Privacy Policy
This statement confirms how I, Debbie Russell Counselling, use and protect any information that you give me whilst using this service.
- I am committed to safeguarding and protecting your information. If I ask you for any information it will only be used according to this privacy statement.
- I may change this policy from time to time with legislation and whilst we are still working together I will provide you with a copy of any change. If we have ceased working together and you would like a copy of my up to date privacy policy, I will provide one on request. This policy is effective as from 1 September 2019.
- For the purpose of Data protection Act 1998 and the General Data Protection regulation 2016, Debbie Russell is the data controller of Debbie Russell Counselling.
Your data
Information I collect: I store your name, telephone number and email address and other personal information you provide me with. I may also write and keep brief notes of sessions.
How I store information: I keep brief notes recording the themes of counselling sessions. These are stored locked away and securely destroyed 5 years after your therapy sessions end, unless agreed otherwise. Your telephone number will be stored in my mobile phone under your first name and surname initial and will only be kept until your sessions with me end, at which point it will be deleted, unless otherwise agreed. Any emails, texts or other e communications will be kept for a month after receipt and then destroyed, unless they form part of your notes. Your appointment details and fees record will be kept for 7 years as they are required for income tax purposes.
How I use this information: I will use your contact details to engage in my work with you according to my contract with you, including contacting you about appointments, keeping records of contact communications, running and maintaining my business. I may also keep brief notes of therapy sessions in order to support me in offering you counselling. I will not use contact information or your session notes for any other purpose other than in this notice and my contract. If for any reason I am asked to provide a report of sessions eg. at your request , this will be sent to you, password protected, for your approval. It will be stored with your other records and destroyed securely after 5 years.
Your rights to access to information: You have the right to ask to see any information I hold about you. Unless prevented from doing so by legal reasons, I will provide this information to you within a month of your request. You also have the right to ask me to change any information about you that is incorrect and to ask me to delete any information that I hold about you. I will do this except for any information I need to hold for legal purposes such as my business tax purposes.
Complaints: If you wish to complain about how I hold your data in anyway then, in the first instance, please contact Debbie Russell who is the data controller of Debbie Russell Counselling at debbierussellcounselling@gmail.com. If you have any further concerns which are not addressed then you should contact the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) at https://ico.org.uk or on 0303 123 1113.
Breaches: I will report any data breach to the ICO, to NCS and to yourself, within 72 hours if it becomes apparent that any data is stolen. My data protection registration reference is ZA546948.
Contact: If you wish to contact me with questions, concern, complaints or a request for information please contact me, Debbie Russell:
Tel: 07946 386118
Email: debbierussellcounselling@gmail.com
Accredited Registrant Member, MNCS (Accred)