Privacy Policy
Introduction
One of the things which helps to make psychotherapy effective is that it offers you a contained and private space within which you can gradually unfold and explore your life, challenges, dreams and potential. I seek to create and maintain a safe private space for this to occur. Our conversations are private. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) seeks to protect your privacy in respect of data held about you. The GDPR asks for specific consent to be given for data to be processed.
Limits to your confidentiality
In common with all therapists and counsellors I discuss my work with a trusted, experienced colleague on a regular basis – this is a structured, confidential process of consultation and supervision. The purpose of this is to reflect on the work, which we are doing, and to develop and strengthen my capacity to work with you. These conversations are governed by a strong ethic of confidentiality and respect. If I discuss my work in such a forum, your identity is protected, to preserve your privacy through this reflection process. This person also holds details of how to access and deal with all my client and business information in the event of my incapacity or death.
I do not disclose notes or the content of sessions to third parties unless I am legally required to do so. There is a legal requirement to disclose your personal data in order to safeguard children/vulnerable adults, report money laundering or terrorism or if I am subpoenaed to court. If that were the case I would seek to discuss this with you in detail first. If you or another person is at serious risk of harm I may wish to speak to your GP or other person who can assist in such a situation. I would never take this step lightly, and would always discuss it with you in detail first as far as is possible.
What records do I keep and how are they kept?
I will keep some brief notes of our sessions, to act as an aide memoire of our work together. These notes are handwritten are kept in a locked drawer at my home office and are stored in a separate location from the signed ‘Therapy Agreement And Data Consent Form’.
I keep your contact details on my phone and on my computer. These contact details are shared between my devices using icloud for which I maintain a secure password. I use this information to contact you, and I will not pass this information on to anyone else. I do not use your contact details for marketing purposes.
I securely and confidentially dispose of all data kept about you, including all notes, 3 years after the end of the therapy.
If you wish to withdraw your consent to me using your data at any point please let me know by email to marcmedina@btinternet.com 07973 224302.
