Privacy and Data Protection Policy
The purpose of this notice is to help you understand what kind of information I collect in connection with the service I provide and to explain how I will process and use this information and how you can place restrictions on the use of your data.
The service I provide is Psychological Assessment, Psychological Therapy and Supervision. I understand that you have and/or are planning to provide me with personal and sensitive information and that this information is important to you. For example, you may provide me with personal data when emailing me or when using the contact form on my website, when you contact me via the telephone, when writing to me directly or where I provide you with paper based forms for completion. The type of information you could provide me with includes your name, date of birth, contact details, emergency contact details, details about your personal circumstances relating to the problem you are seeking treatment for, past or current diagnosis, your goals for therapy etc. I also take brief notes during therapy sessions and after phone calls. However, please be advised that, I will only collect and retain the information that will enable me to perform my services.
All psychological therapists in the UK are legally obliged to keep all records for a minimum of 7 years. However, I will never use your personal information for marketing purposes or to send you marketing materials and I will never sell your personal information to a third party. I will not transfer any of your personal data outside of the European Economic Area. I will protect your personal information with security features to prevent unauthorised access. This includes locking any personal files in lockable cabinets and using passwords to protect any data held electronically. However, whilst I use a password to protect my phone, computer and my emails and to log into my Zoom account, I am unable to send or receive encrypted emails and website messages, so you should be aware that any electronic messages I send or receive may not be protected with encrypted software during transit.
Under the Data Protection Act, you have a right to request a copy of the information that I hold about you and you have the right to correct, erase, restrict and object to the way I process your data. In exercising your Individual Rights, you should understand that in some situations I may be unable to fully meet your request, for example if you make a request for data to be deleted I may have to retain it for prevention of crime, to comply with legal obligations and for regulatory and other statutory purposes or when public or vital interest may take precedence over any request you make. In addition, where these interests apply, I am required by law to grant access to this data for law enforcement, legal and/or health related matters. I also reserve the right to contact and to share the minimum relevant information with crisis services (i.e. NHS, GP, relevant Mental Health Services, Crisis service, Police) when I believe an individual might be in danger or a risk to self or others.
Please be advised that in some circumstances, some insurance and medico-legal referrers as well as psychological therapies agencies representing the client, may request to see a copy of the clinical notes and may request written therapy reports. I will always inform you when this may be the case and you have the right to object to this.
Please inform me as soon as possible if you do not give consent to any of the above. Please note that, if you object to the collection, sharing and use of your personal data, I may be unable to provide you with psychological therapy.
If you contact me, this indicates that you have read and understood the information detailed in the Privacy Statement Notice supplied.