Privacy Policy

Louise Muir is registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). Registration number: ZB496717. If you have any queries regarding this privacy policy or data management, please e-mail Louise Muir at louise@counsellingleightonbuzzard.co.uk.
This privacy policy is reviewed on a regular basis with any updates being made as necessary. This policy was last amended on 6 January 2023.

The type of personal information we collect

We currently collect and process information, including:

Personal identifiers, contacts and characteristics (for example name and contact details; • Session notes (minimal content, which avoid personal identifiers);
Signed documents (including Counselling Agreement and Personal Data consent)
Visitors to our website. We use Google Analytics to collect standard internet log information and details of visitor behaviour patterns (these statistics do not identify individuals).
Cookies - we use cookies to help our website work more efficiently (Cookie notice on website).

How we get the personal information and why we have it

Most of the personal information we process is provided to us directly by you for one of the following reasons:

Enquiries for which you require a response (for example, you have requested contact via our website)
Communication purposes (for example to arrange therapy)
Copy of clients’ ‘Counselling Agreement’, which provides summary of contracting process which takes place at the start of therapy.

We also receive personal information indirectly from the following sources, in the following scenarios:

A permitted referral made by another therapist or organisation.

We use the information that you have given us in order to: - Answer enquiries

Respond to correspondence
Carry out assessment
Arrange therapy including individual sessions

Will we share this information?

Personal information will only be disclosed in the public interest, based on common law, where it is essential to prevent a serious and imminent threat to public health, national security, the life of an individual or third party. For example:

immediate risk of substantial harm to you or other people;
to prevent or detect serious crime, such as, terrorism or money laundering; • or due to a legal process, including a court order.

Under the UK General Data Protection regulation (UKGDPR), the lawful bases we rely on for processing this information is for the purpose of a contract, which is necessary, and agreed upon, in order for therapy to commence.

How we store your personal information

We take care to safeguard your personal data and your information is securely stored.
We keep digital records of personal information, including name and contact details, within a password protected file on a secure device. Additionally, we keep minimal session notes, for supervision purposes, which are stored digitally within a separate file and do not use personal identifiers.
Paper documents are stored in a locked filing system.

How long we store your information:

When responding to initial enquiries, contact details will only be stored once you have confirmed that you wish to proceed with counselling. Any correspondence will be deleted if you do not begin therapy, including the removal of any contact details.
We keep digital records for the duration of your therapy, we will then dispose your information by removal of files from the storage device, once your therapy has ended.
We keep personal information, such as a copy of your Counselling Agreement, in paper format within a locked filing system for three yers after your therapy has ended. We will then dispose your information by shredding all paper documents.
We keep financial records (for accountancy purposes) for seven years.

Your Data Protection rights

Under Data Protection law you have rights including, your right to object to processing - you have the right to object to the processing of your personal information in certain circumstances.

You are not required to pay any charge for exercising your rights.
If you make a request we have one month to respond to you. Please contact us at
louise@counsellingleightonbuzzard.co.uk If you wish to make a request.

How to complain

If you have any concerns about our use of your personal information you can make a complaint to us at:
louise@counsellingleightonbuzzard.co.uk

You can also complain to the ICO if you are unhappy with how we have used your data. The ICO’s address:
Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Helpline Number: 0303 123 1113
ICO website: https://www.ico.org.uk