Introduction

I adhere to current data protection legislation, including the General Data Protection Regulation (EU/2016/679) (the GDPR), the Data Protection Act 2018 and the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003. This privacy notice tells you what I will do with your personal information from initial point of contact through to after your therapy has ended.

‘Data controller’ is the term used to describe the person/ organisation that collects and stores and has responsibility for people’s personal data. In this instance, the data controller is me. I am registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office under registration number ZA680033. My phone number is: 07307 880349. My email address is: emiliayaucounselling@gmail.com

My lawful basis for holding and using your personal information

The GDPR states that I must have a lawful basis for processing your personal data. There are different lawful bases depending on the stage at which I am processing your data. I have explained these below: If you have had therapy with me and it has now ended, I will use legitimate interest as my lawful basis for holding and using your personal information. If you are currently having therapy or if you are in contact with me to consider therapy, I will process your personal data where it is necessary for the performance of our contract. The GDPR also makes sure that I look after any sensitive personal information that you may disclose to me appropriately.

This type of information is called ‘special category personal information’.

The lawful basis for me processing any special categories of personal information is that it is for provision of health treatment (in this case counselling and psychotherapy) and necessary for a contract with a health professional (in this case, a contract between me and you)..

How I use your information

Initial Contact

When you contact me with an enquiry about my counselling and psychotherapy services I will collect information to help me satisfy your enquiry. This will include for example your name, telephone number and email address. Alternatively, your GP or other health professional may send me your details when making a referral or a parent or trusted individual may give me your details when making an enquiry on your behalf. If you decide not to proceed I will ensure all your personal data is deleted that is older than eighteen months of when I conduct an annual review each October. If you would like me to delete this information sooner, just let me know..

While you are accessing counselling

Everything you discuss with me is confidential. That confidentiality will only change if:

•  I believe you are posing a serious risk of harm to yourself or someone else. I will always try to speak to you about this first, unless there are safeguarding issues that prevent this.
• Or, if I am legally obliged to do so.

After counselling has ended

Client intake information is securely destroyed when the therapeutic relationship ends. I do not retain intake forms or information after a client has terminated therapy.

Client Records

Client records including notes are retained on a rolling eighteen month basis. I conduct an annual review each October and securely destroy all records—applicable to both current, former clients,( and prospective clients)—that are older than eighteen months..

Your Rights

You have a right to ask to access your personal information. To make a request for any personal information I may hold about you, please put the request in writing addressing it to emiliayaucounselling@gmail.com

Data Security

I take the security of the data I hold about you very seriously and as such I take every effort to make sure it is kept secure. I use a locked safety box and ensure data kept on devices are password/biometric protected.

Visitors to my website

When someone visits my website, I use a third party service, Webhealer to collect standard internet log information and it collects details of visitor behaviour patterns. It does this to find out things such as the number of visitors to the various parts of the site. This information is only processed in a way that does not identify anyone. I do not make, and do not allow Webhealer to make, any attempt to find out the identities of those visiting my website. I use legitimate interests as my lawful basis for holding and using your personal information in this way when you visit my website.

I use WP Statistics so that I can continually improve my service to you. You can read WP Statistics privacy notice here.

Webhealer uses WordPress as the content management system for the website - find out about WordPress and data protection

Like most websites Webhealer use cookies to help the site work more efficiently - find out about Webhealer’s use of cookies

No user-specific data is collected by me or any third party. If you fill in a form on my website, that data will be temporarily stored on the web host before being sent to me.