The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is concerned with the personal information about you that I collect, store, and share. This following details my GDPR policy.

Personal Information I will Collect

⦁ Name

⦁ Gender (or preferred identity).

⦁ Date of Birth

⦁ Address

⦁ Telephone number

⦁ Email address

⦁ Counselling History

⦁ Medical conditions relevant to counselling

⦁ Prescribed medication

⦁ Difficulties

⦁ Session summary

How I will store your Personal Information

Storage Methods

⦁ Paper: brief session notes. (These may also be held electronically)

⦁ Smartphone: I will store your contact information in order to contact you as required, e.g. to reschedule appointments or in case of emergencies.

⦁ Email/SMS: your email address and correspondence will be stored in my email account by nature of you contacting me. Your telephone number may be stored in my SMS should we exchange messages this way. Electronic correspondence will also be held by the corresponding application (gmail, Phone's SMS)

Documents Held

How I may Process/Share your Personal Information

Supervision

As a BACP member and as part of my on-going commitment to working ethically, I seek a monthly consultation with another therapist qualified in the process of supervision. The supervision process is for my practice (rather than seeking instruction on working with you). In order to protect your privacy, my Supervisor will not know you personally or professionally and I will take care to preserve your anonymity, however I may refer to your information verbally when it's helpful to my professional processes. My supervisor is also committed to our contracted confidentiality.

Emergencies

If your health is in jeopardy I may share your contact information with an emergency healthcare service (e.g. Mental Health Crisis Team).

If I have become aware of your intent to cause harm to another person/organisation (e.g. terrorism), the law may require that I inform an authority without seeking your permission. In such a situation, the law may require that I share your personal information without your knowledge.

Erasing your Information

When we have finished working together, I will hold onto your information for up to seven years. This is a requirement of my professional insurance cover. This is also so that I have a reference of our work in situations such as you returning to counselling in the future. After this time has passed, I will erase/shred the information.

Your Rights

⦁ To be informed about what information I hold (i.e. this document).

⦁ To see the information I hold about you (free of charge for the initial request).

⦁ To rectify any inaccurate or incomplete personal information.

⦁ To withdraw consent to me using your personal information.

⦁ To request your personal information be erased (though I can decline whilst the information is needed for me to practice lawfully & competently).