PRIVACY STATEMENT FOR PSYCHOTHERAPY, COUNSELLING AND HYPNOTHERAPY SERVICES (UK)

1. WHO I AM

I AM PAMELA LEETCH, A PRACTISING PSYCHOTHERAPIST BASED IN PORTSTEWART, NORTHERN IRELAND. I AM COMMITTED TO PROTECTING YOUR PRIVACY AND HANDLING YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION WITH TRANSPARENCY, CARE, AND RESPECT.

2. WHAT INFORMATION I COLLECT

I COLLECT AND STORE INFORMATION THAT IS NECESSARY FOR PROVIDING PSYCHOTHERAPY SAFELY AND EFFECTIVELY, INCLUDING:



YOUR NAME AND CONTACT DETAILS


EMERGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION


RELEVANT MEDICAL OR MENTAL-HEALTH HISTORY


SESSION NOTES


ANY CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN US


PAYMENT INFORMATION (IF APPLICABLE)



3. WHY I COLLECT YOUR INFORMATION

YOUR INFORMATION IS USED FOR:



PROVIDING PSYCHOTHERAPY SERVICES


ENSURING YOUR SAFETY AND WELLBEING


MANAGING APPOINTMENTS AND COMMUNICATION


MEETING LEGAL, ETHICAL, AND PROFESSIONAL OBLIGATIONS


MAINTAINING ACCURATE CLINICAL RECORDS



4. LEGAL BASIS FOR PROCESSING YOUR DATA

UNDER UK GDPR, I RELY ON THE FOLLOWING LAWFUL BASES:



CONTRACT: TO PROVIDE PSYCHOTHERAPY SERVICES YOU HAVE REQUESTED.


CONSENT: FOR SPECIFIC USES WHERE CONSENT IS REQUIRED.


LEGITIMATE INTERESTS: FOR RUNNING MY PRACTICE SAFELY AND PROFESSIONALLY.


VITAL INTERESTS: IF INFORMATION IS NEEDED TO PROTECT YOUR LIFE.


LEGAL OBLIGATION: WHERE I MUST SHARE INFORMATION BY LAW.



5. HOW YOUR INFORMATION IS STORED

I STORE YOUR INFORMATION SECURELY USING ENCRYPTED DIGITAL SYSTEMS AND LOCKED PHYSICAL STORAGE. ONLY I HAVE ACCESS TO YOUR RECORDS. SESSION NOTES ARE KEPT MINIMALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY.

6. HOW LONG YOUR INFORMATION IS KEPT

CLINICAL RECORDS ARE KEPT FOR 5 YEARS AFTER YOUR FINAL SESSION, IN LINE WITH PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE. AFTER THIS PERIOD, THEY ARE SECURELY DESTROYED.

7. CONFIDENTIALITY AND WHEN INFORMATION MAY BE SHARED

EVERYTHING YOU SHARE WITH ME IS CONFIDENTIAL. INFORMATION WILL ONLY BE SHARED IN THE FOLLOWING CIRCUMSTANCES:



YOU GIVE EXPLICIT CONSENT FOR ME TO SHARE INFORMATION.


I AM LEGALLY REQUIRED TO DISCLOSE INFORMATION (E.G., COURT ORDER).


THERE IS A RISK OF SERIOUS HARM TO YOU OR SOMEONE ELSE.


CONCERNS ABOUT SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN OR VULNERABLE ADULTS.


AS PART OF PROFESSIONAL SUPERVISION (YOUR IDENTITY IS PROTECTED).



I WILL ALWAYS AIM TO DISCUSS ANY NECESSARY DISCLOSURES WITH YOU FIRST, UNLESS DOING SO INCREASES RISK.

8. YOUR RIGHTS UNDER UK GDPR

YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO:



ACCESS YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION.


REQUEST CORRECTIONS TO INACCURATE INFORMATION.


REQUEST DELETION OF YOUR DATA (IN SOME CIRCUMSTANCES).


RESTRICT OR OBJECT TO CERTAIN TYPES OF PROCESSING.


REQUEST TRANSFER OF YOUR DATA TO ANOTHER PROVIDER.


WITHDRAW CONSENT AT ANY TIME (WHERE CONSENT IS THE LEGAL BASIS).



9. COMMUNICATION AND DIGITAL PRIVACY

EMAIL, TEXT, OR PHONE COMMUNICATION IS USED ONLY FOR PRACTICAL MATTERS SUCH AS SCHEDULING. DIGITAL COMMUNICATION CANNOT BE GUARANTEED AS FULLY SECURE, SO SENSITIVE THERAPEUTIC CONTENT SHOULD BE KEPT WITHIN SESSIONS.

10. COMPLAINTS AND CONTACT INFORMATION

IF YOU HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT HOW YOUR DATA IS HANDLED, PLEASE CONTACT ME DIRECTLY AT:



NAME: PAMELA LEETCH


EMAIL: PAMLEETCH@BTINTERNET.COM


TELEPHONE: +44 7917890841



IF YOU ARE NOT SATISFIED, YOU CAN CONTACT THE UK SUPERVISORY AUTHORITY:



INFORMATION COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE (ICO): WWW.ICO.ORG.UK


TELEPHONE: 0303 123 1113