Privacy Policy
Your privacy is very important to me
You can be confident that your personal information will be kept safe and secure and will only be used for the purpose it Is given to me for. This statement is an accompanying document to the Client Agreement. It outlines what I will do with your personal information from initial contact through to after your therapy has ended. I adhere to current data protection legislation including the General Data Protection Regulations and the Data Protection Act 2018. I am registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (Registration no ZB890537).
Personal Information
I collect the following personal information (including sensitive personal information) for multiple purposes including the provision of counselling therapy, maintaining accounts relating to billing, and for ethical practice including supervision.
I will make brief manuscript notes of our sessions together. Other details I may collect include: date of birth, home address, telephone number, pronouns, email address, GP name and address, next of kin/emergency contact details.
Sharing Your Information
I have regular clinical supervision with a professional counselling therapist and/or other clinicians and therapists including counsellors and psychotherapists. For my own professional development and to ensure quality ethical practice, I may on occasion share personal details within the supervision context. In these circumstances I will take great care to preserve your anonymity and maintain confidentiality. The supervisory setting is bound by the same rules of confidentiality, code of ethics, and rules of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), as the therapist/client relationship. I am a member of the BACP.
Breaking Confidentiality
If I have reason to believe that you intend to seriously harm yourself or another person, or I come to understand a child or vulnerable adult has been harmed or is at risk of harm, the law may require that I inform an Authority. In such situations I will endeavour to discuss this with you first but there may be circumstances where the law requires me to share your personal information without your knowledge. There is also a law that a judge can subpoena (demand legally) the release of clinical notes without your permission. I would endeavour to discuss this with you should this occur.
Storage of Information
Paper
My manuscript client notes (see above), also a hard copy of the completed Client Information Form and the signed Client Agreement, will be stored securely, inside locked premises.
Computer
Emails will be managed and stored through a password protected email account. They are accessed through a password protected laptop, also my smartphone (see below). Soft copies of the Client Information Form and unsigned Client Agreement, together with my accounts and other records will also be stored on the laptop. They will be backed up on an encrypted external hard drive. Both the laptop and external hard drive are stored securely, inside locked premises.
My accounts and other records to the extent they might refer to you, use client initials only. They will include no other information from which you might be identified.
Smartphone
I use a smartphone which is password protected. I manage my diary through my phone using client initials only.
Erasing Information
I retain client notes, also other records or documents from which you might be identified for 7 years after we have completed our work together, as recommended by the BACP. They are then destroyed/erased.
Your Data Rights
To be informed of what information I hold (this document outlines this)
To see the information that I hold about you (free to request at any time)
To rectify/correct any inaccurate or incomplete personal information
To withdraw consent for me to use your personal information
To request your personal information is erased, deleted or shredded. Please note that I can decline this if the information is required for me to practice lawfully, competently and ethically.
Website Use and Data Collection
When you visit this website, limited information may be collected automatically to help ensure the site functions correctly and to understand how it is used. This may include your IP address, browser type, device information, and pages visited. This information does not identify you personally and is used for website analytics and security purposes only.
This website is hosted by Squarespace, which may collect personal data when you visit this site. For more information, please refer to Squarespace’s own Privacy Policy.
Cookies
This website may use cookies (small text files stored on your device) to enhance your browsing experience and to analyse website traffic. You can choose to disable cookies through your browser settings if you prefer.
Contacting Me via Email
If you choose to contact me via email, you are voluntarily providing personal information. This information will be used solely to respond to your enquiry and, where appropriate, to arrange an initial consultation or ongoing services.
I recommend that you avoid sharing highly sensitive personal information in your initial email. If we proceed to work together, further information can be collected in a more secure and appropriate way.
Lawful Basis for Processing
Under data protection law, I rely on the following lawful bases for processing your personal information:
Consent – when you contact me and agree to provide your information
Legitimate interests – for the provision of therapeutic services and management of my practice
Legal obligation – where I am required to comply with legal or regulatory requirements
Where sensitive personal data is processed (such as health-related information), this is done in accordance with relevant legal provisions for the provision of health and therapeutic services.
Data Security
I take appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal information, including password protection, encryption, and secure storage systems. While I take all reasonable steps to safeguard your data, no method of transmission over the internet is completely secure.
Third-Party Services
This website may include links to external websites. I am not responsible for the privacy practices of other websites, and I encourage you to review their privacy policies.
Changes to This Privacy Policy
I may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in legal requirements or in the way I operate my practice. Any updates will be posted on this page.
Contact Details
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or how your data is handled, you can contact:
Aidan Harvey
Email: aidanharveytherapy@gmail.com