Privacy Policy

Please take a minute to read through this statement of legal and ethical requirements of practice regarding data protection and transparency of information storage and usage. I will ask you to sign a copy of this, along with the client contact during our initial session. Thank you.

SECURE STORAGE

Your personal information is stored securely and confidentially, either electronically, using codes with password protection or in paper format which is stored in a locked cabinet, coded for protection. The data collected is used to enable effective communication during the therapeutic process, it is used in a safe and ethical manner and is in line with EU General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) May 2018.

It may become necessary to share your data with a third party if I feel you, or someone else close to you, is at risk of significant harm. Unless the risk is imminent, this will be discussed with you before appropriate disclosure. I do have a legal obligation to break confidentiality in compliance with a court order, concerns over child protection and information or knowledge regarding fraud, drug trafficking or acts of terrorism.

Your contact details are held securely for up to 1 year after the therapeutic process has ended and session notes will be held securely and confidentially for 5 years after the therapeutic process has ended, at which point they will be deleted or destroyed accordingly.

RIGHT TO ACCESS

You have the right to ask for a copy of your personal information, also the right to ask me to amend or change any incorrect information about you.

RIGHT TO ERASURE

You have the right to ask me to erase any information that I hold about you. This includes your personal information that is no longer relevant to original purposes, or if you wish to withdraw consent. In all cases and when considering such requests, these rights are obligatory unless it is information that I have a legal obligation to retain.

DATA PORTABILITY

As the client, you have the right to receive your personal information which you previously provided, and also have the right to transfer that information to another party. For the purposes of the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) May 2018, the data “controller” is Martin Alderton- Martin Alderton Counselling.

INFORMED CONSENT AND AGREEMENT

I will ask you to sign this statement during our initial session to confirm you are happy with the way your personal information is being collected, stored and used.