Privacy Policy

Privacy Policy – General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

In order to provide you with the right service for you Avenues will need to collect certain data and information about you. This Privacy Policy outlines how this data and information is used, stored and shared. This relates to the use of emails and texts in regards to contacting you about our services and any other information you have provided us with. We are committed to keeping all this information safe and managing it under data protection laws. We are registered with the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) as a data controller under registration number ZA228756, Sehar Khan Trading as SK Psychotherapy & Counselling.

WHAT INFORMATION WE COLLECT

Your name and address 

Your contact number and email address

Payment Information

Emails and texts between us

Referral information (from Insurance Companies/EAP’s or any other external referral)

HOW YOUR INFORMATION IS COLLECTED

We will only collect information directly from you. We do not collect data in any other way. 

HOW YOUR INFORMATION IS USED AND PROCESSED

After initial contact to provide you with the best service for you, your information could be used for the following purposes:

· To identify you when you contact us

· To contact you to make, confirm, cancel or reschedule appointments

· To respond to queries or complaints that you may raise

· If we have a legal obligation to use or disclose information about you, for instance, where ordered by a court or regulatory authority

· For clinical supervision where a first name would be used. 

· For any other purpose which you agree

We will not disclose your information to any third party except in accordance with this Privacy Policy.

HOW YOUR INFORMATION IS STORED & WHO HAS ACCESS TO IT

Your information will never be disclosed to any third party for their own purposes. 

It is a requirement that psychotherapy and counselling professionals keep written records of sessions. All records are anonymised and kept securely in a locked cabinet or on a password protected computer, no personal details are kept with these records. 

Any text messages are kept on a password protected phone. Any emails are kept on a password protected computer. 

WHY THIS INFORMATION IS COLLECTED

Your personal details are kept as part of record keeping to identify the best service available for your individual needs. We also need to comply with the requirements of our Professional Body and Insurance Company. 

HOW LONG IS THIS INFORMATION KEPT

Your data is kept for the duration of our work together. When our work has finished all data will be destroyed or deleted. Session notes will be kept for 7 years as per the requirements of insurance. 

WHAT YOUR RIGHTS ARE

We want to ensure that you are aware of your rights about the data and information we hold about you.

You have the right to:

· be told how your personal information is used

· request a copy of the information that is held about you

· update or amend any incorrect information about you

· change your communication preferences at any time

· to have your records erased (if there are legal issues around this we may have to decline this request on the lawful basis of legitimate interests)

· request that your personal information can be transferred to a third party

· raise any concern or complaint about the way in which your information is being used.

If you wish to find out more about these rights, have any questions about this Privacy Policy, have anything you’d like to correct or you’d like to request of copy of the information we hold about you, please contact:

admin@avenuesbexleyheath.co.uk