Your privacy is of paramount importance to me, to reassure you of this please read the detailed policy below. If it raises any questions or if you would like anything clarified please do ask.
I am registered with the ICO (Information Commissioners Office) as a data controller for the purposes of keeping your information and data safe, secure and protected.
Required Information-
If you decide to embark upon counselling with me, I will hold the following information on file:
· Name
· Address
· Date of Birth
· Telephone number & Email address
· GPs contact details.
In addition to this, I will keep an overview of our initial discussion detailing your reasons for counselling and presenting issue. Following sessions together, I will keep short notes with dates and times of our meeting. I will also keep any email or text correspondence between us.
Stored Information-
All of your information is handwritten and kept on file in a locked box that only I can access. This information will be held for 3 years unless you request otherwise. The purposes of such is that it can be helpful if you decide to return to counselling. All email and text correspondence will be deleted once we have completed our work together. If I became unable to continue working with you due to incapacity or serious illness, your details would be passed to my clinical supervisor so that they could contact you on my behalf. Once 3 years have passed, all of your information will be shredded and securely destroyed.
Sharing of your data and information-
Your information and details of what you choose to share with me during sessions will be entirely confidential. There are however some situations when I would have to inform other agencies, these are:
· If I feel that, you are at risk of hurting yourself or someone else.
· If I perceive that, a child or vulnerable person is at risk.
· If I believe that, a client is involved in terrorism or drug related money laundering.
· If ordered to by a court of law.
It is best practice to receive regular supervision from a clinical supervisor, during these sessions I will discuss issues bought to me by clients to positively support the work that we do together. At these sessions, clients are referred to by first name only and my clinical supervisor will treat all details with the same confidentiality.