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Privacy Policy

At Debbie Birks Person Centred Counselling I am committed to protecting and respecting your privacy. This policy will explain how I collect and store your personal data in compliance with the UK General Data Protection Regulations (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. I am registered with the Information Commissioner Office (ICO).

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The types of information that I collect,

  • Personal Identification, name, date of birth, personal contact details.

  • Emergency contact details, name and contact phone number of a trusted person or your GP, only to be used if I have a serious concern for your safety.

  • Sensitive Personal data, brief clinical session notes.

 

How I collect your data. I will collect information in the following ways,

  • Directly through my website contact form, via email or telephone.

  • Verbally during our first assessment session and following counselling appointments.

 

How I use your information (Lawful Basis). Under the UK GDPR the lawful basis I rely on for processing your standard personal data is contractual to provide you with a safe professional service. I adhere to the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) Ethical Framework. I use this information strictly to,

  • Deliver secure, effective and ethical counselling sessions.

  • To manage appointments and basic administration tasks.

 

Data protection boundaries. Your privacy is my absolute priority, and I implement strict measures to ensure this.

  • Digital data, any digital records are stored on secure password protected devices.

  • Written notes, any physical documentation is kept in a secure locked location.

  • Anonymisation, your session notes are completely anonymised using a unique client code. Your personal details are stored separately so that you can never be identified.

 

Debbie Birks Person Centred Counselling treats all contact information in confidence. Details of contacts and case notes are kept in a secure location for up to seven years and then destroyed. Debbie Birks Person Centred Counselling adheres to the principles set out in the General Data Protection Regulations. The client has legal rights to see the data that is held on them and ask for your records to be amended or deleted.

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Sharing your information (confidentiality and exceptions). Our counselling work is strictly confidential, I will never sell, distribute or lease your personal information to third parties. Your data would only be shared under the following exceptional circumstances,

  • Legal duty or safeguarding, if I am legally compelled by a court of law or if I have reason to believe that you or someone else is at immediate risk of serious physical harm.

  • Professional Supervision, in line with the BACP guidelines I regularly discuss my clinical work with a qualified supervisor. During these sessions your identity is anonymised to protect your privacy.

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