Introduction
David Ewins is a Registered Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (membership no. 391661) and is registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (registration number: C1125415).
Under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR - EU/2016/679) I am required to inform you about the personal information on you that I collect, store and process / share.
Collection of Personal Information
I may request the following data, please note that you are under no obligation to provide this information, but it may assist the therapeutic process and/or help to support you:
- Name, gender (or preferred identity), sexuality, date of birth
- Address, next of kin contact details, telephone / mobile number, email address
- GP details, medical conditions, prescribed medication, previous experience of mental health treatment / diagnosis
- Counselling and personal history, including relationships and family (past and present), issues you have come to therapy for.
Storage of Personal Information
Mobile phone
Although I do not store your contact number in my phone, the messages / call history is retained. I store your contact number on my work laptop to allow me to make contact where necessary. My phone and laptop are password protected.
Electronic correspondence is held on my email account. I use this to set up an initial meeting, notify you of payment details and/or confirm subsequent appointments. My email account and work laptop are both password protected.
Website
None of your personal information is stored on my website.
Paper
Where I use paper records (Client Agreement, Initial Assessment Form and Sessions Notes) these are converted to an electronic version and the original destroyed.
Electronic data
Electronic records (Client Agreement, Initial Assessment Form and Sessions Notes) are stored on my laptop, which is password protected and backed up to a thumb drive that is stored securely.
These records may be reviewed in Supervision as part of my ongoing professional development and also in support of our working together. I will make every effort to anonymise your personal information when doing so (see "Sharing your information").
NB: The Initial Assessment Form and Session Notes are anonymised and kept separately from any contact information that would identify you. All records are stored securely.
Audio Recording
Sessions will not be recorded without your written permission and you are under no obligation to agree to sessions being recorded. Any recordings will be stored securely, retained for no longer than 2 years and then destroyed. Even if you do agree, you may withdraw your consent at any time and ask for any recordings to be destroyed.
I may request to make audio recordings for the purpose of supporting my ongoing professional development and for reviewing sessions, for example, by presenting anonymised, written transcript(s) of excepts of sessions in Supervision.
Sharing Your Personal Information
Supervision
In line with BACP requirements, I take my work to Supervision to have another professional perspective and as part of my ongoing professional development. I make every effort to preserve your anonymity as part of this process.
Confidentiality
Sessions are strinctly confidential, but with a few exceptions. If I believe that the safety of you, and/or another, is at significant risk, it may be necessary to break confidentiality and contact the suitable authorities without your permission. This includes your GP, the emergency services and the mental health crisis team.
I am also required by law to pass on information relating to criminal acts, such as terrorism, insider dealing or the ongoing abuse of a minor or vulnerable adult.
I will at all times attempt to gain your permission before breaking confidentiality in these instances. I do, however, retain the right to do so without your consent.
When working online, I make every effort to ensure privacy and confidentiality. I take resonable steps to ensure this, for example, using software that provides a secure connection and anti-virus software to add further protections.
Incapacity (of the therapist)
In the event of my incapacity (e.g. serious illness), or my death, my appointed therapeutic executor has been instructed to contact you to advise you of your options. They will also arrange for any personal information and notes to be destroyed.
Erasing Your Personal Information
When we have finished working together, all electronic correspondence will be deleted after one month. Electronic records will be securely retained for seven years after the last session in accordance with the requirements of my insurance provider. Following this, all personal information will be destroyed.
Your Rights
You have the following rights with respect to your personal information:
- to be informed what personal information I hold, as outlined in this document
- to request a copy of the personal information I hold on you (free of charge and within one calendar month)
- to request that I rectify any inaccurate or incomplete personal information
- to withdraw consent from me using / processing your personal information
- to request that some or all of your personal information be erased. Where the information is needed for me to practice lawfully and competently, I can decline such requests.