At Orbit Counselling, I am committed to protecting and respecting your privacy in line with The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). This privacy policy explains how I collect, use, and safeguard your personal information when you visit my website and engage in counselling services. I understand the sensitive nature of the services I provide and take every step to ensure that your data is handled with the utmost care and confidentiality.
I follow the BACP Ethical Framework and I’m registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) to provide assurance that your information is collected and held safely and ethically.
1. Information I collect
When you contact me through our website or book a counselling session, I collect the following information which is kept in line with the Data Protection Act (1998):
- Personal Information: This may include your name, email address, phone number, and any other details you provide during initial consultations or through the contact form.
- Session Data: During your sessions, any personal information shared in the course of the counselling process may be recorded to facilitate your therapy. This data is kept confidential and used solely for the purpose of providing therapeutic support. Information will include the kind of counselling you are looking for and background to this, any mental health or previous therapy history, emergency contact details, medication information and your GPs name and number. Brief notes about you will be recorded after your sessions, anonymised and stored securely.
- Payment Information: If applicable, payment details for services rendered will be securely processed and stored according to relevant legal requirements.
- On my website: you are informed about the use of cookies which give you a better quality of experience when accessing my web pages.
2. How I use your information
I use your information in the following ways:
- To respond to inquiries and provide the counselling services you request.
- To keep in touch with you about appointments, cancellations, and relevant updates regarding my services.
- To maintain records of your sessions for therapeutic purposes, ensuring continuity of care and improving the services provided.
- To process payments.
3. Data security
I take the security of your personal data seriously. All sensitive information is stored securely, and I use password-protected safety measures to protect your data from unauthorised access. Access to your personal and session information is strictly limited to authorised personnel.
4. Confidentiality and privacy in counselling
Your confidentiality is of the utmost importance in person-centred counselling. All information shared in the course of your sessions is confidential unless you provide consent to share it. However, there are a few exceptions where confidentiality may be breached, such as:
- Where I am compelled by law to disclose offences related to:
o Terrorism Act (2000)
o Drug Trafficking Act (1994)
o Proceeds of Crime Act (2002)
o Money Laundering Regulations (2007)
- You or others are in danger or at serious risk of being harmed.
- When you ask for the confidence to be broken.
Before breaching confidentiality, my supervisor, and where feasible you, will be consulted.
5. Third-party services
I do not share your personal information with third parties without your explicit consent, except when required by law or to facilitate the services you have requested. In a case where you request a report of letter i.e. to a solicitor or your company, you will see information before it is shared and you will be given the opportunity to have data omitted.
6. Written documentation
Any written documentation, records or material are held in a locked cabinet and held for up to seven years. Thereafter they are safely disposed of.
7. Your rights
You have the right to access, correct, or delete your personal information. If you wish to review or update any of the details I hold about you, or if you have any questions about your privacy, please contact me.
8. Changes to this privacy policy
I may update this privacy policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page, and I encourage you to review this policy periodically.
By using my services and providing your personal information, you consent to the practices outlined in this privacy policy.
For any questions regarding this policy, please contact me.
9. Complaints
I hope that the relationship we build means that we can work together to arise any problems if they arise but if you ever wish to make a formal complaint this can be made via the BACP. You can find more information about this here
Contact me
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about how counselling works, or to arrange an initial consultation appointment.
