Privacy Policy

 

Your privacy is important. Any personal information you share with me will be handled with care, respect, and confidentiality, and will only be used for the purpose for which it is given.

I adhere to current UK data protection legislation, including the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR), the Data Protection Act 2018, and the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations, ensuring that your personal information is handled lawfully, fairly, and transparently.

 

Who I Am

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I am an integrative psychotherapist and counsellor working with adults (18+) in private practice. In the course of my work, I act as a data controller, meaning I am responsible for how your personal information is collected, used, and stored.

I am registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).
 

ICO Registration Number: currently being updated

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Contact details:

Email: sjstherapy@icloud.com
Mobile: 07923 422225
Location: Ellison Place, Newcastle upon Tyne

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Lawful Basis for Processing Your Information

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The primary reason I collect and use your personal information is to provide a psychotherapeutic service to you.

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The lawful bases I rely on are:

• Contractual necessity, to provide the service we agree to

• Legitimate interests, for the management and retention of records

• Explicit consent, where required, particularly when processing special category data such as health information

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What Information I Collect

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When you make an enquiry, I may collect:

• Your name and contact details

• The nature of your enquiry

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If you choose to work with me, I may collect:

• Personal and contact information

• Relevant background information

• Brief session notes

 

How Your Information Is Used

 

Your information is used to:

• Communicate with you

• Arrange and manage appointments

• Provide a safe and effective therapeutic service

• Maintain appropriate clinical records

 

If you do not proceed beyond the enquiry stage, your information will be deleted within one month unless you request otherwise.

 

How Your Information Is Stored

 

I take the security of your information seriously.

• Written notes are stored securely in a locked filing cabinet

• My mobile phone is password protected and does not store client names as contacts

• Email correspondence and text messages are stored securely within iCloud

• Voice recordings (where explicit consent is given) are stored temporarily on my device for less than 24 hours and then transferred to an external hard drive, where they are retained for a maximum of four weeks

• Appointment records are held in a digital diary using a coded system, meaning personal identifying information is not stored within the diary itself

 

All information is held securely and is not shared with third parties unless outlined below.

 

Confidentiality and Sharing of Information

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Your information is kept confidential. However, there are some circumstances where information may be shared:

• With my clinical supervisor, where discussions are anonymised and do not include identifying details

• With other professionals, where you have given your explicit consent

• Where there is a legal or safeguarding obligation, including:

  • risk of harm to yourself

  • risk of harm to others

  • protection of a vulnerable adult

  • where required by law or court order

 

Where possible, I will always aim to discuss this with you beforehand unless there are safeguarding reasons that prevent this.

 

These limits to confidentiality are also outlined in the therapeutic contract we agree at the start of our work together.

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How Long Information Is Kept

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Records are retained for a minimum of 7 years after the end of therapy, and may be kept longer where required for legal, insurance, or ethical reasons.

 

Your Rights

 

You have the right to:

• Access the information I hold about you

• Request correction of inaccurate information

• Request deletion of your data where appropriate

• Restrict or object to how your data is processed

 

If you have any questions or concerns about how your information is handled, you are welcome to contact me.

 

You can find more information about your rights by clicking the link below:

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Website Use and Cookies

 

When you visit my website, basic information about usage may be collected through cookies or analytics tools. This information is anonymised and used to understand how the website is used and to improve the service offered.

 

You can control or disable cookies through your browser settings. Please note that disabling cookies may affect how the website functions.

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