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Privacy Policy

Introduction

Counselling in Taunton is strongly committed to protecting the privacy of users. This statement explains how we collect and use the information which you give us. Our website does not collect any personal information abuot you, however, certain information that you provide helps us to monitor our web site service and provide you with the services that you are entitled to as a visitor to our website.

What information we collect

We collect non-personal information: such as IP address (the location of the computer on the internet), pages accessed and files downloaded. This helps us to determine how many individuals use our sites, how many people visit on a regular basis, which pages are most popular, and which pages are least popular. This information doesn't tell us anything about who you are or where you live, it simply allows us to monitor and improve our service.

Usage of information

We collect information about the date and time in which our web site was accessed and the internet address of the server from which you linked to our site. We use this data to improve our site performance and to evaluate traffic statistics, such as the times of day and days of week at which we see peak traffic, and to assess the relative popularity of different areas of the site.

Links

Our sites contain links to other sites. We cannot be responsible for the privacy policies and practices of other websites even if you access them using links from our websites and recommend that you check the policy of each site you visit. In addition, if you linked to our website from a third party website, we cannot be responsible for the privacy policies and practices of the owners or operators of that third party site and recommend that you check the policy of that third party site and contact its owner or operator if you have any concerns or questions.

Use of cookies

Like many websites, Counselling in Taunton uses cookies in order to provide you with a more personalised web service. A cookie is a small piece of information sent by a web server to a web browser, which enables the server to collect information from the browser. Most web browsers automatically accept cookies, but if you prefer, you should be able to change your browser to prevent that. You should read the information that came with your browser software to see how you can set up your browser to notify you when you receive a cookie, this should then give you the opportunity to decide whether to accept it. However, you may not be able to take full advantage of a website if you do so.

Cookies can be used for a variety of purposes, such as providing personalised pages, however, we use them only to work out how many people visit our website. The Counselling in Taunton website uses Google Analytics, a web analytics service provided by Google, Inc. ("Google").

Google Analytics uses cookies to help the website analyse how users use the site. The information generated by the cookie about your use of the website (including your IP address) will be transmitted to and stored by Google on servers in the United States. Google will use this information for the purpose of evaluating your use of the website, compiling reports on website activity for website operators and providing other services relating to website activity and internet usage. Google may also transfer this information to third parties where required to do so by law, or where such third parties process the information on Google's behalf. Google will not associate your IP address with any other data held by Google.

Further information about cookies can be found at the Interactive Advertising Bureau's website www.allaboutcookies.org.

Data Privacy (GDPR)

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is concerned with the personal information about clients that we collect, store, and share. These are the details of our GDPR policy.

Personal Information we will collect or have collected (for current/former clients).
  • Name
  • Gender (or preferred identity)
  • Age
  • Date of Birth
  • Occupation
  • Address
  • Telephone/SMS number (plus permission to send SMS & leave voice message)
  • Email address
Counselling History
  • Medical conditions relevant to counselling
  • Prescribed medication
  • Difficulties
  • Session summary
How we will store Personal Information
Storage Methods
  • Paper: written notes (described below).
  • Smartphone: we will store client contact information as coded data. This allows us to contact clients in case of emergencies, but safeguards against revealing client identity.
  • Email/SMS/WhatsApp: client email addresses and correspondence will be stored in our email accounts by nature of clients contacting us. Client telephone numbers may be stored in our SMS under a code. If electronic correspondence has been used then this will also be held under a code.
  • Website: no client personal information is stored on our website, other than to momentarily collect and send it to our email accounts for the purposes of our initial contact.
Documents Held
  • Paper
  • Contact Sheet
  • Contract/Agreement
  • Assessment Record
  • Brief Session Notes
  • GDPR Agreement
  • Client Code (linking documents)
Electronic
  • Contact name & telephone
  • Email/SMS
How we may Process/Share Client’s Personal Information
Consultation

We seek monthly consultation with another therapist qualified in this process. The consultation process is for our practice (rather than seeking instruction on working with you). In order to protect client privacy, our consultants will not know you personally nor professionally. We may refer to client information verbally when it's helpful to our professional processes but this would only be done by using first names.

Emergencies.

If client health is in jeopardy (provided we have client consent) we may share client contact information with an emergency healthcare service (e.g. Mental Health Crisis Team). If we have become aware of client intent to cause harm to another person/organisation (e.g. terrorism), the law may require that we inform an authority without seeking client permission. In such a situation, the law may require that we share client personal information without client knowledge (known as: whistle-blowing).

Erasing client Information.

When we have finished working with clients, we will erase electronic copies of client information and correspondence within one month. However we are ethically obliged to hold onto client written information for up to seven years past the end of client work. This is so that web have a reference of our work in situations such as you returning to counselling in the future. After this time has passed, we will destroy the written information.

Client Rights

All of our clients have the following rights...

  • To be informed what information we hold (i.e. this document).
  • To see the information we hold (free of charge for the initial request).
  • To rectify any inaccurate or incomplete personal information.
  • To withdraw consent to us using clients’ personal information.
  • To request client personal information be erased (though we can decline whilst the information is needed for us to practice lawfully & competently).

NB: A printed copy of this statement will be given to clients when we first meet for counselling. If we agree to continue working together, we will both sign the printed copy of this statement to indicate our agreement.

Policy changes

We may make changes to this Policy from time to time. If we change our Privacy Policy we will post the changes on this page. If the change in our Privacy Policy affects the use of your personal information we will use our best endeavours to contact you by email to seek your consent to the use.

Your acceptance of these rights

By using our site you consent to the collection and use of information by Counselling in Taunton in accordance with our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree to this Policy, please do not use our website.

Your rights

Any information submitted via our website is treated in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998. To find out more about your entitlements under this legislation, visit the Information Commissioner's website: gov.uk/data-protection.

If you have any questions relating to this Privacy Policy, please email either josephine@counsellingintaunton.org or becky@counsellingintaunton.org.

Last updated: November 2017