Privacy policy
If you use my services as a therapist, this page explains how I use your personal data.
Information that I keep about you
If you or your child enter counselling or psychotherapy with me I will keep a record of your name and contact details.
Sometimes I may need to contact other professionals or someone in your or your child’s network of care on a ‘need to know’ basis. If that happens, I will keep a record of those people’s contact details too, but I will always seek your permission before doing so.
I will check with you that the information I keep about you is accurate. Please let me know if any details change.
I also keep a record showing that you:
- give your consent for me to hold this information about you
- agree to my practice policies
My practice policies include:
- payment details
- notification for cancelling/altering appointments
- my professional codes of conduct
- complaints procedure
- details of confidentiality and its limitations
- holidays and ‘therapy breaks’
- supervision and reviews
- notice required when you or your child wishes to end therapy
When we start I will supply an information sheet about these aspects of my practice. I will ask you to read and sign a copy for my records. You are welcome to discuss anything that you are concerned or unclear about when we meet.
I record dates of your attendance and absences. On occasions I may write or respond to your communications between sessions, usually by phone or email.
How I store your details
I will store your data in paper or electronic form (or both).
I will store paper records in a locked cabinet.
I will store electronic data on one or more devices that are password protected and where the data is encrypted.
What confidentiality means
I keep the content of what is shared in client sessions confidential. This means I do not share or discuss it with anyone else.
However, in rare, exceptional circumstances I have a legal obligation to break confidentiality and share information as required by the relevant authorities and in compliance with the regulatory professional bodies I belong to or am affiliated to.
Such circumstances include those where I believe that you or your child:
- may be at risk of harming yourself or someone else
- are involved in criminal activity
Sharing information with my supervisor
I share anonymised information about your therapy with me with my supervisor. This is a mandatory professional responsibility placed on counsellors and psychotherapists to ensure that clients are well served.
If I can no longer offer services to you
My clinical executor also keeps a copy of your contact details. This is so that she or he can contact you should I become incapacitated, or in the event of my death.
How long I keep your details for
I keep your details securely for one year after you or your child has stopped working with me. I then securely delete them.
If you would like me to delete you from my records sooner than this after we have stopped working together, please let me know. Providing there are no outstanding matters (such as payment arrears), then I would be happy to arrange this.
