally obliged to pass this information on to the relevant parties.  However, I would only do this in extreme circumstances and would try to discuss this with you beforehand.

 

As a requirement of my profession I also have regular clinical supervision with a senior therapist where we discuss client cases in generic, non-identifiable terms. This is standard practice for all psychotherapists to ensure high standards of practice are maintained.  My supervisor and our meetings are bound by the ethical codes of the BACP.

 

How long will you keep my data?

I am required to hold onto information securely for 7 years after our appointments end and delete all information securely after that time.

 

Accessing your data

It is easy for you to get access to the information I hold on you to review, rectify, erase or restrict your data. If you want to have a copy of the data I hold on you please ask me and I will respond to you within 30 days.

 

Other privacy related matters to be aware of

There may be links from my website to other websites that may be of interest – these are outside of my service and as such my privacy policy does not apply on them. While these are carefully chosen sites, I recommend you read their privacy policy when you visit them.

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Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) membership number: ZB509113

 

Email – clients often use email to communicate, however, emails are not considered a secure form of communication, and you are advised to avoid disclosing personal information when you email me.