Please read the following statement about legal and ethical requirements of practice regarding data protection, information storage and usage. Should you decide to go ahead with therapy, I will ask you to sign a consent form stating that you are in agreement with the counselling agreement document and to confirm that you are happy with the way that your personal information will be collected, stored and used.
Your personal information is stored securely and confidentially, either electronically, using codes and password protection or in paper format which is stored in a locked cabinet. The data collected is used to aid effective communication throughout the therapeutic process. It is used in a safe and ethical manner and in line with EU General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) May 2018.
It may become necessary to share your personal data with a third party if I feel that you, or someone else is at risk of significant harm. Unless the risk is imminent, this will be discussed with you before appropriate disclosure. I 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 7 years after the therapeutic process has ended, at which point they will be deleted or destroyed securely.
You have the right to ask for a copy of your personal information, you also have the right to ask me to amend or change any incorrect information about you.
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, these rights are obligatory unless it is information that I have a legal duty to retain.
As the client, you have the right to receive your personal information which you previously provided. You 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 Kelly ODonnell-Kelly ODonnell Counselling.
I am registered with the Information Commissioners Office (ICO) and I pay a data processing fee.