Autumn Leaves is registered as a data controller with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). Registration number ZB302211.

Your privacy will be protected in line with the GDPR guidance and all data will be kept, used and disposed of in line with the GDPR regulations. 

Documents containing personal information are filed and kept in a secure and locked filing cabinet. 
When personal information is no longer required, and there is no legal requirement to retain the information, electronic data  will be deleted,  and paper copies securely destroyed. Personal information will be kept for 7 years, then destroyed. 

Psychotherapy is a private and confidential form of help. I hold information about each of my clients and the psychotherapy they receive in confidence. This means that I will not normally give your name or any information about you to anyone outside the organisation. However, there are exceptional cases where I might ethically or legally have to give information to relevant authorities, for example if I had reason to believe that someone, especially a child or adult, is at serious risk of harm or to prevent a miscarriage of justice. I will discuss any proposed disclosure with you unless I believe that to do so could increase the level of risk to you or to someone else. There are other supervening legal and ethical obligations, such as my duty to comply with criminal investigations when I am legally obliged to do so.

As a fully accredited member of UKCP, I adhere to their ethical framework and guidelines to ensure that you receive a professional and high quality service.

Reports and client records:
Occasionally, I am asked by my clients or by external agencies such as Social Services or the NHS to write reports on the progress made in psychotherapy. I am not normally in a position to do this because of my duty of confidentiality. However, in some circumstances, and on receipt of written consent from the client(s) who attended psychotherapy, I can provide brief information about the dates and number of sessions attended.

For the purpose of providing treatment upon starting therapy, basic personal information will be collected for contact and identification reasons. During our therapy meetings, an assessment of you/your child’s psychological health will be completed, and notes will be taken during sessions. These will include personal and sensitive details about your life. The assessment and notes are used solely for the delivery of a therapy service to you and kept in your file and in my own securely locked filing cabinet.