Why I Keep Client Records
As a professional counsellor and psychotherapist, I maintain confidential client records to ensure safe, ethical and effective therapeutic practice.
These records help me monitor your therapeutic progress, maintain continuity of care, review our work together, assess and manage potential risks, and fulfil my professional, ethical and legal responsibilities.
Your records may include personal information, initial assessments, relevant clinical information, session notes, risk assessments and agreed therapeutic goals.
All records are stored securely and handled in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR), the Data Protection Act 2018 and applicable professional ethical standards.
Your information will remain confidential, except where disclosure is legally required or necessary for safeguarding or serious safety concerns. Please discuss this further with me if you would like to know more.
Records are retained only for as long as necessary under my practice’s retention policy and applicable requirements.
I am the only counsellor at Patchouli Therapy Ltd.
You have the right to request access to your personal information and to understand how it is collected, used, stored and protected. Please note that an administration fee applies to retrieving your personal information after we have finished working together or the data is archived.
Protection of Your Personal Information
At Patchouli Therapy, your privacy and confidentiality are taken seriously.
Your personal information will never be sold, rented, traded or shared with third parties for marketing or commercial purposes.
Your personal details are collected and used solely for the purposes of providing professional counselling and psychotherapy services, maintaining appropriate clinical records, and fulfilling legal and ethical obligations.
Your information will not be disclosed outside the practice without an appropriate lawful basis. Limited disclosure may be necessary where required by law, for safeguarding purposes, or where there is a serious risk of harm. Trusted service providers may also process information securely on behalf of the practice where necessary.
All personal information is handled in accordance with the UK GDPR, ICO and Data Protection Act 2018, with appropriate measures in place to protect your privacy and confidentiality.
Confidentiality and Data Archiving Disclaimer
Please note: We will securely archive your personal information, counselling records, and relevant documentation once our therapeutic relationship ends or after three consecutive months of inactivity without further appointments or communication. All archived information will remain confidential and securely stored in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR), the Data Protection Act 2018, and applicable professional and ethical guidelines. Archiving does not mean we will delete your records. Records will be retained for the period specified in our Privacy Policy and securely disposed of when no longer required. If you wish to resume therapy after this period, you may need a new assessment or updated registration. I am a UK-based therapist practising in accordance with UK professional, ethical and legal standards. If you are accessing my therapeutic services from outside the United Kingdom, please be aware that UK professional regulations, governing bodies, complaints procedures and legal protections may not apply or be enforceable in your country of residence. Your rights and access to professional support, regulatory oversight or complaints procedures may differ depending on your location and the laws governing therapeutic services in your country.