Privacy Policy
To comply with the UK’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), I need to let you know how I will use your data, including what details I collect and how I store, process and destroy them, if you become a client.
Personal details submitted using the Contact form on this website (name, date of birth, phone number, email, reasons for wanting counselling, availability, type of session preferred) will be used to contact you to arrange an initial free phone call regarding your request for counselling. Your details will be securely held for 2 months on a password-protected device before being deleted, in the event that you do not become a client. I am the only person with access to the device.
Personal details I collect
(if you become a client)
Name (for under-18s, also a parent or guardian’s name)
Date of birth
Address
Contact number (for under-18s, a parent or guardian’s number too)
Email address
Emergency contact details
Details of any relevant mental or physical health issues and medication
GP contact details
Storage of personal details
Any notes that I make for my own records are securely held on a password-protected device, and I am the only person with access. I do not use cloud storage.
Personal details and notes are held in a securely archived digital folder for 7 years following the end of our work together (until 25th birthday for clients seen as minors), to comply with my legal requirements. After 7 years (or client’s 25th birthday), all notes and personal details are permanently deleted from my device.
Sharing of personal details
AI: I do not use AI in my therapeutic work and will not share my notes or your personal details with AI at any time.
Supervision: In line with the requirements of my professional body (the BACP), my work is regularly supervised by a qualified supervisor. I may share details of our work together with my supervisor as part of my commitment to personal and professional development; you will be kept anonymous. These conversations are confidential; my supervisor is bound by the same ethical and confidentiality requirements as I am.
Therapeutic will: I have appointed two Therapeutic Executors (X & X) to attend to my clients in the event of my death or incapacitation. Both are fellow qualified therapists and BACP members. One of my Executors would contact you to let you know of the situation and offer support where appropriate, and they are responsible for the confidential disposal of all case notes and personal details.
Exceptions to confidentiality: If I have reason to believe you or someone else is at risk of serious harm, I will break confidentiality (as noted above). I will try to discuss this with you first. Where a threat of terrorism, money laundering or drug trafficking is disclosed, I am obliged by law to inform the relevant authorities.
Your rights
You have the right:
To know what information I will store about you.
To ask to see the information I hold about you.
To ask that I rectify any information you deem inaccurate, unnecessary or incomplete (Please note: legal requirements may mean that I am not be able to fulfil your request).
Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns about how your personal data is used or handled.
You can email me at in-your-corner@outlook.com. I will acknowledge your email and aim to respond within 30 days. If you’re not satisfied with my response, you have the right to raise it directly with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), the UK’s data protection regulator: ico.org.uk
Complaints
If you feel you need to make a complaint, please email me at in-your-corner@outlook.com in the first instance, detailing the complaint in full. I will review your complaint and will make every effort to rectify the issue if it is within my capacity to do so. I will aim to respond within 30 days. If you aren’t satisfied with my response, you have the right to raise it directly with my governing body, the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP): How to complain about a BACP member