General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) forms part of the Data Protection Act (2018) and provides greater transparency over your personal data, such as data used to identify you. 

How your data is used: 

• Name: Used to address you, to ensure confidentiality, client notes are assigned a code.
• Email: Used to confirm appointments and for general communication. 
• Phone number: Used to confirm appointments and for general communication. 
• Address: Used to contact you in writing. 
• GPs address: Used to contact your GP if required. 
• Emergency contact number: This may be used in the event that a planned session has been missed, and the Counsellor has been unable to contact you by other means. This number may be called within 7 days of the missed session at the discretion of the Counsellor. 
• Clinical notes: Brief notes are made at the end of each session.
• Assessment information: This information is taken during the initial session/assessment. The information is used to assess any risk, take note of any client goals and to help the Counsellor assess what support you are looking for. 

How your data is stored: 

• Your contact details, client agreement, notes and privacy statement are all stored securely.

Therapeutic Executor:

• As outlined in the Client agreement, I have a therapeutic executor, who is a registered therapist. In the event of my unexpected incapacity, illness, or death, the Executor would gain access to clients' securely stored names and numbers. The Executor will only call to provide clients with signposting to other mental health services.

Retention:

• Your information will not be shared with any third party, and you have the right to remove or update personal contact information at any time. 
• Should you want to update or delete contact information, please get in touch via: info@authentic-connections.co.uk
• Your client agreement, privacy statement, anonymised notes and first session assessment form  will be retained for seven years after our final session (your contact details will be removed from these forms after five years or sooner at your request). After seven years, all information will be removed and disposed of securely.