privacy

Privacy Statement and Data Protection

Introduction

I, Lisa Bunyan, offer counselling and psychotherapy as a self-employed service provider, under the name ‘TalkingCounts’. A clients privacy is important and therefore in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and registration with the Information Commissioners Office (ICO) I am required to provide you, my client with details of how I collect, store and use information gathered by me.   

Details given in an enquiry from a potential client via e-mails, mobile texts and voicemails are password protected and will be kept for six months unless therapy commences. If therapy commences information will be kept in accordance with the BACP Ethical Practice guidelines and Counselling Directory. 

Personal Information

What information will be stored and how 

Name, address, telephone numbers, e-mails, date-of-birth, GP/surgery, medication and who to contact in the event of an emergency; signed Counselling Agreement; and session notes.   

A client is manually assigned a reference number and these details will be kept on paper and kept separate in a locked filing cabinet so a client can never be identified. 

This information will ensure that I am able to contact a client, or third party, should unforeseen circumstances arise to ensure the appropriate duty of care. 

The session notes are made to help me gain greater understanding of my clients, review their progress and to prepare for future sessions. Client information will be kept for seven years to comply with the law unless a client requests that their notes be destroyed. In the event that I should decide to cease to practice all records will be destroyed.  

How personal information might be shared 

As a BACP member I am supervised to enable all aspects of my work to be discussed ensuring I work ethically at all times. In supervision, if a client is mentioned , they will only be referred to by their Christian names to ensure confidentiality. In addition I will provide my supervisor with a clients’ Christian name and telephone number so, in the event of an emergency they can be contacted.  

Personal details will not be used for marketing purposes. 

Information maybe shared with other agencies if it is considered that there is an immediate risk or evidence of substantial harm to self and/or others; or under a legal requirement, e.g. terrorism, drug money laundering, or subpoenaed by court. Beforehand, I would always discuss this with a client unless they were unable to give consent.

    How do we receive information about you?

    We receive your Personal Information from various sources:
    • When you voluntarily provide us your personal details in order to register on our Site;
    • When you use or access our Site in connection with your use of our services;
    • From third party providers, services and public registers (for example, traffic analytics vendors).
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