How I Protect Your Personal Data in Counselling
This privacy notice explains what I will do with your personal information. This ranges from the first point of contact through to after your counselling has ended.
Your privacy is very important to me. You can be confident that your personal information will be kept safe and secure. I will use it for the purpose it was given to me. I adhere to the current data protection legislation. This includes the General Data Protection Act 2018. It also includes the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations, 2003.
I am registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (Reference: ZA535498). Your data protection rights can be seen can be viewed here : https://ico.org.uk/global/privacy-notice/your-data-protection-rights/
‘Data controller’ is the term used to describe the person/organisation that collects and stores and has responsibility for people’s data. In this instance, the data controller is me. I am happy to chat through any questions you have about my data protection policy (see contact page). I will collect information to help me process your enquiry. This will include: Your name, contact details, address, date of birth, GP and email address.
Everything you discuss with me is confidential. That confidentiality will only be broken if there is a risk of harm to yourself or others. This is a legal obligation and I will always try to speak to your first.
All counsellors must have regular supervision to make sure they are practicing safely and ethically. This need is part of the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists Ethical Framework, 2018. Counselling supervisors are also bound by it.
I will keep a record of your personal details. These details are kept securely in locked cabinet and are not shared with any third party. I will keep brief written notes in a separate locked cabinet.
My mobile phone is used solely for counselling contacts and is locked and only accessible by me.
After counselling has ended, your records will be kept for a specified time period. This period begins from the end of our contract with each other. They are then securely destroyed.
