Legal & Privacy

Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy explains how your personal information is collected, used, and protected when you visit my psychotherapy consulting room or use my website. Your privacy is of utmost importance, and I am committed to safeguarding your personal information in accordance with the UK Data Protection Act 2018 and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

1. Information I Collect

a. In-Person Therapy Sessions

When you engage in therapy sessions, the following information may be collected:

Personal Details: Name, address, phone number, email address, date of birth, and emergency contact details.
Medical Information: Relevant medical history, current medications, and any mental health diagnoses.
Therapy Notes: Session notes, treatment plans, and any other information shared during sessions.
Payment Information: Details required to process payments for sessions.

b. Website Usage

When you visit the website, the following types of information may be collected:

Contact Information: If you fill out a contact form or request information, your name, email address, and any message you provide.
Cookies and Tracking Data: Information about your browsing behaviour, such as your IP address, browser type, and pages visited, through the use of cookies and similar technologies. For more details, please refer to the Cookie Policy.

2. How I Use Your Information

Your personal information is used for the following purposes:

Providing Therapy Services: To deliver effective therapy sessions, maintain accurate records, and communicate with you regarding your treatment.

Administrative Purposes: To schedule appointments, process payments, and manage client accounts.

Communication: To respond to inquiries, provide information about services, and send necessary updates related to your therapy.

Improving Services: Analyzing website usage and client feedback to enhance the quality of services provided.

Legal Compliance: To fulfil legal obligations, such as record-keeping requirements and responding to legal requests or safeguarding concerns.

3. How Your Information Is Stored

Electronic Records: Digital information is stored on encrypted devices and secure servers. Access to these records is restricted to authorized personnel only.

Retention Period: Personal data is retained for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes outlined in this policy or as required by law. Therapy notes and records are typically retained for at least seven years after the conclusion of therapy, which is in line with professional guidelines.

4. Sharing Your Information

Your personal information will not be shared with third parties without your explicit consent, except in the following circumstances:

Legal Obligations: If required by law, or if there is a risk of harm to yourself or others, I may need to share your information with appropriate authorities.

Service Providers: Trusted third-party service providers may be used to assist with administrative tasks, such as processing payments or maintaining IT systems. These providers are bound by confidentiality agreements and GDPR compliance.

5. Your Rights

Under GDPR, you have several rights regarding your personal information:
Right to Access: You can request a copy of the personal data I hold about you.
Right to Rectification: You can request corrections to any inaccurate or incomplete data.
Right to Erasure: You can request the deletion of your personal data, subject to legal obligations and legitimate interests in retaining the data.
Right to Restrict Processing: You can request that I limit the processing of your data under certain circumstances.
Right to Data Portability: You can request that your data be transferred to another service provider in a structured, commonly used format.
Right to Object: You can object to the processing of your data for specific purposes, such as direct marketing.
Right to Withdraw Consent: If you have given consent for the processing of your data, you have the right to withdraw it at any time.

If you want to exercise any of these rights, don’t hesitate to contact me using the contact page provided.

6. Data Security

I take the security of your data seriously and implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect it from unauthorized access, loss, or misuse. However, please be aware that no system can guarantee absolute security, and I cannot be held responsible for breaches beyond my control.

7. Online Therapy

For online therapy sessions, additional measures are in place to ensure the security of your data:

Secure Platforms: Online sessions are conducted through encrypted, secure platforms to protect your confidentiality.

Confidentiality: Please ensure that you are in a private, secure environment when engaging in online therapy to maintain the confidentiality of the session.

8. Website Use

Cookies: The website uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience. For more information, please refer to the Cookie Policy.

Third-Party Links: The website may contain links to external sites. Please note that I am not responsible for the privacy practices of these other sites.

9. Changes to This Policy

This Privacy Policy may be updated periodically to reflect changes in practices, legal requirements, or for other operational reasons. Any updates will be posted on this page, and I encourage you to review the policy regularly.

By engaging in therapy or using the website, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agreed to this Privacy Policy.