Perhaps the biggest tragedy of our lives is that freedom is possible, yet we can pass our years trapped in the same old patterns. We want to love other people without holding back, to feel authentic, to breathe in the beauty around us. Yet each day we listen to inner voices that keep our life small

In line with European General Data Protection Regulations, and as a professional registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office, I am obliged to share the following information regarding how your data is protected: 

What information do I hold? As a counsellor in private practice, I may collect any of the following information: your contact details, date of birth, GP surgery address and names of any current medication. Where necessary, to act in your best interests, I may keep written information that is sensitive in nature, such as health information and your personal history.

What I do with your information? The information you give me when we contract to work together is stored securely (in a locked space) as a paper record. First names, phone numbers and appointments are stored securely on my phone, which is pin code protected, as is any SMS or call history. Email correspondence is held on my email account. Both this and my computer are password-protected. Your information is destroyed three years after our work together has come to an end. I will use your phone number, email or postal address to contact you regarding appointments and to reply to you if you make contact with me. I will never share your data with a third party unless obliged to by a court of law. In this unlikely event I would aim to inform you first wherever possible. A written anonymous record of our work together is kept in order to assist me in providing you with the services that you request from me. 

 · Everything that you share with me will be held in the highest confidence and will stay between the two of us. Exceptions to this are as follow:

◦ If I believe that your welfare or that of someone else could be at serious risk or there is a disclosure of terrorism, money laundering, drug trafficking or any child protection issue. I may also consider breaking confidentiality if you tell me of other illegal acts. I will discuss this with you at the time of any such disclosure.

◦ In consulting with my counselling supervisor. It is an ethical requirement that I have regular counselling supervision. This relationship, however, is also confidential. Your full name will never be used and your identity will be protected.

I may use some of our material in my written work. However, I will use a pseudonym and will never disclose any identifying features. 

However, when we start to work together, I will check that you are OK with this as there is always an option to opt out.