Privacy Policy

Who we are

Our website address is: https://cbtcounsellor.com.

What personal data we collect and why we collect it

Comments

When visitors leave comments on the site we collect the data shown in the comments form, and also the visitor’s IP address and browser user agent string to help spam detection.

An anonymized string created from your email address (also called a hash) may be provided to the Gravatar service to see if you are using it. The Gravatar service privacy policy is available here: https://automattic.com/privacy/. After approval of your comment, your profile picture is visible to the public in the context of your comment.

Media

If you upload images to the website, you should avoid uploading images with embedded location data (EXIF GPS) included. Visitors to the website can download and extract any location data from images on the website.

Contact forms

Cookies

If you leave a comment on our site you may opt-in to saving your name, email address and website in cookies. These are for your convenience so that you do not have to fill in your details again when you leave another comment. These cookies will last for one year.

If you have an account and you log in to this site, we will set a temporary cookie to determine if your browser accepts cookies. This cookie contains no personal data and is discarded when you close your browser.

When you log in, we will also set up several cookies to save your login information and your screen display choices. Login cookies last for two days, and screen options cookies last for a year. If you select “Remember Me”, your login will persist for two weeks. If you log out of your account, the login cookies will be removed.

If you edit or publish an article, an additional cookie will be saved in your browser. This cookie includes no personal data and simply indicates the post ID of the article you just edited. It expires after 1 day.

Embedded content from other websites

Articles on this site may include embedded content (e.g. videos, images, articles, etc.). Embedded content from other websites behaves in the exact same way as if the visitor has visited the other website.

These websites may collect data about you, use cookies, embed additional third-party tracking, and monitor your interaction with that embedded content, including tracking your interaction with the embedded content if you have an account and are logged in to that website.

Analytics

Who we share your data with

How long we retain your data

If you leave a comment, the comment and its metadata are retained indefinitely. This is so we can recognize and approve any follow-up comments automatically instead of holding them in a moderation queue.

For users that register on our website (if any), we also store the personal information they provide in their user profile. All users can see, edit, or delete their personal information at any time (except they cannot change their username). Website administrators can also see and edit that information.

What rights you have over your data

If you have an account on this site, or have left comments, you can request to receive an exported file of the personal data we hold about you, including any data you have provided to us. You can also request that we erase any personal data we hold about you. This does not include any data we are obliged to keep for administrative, legal, or security purposes.

Where we send your data

Visitor comments may be checked through an automated spam detection service.

Your contact information

gdpr@cbtcounsellor.com

02080900944

Additional information

Confidentiality and Privacy Policy

The law protects the relationship between a client and a counsellor or psychotherapist, and information cannot be disclosed without written permission.  There are exceptions, and these include suspected child abuse or dependent adult or elder abuse, threat of serious bodily harm to another person/s, serious intention to cause harm to oneself despite effort to help.

Data will be stored in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GPDR EU 2016/679).

Mostly, client information is recorded in paper form.  This is not transferred to an electronic system and will not be shared with third parties unless it is with the written permission of the client.  If a client is referred by a Consultant Psychiatrist or a Medical Professional, then a progress report may be provided.  If a client is paying via their insurance policy, the Insurance Company may require a clinical assessment before approving sessions or may require a progress report.  The Consultant Psychiatrist, Medical Professionals and Insurance Companies are also bound by GDPR law and confidentiality.

Data collected include: Name, Address, Date of Birth, Profession, Telephone Number, Medical and Psychiatric Information, Previous Therapies, Problem/s, Goals, Priority Problem, Emotional Assessment of Problem, Specific Trigger Events, Assessment of Beliefs, Financial Details e.g. Debit or Credit Card Number, Agreed Homework.

Clinical supervision is a requirement by the BABCP and other accrediting bodies.  On occasions client work is discussed with a Professional Clinical Supervisor without revealing the name of the client.  The Clinical Supervisor is also bound by law to maintain confidentiality.

Only relevant information is taken, and these notes are held securely.

Electronic systems holding client information such as an assessment or a progress report are password protected and secure.  Encrypted emails are used.

Clients have the:

  • the right to be informed;
  • the right of access;
  • the right to rectification;
  • the right to erasure;
  • the right to restrict processing;
  • the right to data portability;
  • the right to object; and
  • the right not to be subject to automated decision-making.

Client notes are kept for 5 years and then safely destroyed.  Any financial details are destroyed when therapy ends.

Legal Limitations

  • If a client discloses involvement in, or information about acts of terrorism, the therapist is legally obliged to inform the authorities, and cannot inform the client of their intention to do so.
  • If a client gives the therapist information regarding money laundering or drug-trafficking offences, the therapist is obliged to pass this information to the police.
  • A judge or coroner can legally order the release of client notes.

    Other Common Limitations

  • Supervision– Most professional bodies require that counsellors undertake regular, ongoing supervision of their client work. This is anonymised, and the focus of supervision is on the therapist’s work rather than the client’s material. Nevertheless, this is a limitation of confidentiality which the client needs to be made aware of.
  • Risk of harm to self– If a client is expressing suicidal thoughts and intent, the counsellor will have policies to follow regarding when and how confidentiality will be broken. It is important to be aware of policies within any organisation you are working in, and act in accordance with them.

It is important to note that a therapist will not automatically break confidentiality if a client reports thoughts about suicide. Typically, a client needs to state an intent to act on those thoughts.  

  • Risk of harm to others– Most organisations and therapists in private practice have policies in place designed to protect children and vulnerable people. Although there is no legal obligation to report abuse, safeguarding is an ethical responsibility, and, in some cases, confidentiality will have to be broken. In circumstances where there may be an increased risk to a child or vulnerable person, clients are unlikely to be informed that the therapist intends to break confidentiality.

 

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