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Privacy Policy

Introduction

 

 

Your privacy is treated with the same seriousness as the work we undertake together.

 

This policy explains how your personal information is collected, used and protected when you visit this website or engage in psychotherapy with me. All data is handled in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018.

 

 

 

Who I Am

 

 

I am a UK-based psychoanalytic psychotherapist in private practice. For the purposes of data protection law, I act as the Data Controller of your personal information.

 

If you have questions about how your data is handled, you are welcome to contact me directly.

 

 

 

Information Collected

 

 

 

1. Website Visitors

 

 

When you visit this website, limited technical information may be collected automatically, including:

 

  • IP address

  • Browser type

  • Pages visited

  • Date and duration of visit

 

 

This information is used only to understand website performance and security. It is not used to identify you personally.

 

 

 

2. Initial Enquiries

 

 

If you contact me by email, telephone or contact form, I may collect:

 

  • Your name

  • Contact details

  • The information you choose to share

  • Practical details relating to availability and fees

 

 

This information is used solely to respond to your enquiry and consider whether we may be able to work together.

 

 

 

3. If You Become a Client

 

 

If you enter into psychotherapy, I will hold:

 

  • Contact information

  • GP and emergency contact details where appropriate

  • Relevant medical or psychological history

  • Clinical notes

  • Correspondence

  • Payment records

 

 

Therapy involves the processing of sensitive health information. This is classified as special category data under UK GDPR and is handled with particular care.

 

 

 

Lawful Basis for Processing

 

 

Your data is processed on the following lawful bases:

 

  • Legitimate interests, in order to respond to enquiries and operate a professional practice

  • Contract, where we enter into a therapeutic agreement

  • Legal obligation, for tax and regulatory purposes

  • Explicit consent, for the processing of sensitive health information

 

 

You may withdraw consent at any time. However, this may affect the ability to continue therapy.

 

 

 

Confidentiality

 

 

Confidentiality is central to psychotherapy.

 

Your information will not be shared without your consent, except in the following circumstances:

 

  • Where there is serious risk of harm to you or others

  • Where there are safeguarding concerns

  • Where disclosure is required by law

  • For professional supervision, where clinical work is discussed confidentially and, wherever possible, anonymised

 

 

Supervision is a professional and ethical requirement and forms part of safe clinical practice.

 

 

 

Storage and Security

 

 

Electronic records are stored on password-protected devices. Any paper records are kept securely.

 

Online sessions, where applicable, are conducted via encrypted platforms.

 

Reasonable technical and organisational measures are in place to protect your data from unauthorised access, loss or misuse. While no digital system can be guaranteed entirely secure, appropriate safeguards are maintained.

 

 

 

Retention

 

 

Clinical records are retained in accordance with professional and insurance requirements, typically for seven years after the conclusion of therapy, unless a longer retention period is legally required.

 

After this time, records are securely destroyed.

 

 

 

Sharing of Data

 

 

Your data may be shared only where necessary and appropriate, including with:

 

  • Clinical supervisors

  • Accountants, for financial compliance

  • Secure IT or website service providers

 

 

I do not sell, trade or commercially distribute your personal information.

 

 

 

Payments

 

 

Payment information is processed via secure banking or payment providers. Full card details are not stored by me.

 

 

 

Your Rights

 

 

Under UK data protection law, you have the right to:

 

  • Access your personal data

  • Request correction of inaccurate data

  • Request erasure, where legally permissible

  • Restrict or object to processing

  • Data portability

  • Lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office

 

 

Further information can be found at: https://ico.org.uk

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