Carol Wheatle is registered with the Information Commissioner’s Register of Data Controllers (ICO) and as such is required to be transparent about how and why personal data is gathered, recorded, stored, how and when it is deleted.
Personal information I will collect includes but is not limited to
• Name.
• Gender (or preferred identity).
• Age.
• Date of Birth.
• Relationships & Progeny
• Finances
• Faith
• Occupation
• Address
• Telephone/SMS number (plus permission to send SMS & leave voice message).
• Email address. (plus permission to send messages)
• Counselling History.
• Medical conditions relevant to counselling. Including doctors address or any other relevant medical party
• Prescribed medication/none prescribed medication
• Difficulties.
• Session summary.
Under 16 parental/guardian consent
If you are a child or young person under the age of 16 you must have the consent of your parent, guardian or carer in order to contact Genesis Counselling via the website or by phone, which means I cannot reply to any messages if I have not received parental/guardian consent.
How I will store your personal information and storage methods
Paper: written notes.
Smartphone: I will store information in on a password protected smartphone.
Email/messages: your email/sms communication will be held
Electronic correspondence will also be held by the corresponding app (Gmail, Phone's SMS, WhatsApp etc).
Information held in paper format
Contact Sheet
Contract/Agreement
Assessment Record
Brief Session Notes
Client Code (linking documents)
Information held in Electronic format
Contact name & telephone
Email/SMS/WhatsApp communication
How I may use/share your personal information
Aside from the generic details, the personal information you provide helps me to establish your perception of the situation, how it is affecting you and to discuss what you would like to achieve from sessions.
Consultation
I seek a monthly consultation with another therapist qualified in this process. The consultation process is for my practice (rather than seeking instruction on working with you). In order to protect your privacy, my consultant will not know you personally nor professionally. I will refer to you by your first name during my consultation with my Supervisor when it's helpful to my professional processes.
Therapeutic Will
Your name and contact details will be shared with my Therapeutic Executor. This is so that you will be contacted on the event of my death, should you still be in therapy with me.
Emergencies
If your health is in jeopardy (provided I have your consent) I may share your contact information with an emergency healthcare service (e.g. Mental Health Crisis Team). If I have become aware of your intent to cause harm to another person/organisation (e.g. terrorism), the law may require that I inform an authority without seeking your permission. In such a situation, the law may require that I share your personal information without your knowledge (known as: whistle-blowing).
Erasing your information
When we have finished working together, I will erase electronic copies of your information & correspondence within one month. I will hold onto your written information for up to three years past the end of our working together. This is so that I have a reference of our work in situations such as you returning to counselling in the future. After this time has passed, I will shred the written information.
Your contact details such as telephone numbers and email addresses may be stored electronically and deleted two months after our last session.
Any emails you send will not be electronically retained and either deleted or printed and placed in your records within one month of sending.
All text messages are deleted within two months of sending or receiving.
Your telephone number may be stored in a mobile phone and deleted two months from our last session.
Controlling your personal information
You may choose to restrict the collection or use of your personal information in the following way:
I will not sell, distribute or lease your personal information to third parties unless she has your permission or is required by law to do so.
You may request details of personal information that I hold about you under the General Data Protection Regulation 2018 (GDPR). If you would like a copy of any stored personal information, please write to Genesis Counselling, PO Box 7114, Kiln Farm, Milton Keynes, Bucks MK8 0DE
I aim to keep all personal data up to date, if you believe that any information I am holding about you is incorrect or incomplete, please write to ml as soon as possible, at the above address and I will promptly correct any information found to be incorrect.
Your Rights
• You have the following rights...
• To be informed what information I hold (i.e. this document).
• To see the information I hold about you (free of charge for the initial request given after one month written request).
• To rectify any inaccurate or incomplete personal information.
• To withdraw consent to me using your personal information.
• To request your personal information be erased (though I can decline whilst the information is needed for me to practice lawfully & competently).
