GDPR PRIVACY NOTICE: YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION GENERAL DATA PROTECTION REGULATION

From 25th May 2018 changes in the GDPR have come in to force. It applies to anyone involved in the collection, storage and handling of personal data and I am required to inform you of how I will be responding to these changes.

From time to time I may need to contact you via telephone, text message or email you with information about your appointments or anything relevant to the service I provide. In order for me to be compliant with GDPR I am asking you to consent to use your personal information in that way by signing the Client contract, the Addendum and Client information sheet.

If you do not wish to agree I will of course continue to see you but I will not be able to contact you, update you on changes to appointments or information relevant to our work together.

The purpose of retaining information you give me following our initial contact is to provide you with the best service I can and this is also "the legitimate interest of the therapist" which provides the lawful basis under which I hold and use your information.

The information that will be held is that which is contained on the Client contract, the Addendum, the Client information sheet (all 3 provided to you at the start of the counselling process), the contact details retained on my phone and any specific communications with you (e.g. texts, voicemails, emails etc) and any records of our sessions that we may have agreed for me to keep.

Once we have ended therapy I will keep my records of you for 7 years before destroying them securely.

I am committed to ensuring that your personal data is secure in order to prevent unauthorised access or disclosure.

Full details of your rights, including access, rectification, processing and complaint procedure can be found on the Information Commissioner's Office website: ICO.