This privacy notice outlines how I capture, store and use your information.
Initial contact:
When you reach out to me to enquire about booking a session or to ask a question, I will collect the necessary information needed to support your query, this will include your full name, phone number and email address.
If you do not wish to proceed further at this stage, your details will be kept for 7 years unless you ask me to delete them.
If you do wish to proceed, please inform me of any changes to your contact details whilst in my care – this is so I can ensure that the information and contact details that I hold for you are correct.
During psychosexual therapy:
I ask for your name, date of birth, telephone number, email address, home address, who I can contact in case of emergency alongside your GP details should these be needed. For example, in crisis, there may be somebody you wish for me to call for you.
I will make notes during sessions which are kept on my passworded laptop.
Any paper notes I make will be held in a locked filing cabinet which only I have access to.
I may write letters concerning your care if asked to do so by you – the fee for these will be charged pro rata my hourly fee.
I conduct regular risk assessments throughout the therapy process and will raise concerns with you around risks as they arise, to prioritise your wellbeing and safety.
Information shared by you in sessions will remain confidential. However, if you have told me, or I have concerns that:
you or someone else is at risk of significant harm;
you watch or make illegal pornographic material which involves the mistreatment of animals, adults or children;
there are child protection issues;
there is a terrorism risk,
then I am bound by law to breach confidentiality in these circumstances and as such, will need to report accordingly. I will always try to speak with you first about my concerns, unless there are safeguarding issues that would prevent this.
I have a professional obligation to adhere to College of Sex and Relationship Therapists (COSRT) code of ethics and practice which can be found at www.cosrt.org.uk – my membership number with COSRT is: #4131.
All personal information is held in accordance with General Data Processing Regulations.
Your name, email address and telephone number are only kept for the purposes of communication e.g. session confirmation and will not be shared with a third party.
Only in the unlikely event of my death or serious illness would a nominated and trusted colleague (my supervisor) access your contact information to inform you of this.
All information is held for a period of 7 years to comply with my Professional Liability Insurance Policy.
I seek a monthly consultation with a qualified supervisor. The supervision process is for my practice, to assist with professional development and to ensure I am working competently and ethically. To protect your privacy, your name will never be used during supervision when I refer to you, only your initials.
I use Google Drive Cloud Storage to store documentation and notes. I use Gmail to send, receive and store email correspondence. TieTek built and manage my website and may collect cookies to monitor website traffic. I use Zoom to host online sessions.
In the event I need to call you on the telephone (for an initial consultation, for example) this will always be from a withheld number. My phone is password protected.
After psychosexual therapy has ended:
I will hold onto your information for 7 years past the date of our final session. This is so that I have a reference of our work in situations such as you returning to psychosexual therapy in the future. After this time has passed, I will shred the written information and delete any electronic information I hold about you.
Your rights:
To be informed what information I hold about you.
To see the information, I hold about you (free of charge for the initial request).
To rectify any inaccurate or incomplete personal information.
To withdraw consent to me using your personal information.
To request your personal information be erased (though I can decline whilst the information is needed for me to practice lawfully and competently).
