Secure Storage

We make every effort to keep all information confidential. Your personal information is stored securely and confidentially in a lockable filing cabinet, or on a secure online space. The information stored includes; contract, referral form and some written notes from therapy sessions. The information stored is kept to a minimum and where possible, names are removed to remove the possibility of identification. Information is stored for 3 years, as legally required. After that, all information is erased/destroyed.

Sharing Information

Information will be shared with the counsellor you are assigned to, but the information will continue to be stored safely and only the named counsellor and management will have access to your information.

For contracted work, some personal information will be shared with the third party who are referring the individual to the counselling service. This third party will be known to the client involved, and will be a school or service that is already being accessed by the individual. Where required, the personal information being held will be stored in lockable cabinets within the organisation.

Private clients records will be stored securely at my home office in lockable cabinets. Again, this will be kept to a minimum and will be coded, where possible, to remove the possibility of identification.

Legal Exceptions

The information disclosed during the course of counselling is confidential. However there are legal exceptions. For example, if you reveal a threat of harm, or there is a threat of harm to self or to others, if you reveal knowledge of terrorist activity or if a court order is received and a legal obligation arises. Counselling notes can be requested by court order.

Right to Access  

You have the right to ask for a copy of your personal information, free of charge, in an electronic

or paper format. You also have the right to ask me to amend or change any incorrect information about you.

Right to be Forgotten

You have the right to ask me to erase any information that I hold about you. This includes your personal information that is no longer relevant to original purposes, or if you wish to withdraw consent.

In all cases and when considering such requests, these rights are obligatory unless it’s information that I have a legal obligation to retain.

Data Portability

As the client, you have the right to receive your personal information which you previously

provided, and also have the right to transfer that information to another party. For the purposes of the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) 2018, the data “controller” is Karina Marchant of Karina Marchant Counselling & Wellbeing.

This Privacy Policy lets you know how your personal information is being collected, stored, and shared and this is line with EU/UK General Data Protection Regulations.