Privacy Policy

This notice describes how I collect, use, share, retain and safeguard personal data. It sets out your individual rights, which include the right to know what data is held about you, how this data is processed and how you can place restrictions on the use of your data.

In order to provide you with psychotherapy I will need information from and about you. The lawful basis for this is therefore to fulfil my contractual obligation to you.

What information do I collect?
The information I request from you, or you may give me as part of our work may include personal or sensitive information such as:

• Personal information
  • first or given name and family name or surname
  • contact information (address, telephone numbers, email address)
  • date of birth
  • insurance details (if applicable)
• Sensitive personal information: In the course of our work together you will share sensitive personal information with me about your experiences and feelings – this may include information about;
  • gender, ethnicity and marital status
  • religious or other cultural beliefs
  • physical or mental health information
  • sexuality
  • offences (including alleged offences)
  • financial information

Gaining your consent
When you contact me I’ll explain how your information will be used and explicitly ask for your consent to do so. If you do not want me to share your information, you should let me know. However, there are times when I may still need to share it (see the list below). If you object to the collection, sharing and use of your personal data I may not be able to provide you with psychotherapy.

What do I use it for?

• I will use your contact information for administrative purposes whilst we are meeting (e.g. to schedule or cancel sessions or to resolve payment issues).
• I will keep brief session notes to help me remember what you have told me in order to work with you psychotherapeutically.
• I will share your information in the following circumstances:
  • From time to time I may discuss our work with my professional supervisor who has their own privacy policy
  •  In the event of my incapacitation or death I have appointed two colleagues as my professional executors – of necessity they will have access to your contact details in that event.
  •  If you explicitly give your consent for me to release information to a third party (e.g. a GP)
  •  If the terms of our working together require me to (e.g. to meet an insurer’s or Employee Assistance Programme’s requirements) – the types of information to be shared will be made explicit.
  •  If I am required to do so by any court, law (including common law), or ethical consideration (e.g. if I believe you or another to be at serious risk of harm) – where possible I will discuss this with you in advance.

Information Security
I will respect your confidentiality and anonymity and keep information about you confidential. This means I will store it securely and control who has access to it.

How long will I keep your information for?
I will destroy your contact information when we stop working together and any outstanding fees have been paid.

I will retain my brief working notes for 6 years and confidentially destroy them after that time. I am registered as a data controller with the Information Commissioner’s Office.

Corrections and concerns
If you believe that information I hold about you is incorrect or out of date, or if you have concerns about how I am handling your personal information, please contact me and I will try to resolve those concerns.

If you wish to have your personal information deleted, please let me know and I will take reasonable steps to delete it (unless I need to keep it for legal reasons).

If I become aware of any on-going concerns or problems concerning my privacy practices, I will take these issues seriously and work to address them.

If you have any questions on any of the information contained in this notice please do not hesitate to contact me.