Anti-discrimination policy
We are strongly committed to anti-discrimination. It values difference and diversity and does not discriminate on the grounds of age, gender and gender identity, sexual preference or orientation, marital/partnership status, religion, race, colour, national origin, disability, heritage or political belief.
Confidiality and Record Keeping
Confidentiality is an essential part of all counselling and psychotherapy. Just for you counselling holds all records and personal contact details securely and will ensure confidentiality in the treatment of any information held about its clients, in line with the Code of Ethics of the BACP. All information recorded and held is solely for the purpose of maintaining effective therapeutic treatment.
What data do we hold and why?
We hold the contact data from your initial assessment sheet, on paper, so we can contact you.
record information about what you tell me in our sessions depending on the protocol we are using. Often, I record only brief notes and these act as an ‘aide memoire’ so that I can review the course of your therapy as time progresses. For some specific protocols, such as EMDR I complete an electronic template.
I record the number of sessions you have and the payments you make for business purposes. None of these records involve your full name or other details.
We will discuss with you how you like to be contacted. It is important that while you remain a client you notify me if any of these details change.
How is data stored?
Session notes are held on paper and kept locked securely when not in use. Data held electronically is on a personal computer and stored locally in a password protected account. Phone contact details will be anonymised and held on a password protected work phone.
Appointments are held on a paper diary, and data about the number of sessions and the payments you make electronically. Your records are held for as long as is necessary for the purpose for which they were collected. Clients have the ‘right to be forgotten’ however, and within a month of receiving a written request all their records will be erased.
Who is it shared with?
All information will be kept confidential unless the client and therapist agree to discuss something with a third party such as your GP. A consent form will be used where appropriate. The only reasons for breaking confidentiality would be if the therapist considered that your life was at risk, if another person’s life was at risk or if the therapist was liable to civil or criminal court proceedings if the information was not disclosed. If at all possible this would be discussed beforehand.
In the event of my being unable to contact you (eg through sudden incapacity) a trusted person has access to my client list and will contact you directly. This is also a professional requirement. If I experience any data breaches, I will inform you as soon as possible.
Access
Clients can access their records by making a verbal or written request. Clients agreement and consent will be sought for the purpose of communication related to their therapy arrangement. If I experience any data breaches, I will inform you as soon as possible.