Privacy

Our Privacy Policy

Your privacy is very important to me. I meet the high standard for data privacy in line with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) which came into effect on the 25th May 2018. 
The purpose of GDPR is to provide a set of standardised data protection laws across all EU member countries. This document sets out how Lynda Goudie Counselling, complies with these laws.

Data Control

Lynda Goudie Counselling offers private counselling services which means that I have access to data provided by individuals who contact me to enquire about and go on to receive counselling services. In reality, this encompasses the personal information needed to offer services including personal details, bank details and emails between clients and Lynda Goudie Counselling. 

Personal Data

I may process the following personal data from my clients:

a. Personal data: basic contact information: name, address, email, contact number, bank details, video conference ID (if online counselling), and GP contact details.

b. Sensitive personal data: Counselling records (counselling notes, letters, reports etc.) 

The lawful basis for processing personal data

Our professional registration requires us to keep information about our clients and the work that we do.
We cannot offer you services unless you allow us to keep data about you and our work together. We will only use your personal information to provide the services you have requested from Lynda Goudie Counselling.
I have what is known as a legitimate interest for keeping data. My company is registered with the Information Commissioners Office (ICO) to do so. I follow the rules set down by our professional regulator (The BACP).
How long Lynda Goudie Counselling stores your personal information
We will only store your personal information for as long as it is required. Basic contact information that may be held on my mobile phone for the purpose of therapy is deleted within 6 months of the end of therapy.
The sensitive personal data defined above is stored for a period of 7 years after the end of therapy. After this time, this data is deleted at the end of each calendar year.
Who Lynda Goudie Counselling might share personal information with
Lynda Goudie Counselling holds information about each of our clients and the therapy they receive in confidence. This means that we will not normally share your personal information with anyone else. However, there are exceptions to this when there may be need for liaison with other parties: 

  • If you are referred by your health insurance provider, or otherwise claiming through a health insurance policy to fund therapy, then we will share appointment schedules with that organisation for billing. We may also share information with that organisation to provide treatment updates.
  • In cases where treatment has been instructed by a solicitor, relevant clinical information from therapy records will be shared with legal services as required and with your written consent. 

In exceptional circumstances, we might need to share personal information with relevant authorities:

  • When there is need-to-know information for another health provider, such as your GP.
  • When disclosure is in the public interest, to prevent a miscarriage of justice or where there is a legal duty, for example a Court Order.
  • When the information concerns risk of harm to the client, or risk of harm to another adult or a child. We will discuss such a proposed disclosure with you unless we believe that to do so could increase the level of risk to you or to someone else. 

How Lynda Goudie Counselling ensures the security of personal information

Personal information is minimised in phone and email communication. Email applications use private (SSL) settings, which encrypts email traffic so that it cannot be read at any point between our computing devices and my mail server. We will never use open or unsecure Wi-Fi networks to send any personal data.
Personal information is also stored on our private work computer hard drives which are password protected. Individual electronic files and documents that contain personal information are always password protected. Malware and antivirus protection are installed on all computing devices. Mobile devices are protected with a passcode/fingerprint scanner, mobile security and antivirus software. 
Your right to access the personal information Lynda Goudie Counselling holds about you

  • You have a right to access the information Lynda Goudie Counselling holds about you.
  • Lynda Goudie Counselling will usually share this with you within 30 days of receiving a request.
  • There may be an admin fee for supplying the information to you.
  • We may request further evidence from you to check your identity.
  • A copy of your personal information will usually be sent to you in a permanent form (that is, a printed copy).
  • You have a right to get your personal information corrected if it is inaccurate.
  • If you think that we haven’t complied with data protection laws, can lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ico.org.uk)

Therapy records are retained for a period of 5 years in accordance with the guidelines
These terms and conditions will be emailed to you prior to the start of therapy. Please do not hesitate to ask any questions you may have about how Lynda Goudie Counselling hold your data.
By engaging in counselling services with Lynda Goudie Counselling, you are acknowledging and agreeing with the above privacy policy.