Rachael Bark – Counsellor and Psychotherapist – Privacy Statement

This statement confirms how I, Rachael Bark use and protect any information that you give to me whilst using this service.

I am committed to safeguarding and protecting your information. When I ask you for any information it will only be used according to this privacy statement.

I may change this policy from time to time in line with legislation and whilst we are still working together I will provide you with a copy of any change. If we have ceased working together and you would like a copy of my up to date privacy policy I will provide one on request. I will also update my website www.counsellingnow.co.uk and would advise that you check that from time to time to be aware of any changes. This policy is effective from 1 December 2018.

I store your name, address, telephone number and email address and other personal information that you provide to me. I will also write notes of sessions.

I keep notes of our psychotherapy sessions. These are stored in a locked filing cabinet and destroyed seven years after your psychotherapy sessions end. Any information stored online will be kept securely on a password protected computer. Your contact and appointment details will be kept for seven after your counselling sessions end and then destroyed unless agreed otherwise.

Any e-mails, texts, Whatsapp messages or other communications will be deleted at any time but not later than one month after receipt unless they form part of your notes or are needed for income tax purposes in which case they will be kept for seven years as above.

Your telephone number will be stored on my mobile phone. If I change telephones then your details will be deleted on the old phone. If any reports are provided on your behalf then these will be stored for seven years, password protected. I store a note of your appointments in my diary. This is kept for seven years.

At the end of these periods respectively I will confidentially shred all paper copies. If I die or am incapacitated your notes will be confidentially shredded in three months.

I will use your contact details to engage in my work with you according to my contract with you including contacting you about appointments, keeping records such as appointments, running and maintaining my business. I also keep notes of psychotherapy sessions in order to support me in offering you psychotherapy.

I will not use contact information or your session notes for any other purpose other than in this notice and my contract.

You have the right to ask to see any information that I hold about you. Unless prevented from doing so by legal reasons, I will provide this information to you within a month of your request. I am happy to look at this in a session.

You also have the right to ask me to change any information that I hold that is incorrect and to ask me to delete any information that I hold about you. I will do this except for any information I need to hold for legal purposes such as my business tax purposes.

If you wish to complain about how I hold your data in any way then in the first instance please contact me, Rachael Bark, who is the data controller, at 6 Sandpits Road, Glastonbury, Somerset, BA6 8EH If you have any further concerns which are not addressed then you should contact Information Commissioner’s Office at https://ico.org.uk/concerns/handling/ or 0303 123 1113.

I will report any data breach to the Information Commissioner, and to yourself within 72 hours if it becomes apparent that any data is stolen. My data protection registration reference is A8417248

If you wish to contact me with questions, concerns, complaints or request for your information then please contact, Rachael Bark. 6 Sandpits Road, Glastonbury, Somerset, BA6 8EH telephone number 01458834302

The last updating of this Privacy Policy took place 1 December 2018