Privacy policy.

Brighter Days Counselling.

You can be confident that your personal information will be kept safe and secure and will only be used for the purpose it was given to me. I adhere to current data protection legislation, including the General Data Protection Regulation, the Data Protection Act 2018 and the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003. I am registered with the information commissioner’s Office.This privacy Policy tells you what I will do with your personal information from initial point of contact through to after your therapy has ended.

As a client, when you attend an initial consultation with me, we begin by setting a working agreement that explains my commitment to client confidentiality and data protection. As well as when confidentiality may be breached. A counselling contract will be emailed to you and once you have received it and read it, you will need to sign and agree before we commence therapy.

I will collect personal details from you, as listed below:

  • Name.

  • Date of Birth.

  • Address.

  • Contact numbers.

  • Email address.

  • Contact details from an emergency contact for use if something were to happen to you during our session or we lose the internet connection.

  • Contact details for your GP, for use with your permission.

  • Details of any relevant mental or physical health issues and medication.

GDPR also makes sure that I look after any sensitive personal information that you may disclose to me appropriately. This type of information is called ‘special category personal information’. The lawful basis for me processing any specific categories of personal information is that it is for provision of health treatment (in this case counselling) and necessary for a contract with a health professional (in this case a contract between me and you).

While you are accessing counselling:

Rest assured that everything you discuss with me is confidential except in certain circumstances such as, harm to self and others or for legal and ethical reasons.

Sharing your personal details:

In line with the requirements of my professional body, the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, my work is regularly supervised by a qualified supervisor. You are referred to by your first name only and the conversations between my supervisor and myself are confidential.

Deletion of your personal Details:

After your therapy has ended, I will keep your personal details for one month in case we have any outstanding administrative issues, or you choose to return. They are then shredded.

Your case notes (summaries of session) are kept for 2 years in case you choose to return and are then shredded.

Any text messages (send and received) and any emails (sent and received) will also be deleted one month (or earlier) after counselling has ended.

Your rights:

In accordance with GDPR, you have the following rights:

  • To be informed of the information that I store about you.

  • To ask to see the information that I hold about you (please provide one months’ notice).

  • To ask that I rectify any information that you deem inaccurate, unnecessary or incomplete (if I need to keep a record to comply with legal requirements then I may decline this request).

If you have any questions about any aspect of this privacy policy, my contact details are as follows:

Mobile: 07884531626.

Email: brighterdayscounselling@outlook.com.