Data Protection & Privacy

Trust, security and confidentially can be important aspects of therapy, because of this, any details concerning my clients and their session material is kept confidential and protected, as detailed in my privacy policy on this page. For the benefit of my clients and my practice as a counsellor I practice in full accordance with the following regulations:

 

• BACP's Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions 2018

• The Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR) 2003

• The Data Protection Act 2018

• General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

 

 

Privacy Policy Statement

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I, Matthew Salter (the ‘data controller’, referred to below as, “me”, "myself" or “I”) is committed to protecting your privacy. Please read carefully the following in order to learn more about my privacy policy and my information collection and use practices. "You", as used below, may refer to both you as an individual, my clients in general, or anyone reading this statement to whom it is relevant.

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This policy only applies to data collected by me. Third parties, which in a professional capacity may be linked to me, are not covered by this policy. If you, having read this statement, have any queries concerning your personal information or any questions on my use of your information, please contact me via email at m.salter33@outlook.com. By contacting me you recognise you have consented to my processing of your information under the terms of this policy.

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Collected Information

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Requesting access to my services or inquiring into my services can be done via email or phone through the details I provide, or in person. These processes involve providing me with your name, your email address(es) and phone number(s). In order to arrange for you to receive my services, I may also request information on your availability, therapeutic issues, and other details I deem relevant to considering your request. This information is collected to determine whether both you and myself are similarly available for you to receive the counselling service I offer, and for me to determine whether the service I offer is in any way unsuitable to your needs.

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During your counselling session(s) I may ask you to provide information concerning your personal, social, financial and medical circumstances. This too is information collected to determine whether the service I offer is in any way unsuitable to your needs and for me to manage the service I provide to you. I want to ensure you receive the service best for you.

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To ensure I am providing you with the highest level of service I can, I may sometimes keep notes on your sessions. These are brief and include such things as summaries to the material you have brought to your sessions, as well as my own professional observations and interpretations to that material. As you continue with your sessions, this information may be added to and amended as a means of reflecting any progression in your counselling.

 

Use of Information

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The information you provide me is used so that I may provide my counselling service to you. As mentioned above, it is also to determine both your availability to receive my counselling service and my availability to provide it, as well as determine whether the service I offer is in any way unsuitable to your needs, and for me to manage the service I provide to you.

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The information is used so I may contact you solely in regard to the services I provide as a means of administering my service, including the (re)arrangement of sessions and the handling of financial matters. I may also use the information to improve my service to ensure that it is provided in the most effective manner for you and for myself.

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The information you provide is kept fully confidential, but is also used to manage my administrative, professional and legal obligations to the professional associations that I am a member of and subject to as a counsellor providing this service, and to the law.

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How Your Information is Shared

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I will not share any information about you with other people or organisations, except in the following circumstances:

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I may share your information with others in a professional capacity, whom you have requested, and we both agree I may contact if necessary.

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I may share your information with the relevant authorities if I have reason to believe that this may prevent serious harm being caused to you or another person.

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I may share your information where I am required to by law or by the regulations and other rules to which I am subject.

Sharing your information may have a detrimental effect on the therapeutic process and the counselling you receive from me. It is therefore something I avoid where at all possible, preferring to first explore the issue with you as part of the counselling service you receive.

 

How Your Information is Kept Secure

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All information you provide to me is stored as securely as possible. Any paper-based information is kept secure within my own professional premises, this location is securely locked when I am not there and is only accessible by me.

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Contact details used for contact between you and myself that are kept electronically are also appropriately secured. Phone numbers are stored on a SIM card that only I use solely for my professional services, in a separate phone that only I use solely for my professional services, that is itself protected from access from all but myself by a PIN code.

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Email addresses used for correspondence between you and myself are stored within a password protected Outlook account. This account is accessed only on private internet connections, from devices only I own and know are protected from viruses and other online security threats, in as much as those cyber-security products and features are capable. Similarly, to myself, these third party services are subject to laws and regulations such as The Data Protection Act and GDPR, ensuring any information is kept securely protected, subject to their own privacy policies.

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The transmission of information via the internet may never be completely secure. Although I will do my best to protect your information, I cannot guarantee the security of your data transmitted to me via email. Any transmission is at your own risk, and I am not responsible for any information held on devices that you or others possess.

 

Your Rights

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You have the right to ask me to provide a copy of your own, and only your own, information held by me in my records. You also have the right to request me to correct any inaccuracies in your personally identifiable information.

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Details regarding your counselling are kept to ensure I am providing you with a high level of service, such as my private notes, may not be changed at your request as these are my own professional observations and interpretations to the material you have presented during your sessions.

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You may withdraw your consent for myself to hold and process any of your information, and only your information, at any time. By doing this while actively receiving counselling services from me, you agree to bring your counselling to end, and to paying any outstanding fees I am owed by you for the service you have received from me. You can withdraw your consent by submitting a formal written request to me directly, either via email or in paper form.

 

Use of Cookies

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I do not use cookies to collect any personal information on my website, or to share your browsing behaviour with any third party with the exception of Google Analytics. This is a service that I, like many others, may use to collect generic, anonymous data from all visitors to monitor how my website is used and accessed. This data is shared with Google in return for the service they provide.

 

Changes to This Privacy Policy Statement

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I may amend this policy from time to time with the intention to ensure I am providing a service in accordance with current legislation. It also may be amended to ensure both you and I are suitably protected or to clarify sections of it. I make every effort to provide you with the highest level of service I can. Information on amendments to this privacy policy statement can be provided to you if necessary.