In 2018 the regulations surrounding the way that businesses handle your personal information changed. The change is know as General Data Protection Regulation which is more commonly known and referred too as GDPR. This subject is taken seriously at ClearView Counselling & Psychotherapy, and therefore I want clients accessing ClearView to be aware how their personal information is handled, stored and how long it is kept for. To make the reading of this complicated subject easier, I have broken this page down into a simple, frequently asked questions format.
Where & How is my information stored?
Session notes and records are held both in paper format and also scanned electronic copies.
Any hand written notes or paper produced during time spent together as a result of counselling sessions or otherwise is immediately scanned after the session has taken place and held in encrypted format on an external hard drive which can only accessed through my password protected computer to which only I (Adam Digby) have access.
All files are also individually password protected and only accessible by me. Paper copies are then shredded after scanning.
how long is my information kept for?
All notes and personal information gathered during session work together are held following our final session for a period of 7years and then destroyed securely by being deleted. This is a requirement under ANJ Consultancy Ltd (parent company of ClearView) insurance policy.
During active engagement with ClearView some of your details - such as your first name, phone number, text messages between the two of us - are held on the practice mobile phone. This is also password protected with access restricted to only people directly working with you as required. Your information in this format is also anonymised to further protect your confidentiality. Emails and written correspondence form part of your records and are saved or scanned and held securely as detailed in the section above.
can i see my records and the information you hold on me?
Put simply. Yes.
If you wish to view your records during our session work, or any time after our sessions together (up to 7years) you can make a written freedom of information request to see your records. A response will be given within 20 calendar days of receiving the request and a charge maybe applied under these circumstances to cover the administration costs of taking your notes out of storage &/or preparing them for your review.
can anyone else see my information or my records?
Not without your permission.
If the practice receives a request from a third party to view your notes, we shall first contact you and discuss the request. I can also take instruction from you in writing to disclose parts or all of your notes to named individuals. We will always discuss these details as they arise. The only acceptation to this is if a court order mandates the disclosure of your records, or your information is formally requested by the police. In such circumstances the practice will take legal advice before proceeding to ensure that every step is taken to maintain your service confidence within the boundaries of the law.
Areas of work & specialisation
Stress & Anxiety
Stress & Depression & Mood related concerns
Adolescent & Young People (16+y.o.a.)
Counselling for Men & Male Mental Health
Self Harm
Poor or Negative Coping
Personality Disorder (Emotionally Unstable & Borderline Types)
Long Term & Short Term work
(ClearView Counselling & Psychotherapy is a trading name of ANJ Consultancy Ltd)