Privacy Policy

I take your confidentiality and privacy very seriously and comply fully with all relevant legislation, including the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) 2018.

Who is the data controller

I am registered as a Data Controller with the Information Commissioner’s Office. 

Why I have your data and what purposes I use it for

All personal data I hold about you, whether in paper or electronic format, is held and processed with your consent, in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulations, for the purpose of providing you with counselling or supervision as set out in the Counselling Agreement or Supervision Contract. 

How I keep your data and for how long

Paper records about you that include personal and sensitive data (including your contact details and notes of sessions) are kept in a locked cabinet in my home.  Electronic records (e.g. emails, email addresses, phone numbers, texts) may be held on my PC and/or mobile phone both of which are password protected.  Paper records are kept for 5 years after our last contact then securely destroyed by shredding.  Electronic data will be deleted shortly after our last contact. 

Who else will see your data

I may need to disclose some of your data where there is risk of harm to yourself or another, or if required by law. Wherever possible I will discuss this with you first.  I may seek guidance for my work with you from my Clinical Supervisor, who is also bound by the Ethical Framework with regard to confidentiality.  I have made arrangements for a responsible therapist to contact you in the event of my death or incapacity through illness.  In the event of my death, they will securely destroy all written information about you after contacting you, without reading it. 

Your rights

As my client or supervisee you have the right to see what information I hold about you, and correct or erase it.  If you ask to see the records I hold about you, I am required to respond within 40 days.  You have the right to withdraw your consent for me to hold this data about you at any time during or after therapy.  To exercise any of these rights please put your request in writing to me.