Data Privacy Notice

Maragal Counselling respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal data and being transparent about how it’s collected and used. This Privacy Notice sets out how Maragal Counselling gathers and processes personal data received from individuals and organisations to ensure the safe and effective running of its counselling service. I am registered with the Information Commissioner's Office. All personal data provided to the service through any means (verbal, written, in electronic form, or by use of its website) will be held and processed in line with the the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP) guidelines.

Legal Basis for Processing Personal Data

Personal data is processed for the purpose for which you have given consent; to provide the counselling service you have requested from Maragal Counselling; to meet legal obligations; to meet the contractual obligations between counsellor and client; and to safeguard the safety (vital interests) of individuals.

Collecting Personal Data

Personal data is collected via:

Requests for counselling: contact to request counselling services can be done online, on paper or by phone. Data collected will consist of your name, date of birth, contact information, GP details, availability and may include information about your counselling needs.

Telephone assessment: Data collected during the telephone assessment will consist of current personal, social, professional, financial, medical circumstances, your background, family history and any challenges that are affecting you. This information is used to help determine the suitability of Maragal Counselling providing a counselling service for you. If suitability is confirmed, you will be assigned a unique client reference number.

Contract between the counsellor and the client: Data collected will include your name and signature.

Session notes: Data collected in session notes are a brief factual record of the counselling work. Information provided by you may be sensitive personal information, categorised as ‘special category data’; this is processed for the provision of counselling. Special category data is processed and kept in line with GDPR and BACP guidelines.

Use of Personal Data

The personal data collected is used for:

The provision and administration of counselling services.
Request feedback on the counselling service received by clients.
Providing and/or linking clients to services.
Notifying clients of any appointment and/or service changes.
Performing contracts.
Complying with legal requirements.
Keeping a record of the counselling relationship with clients.

Sharing Personal Data

Personal data may be disclosed when it is required to assist with a lawful investigation or to comply with the law. Requests for information from third parties will be denied, except where disclosure is required by law or there is significant risk of harm to the client or others, or in the case of concern about the safety of a child or vulnerable adult.

It is a professional requirement for counsellors to review their work with a supervisor, who is also bound by confidentiality.

In the event of my serious incapacity or death, an appointed mental health professional will access client details to contact and advise them of events. This individual is bound by professional confidentiality.

Protecting Personal Data

Personal data is kept in secure files or IT systems. All paper forms and correspondence are kept in locked filing cabinets on my premises. All electronic records are stored on a computer, access to which requires password-protected authentication, and which has anti-virus software installed; or by reputable service providers using secure encrypted Internet ‘cloud’ technology. Personal data may be held on a smartphone, access to which is password-protected or requires face authentication.

Identifiable personal information is kept separately from session notes and other descriptive material.

The transmission of information via the Internet is never completely secure. Every attempt is made to best to protect your data by using industry-standard applications, protocols and encryption. Security of data transmitted via email cannot be guaranteed, including forms completed on the website which are transmitted by email; any transmission is at your own risk, and it is recommended that you do not send any sensitive personal data by electronic means, unless it has been encrypted. Once your information has been received, strict procedures are used to try to prevent unauthorised access.

Retaining Personal Data

Client notes and other documentation containing personal data will be kept for a maximum of 6 years from the date counselling ended, and will be kept no longer than is necessary for the purpose(s) it was collected. You can choose to withdraw your consent at any time, but some personal data may need to be retained for legal, contractual or regulatory reasons.

Your Rights

You have the right to request access to your information and have the right to request that your personal data be corrected and/or erased. Please contact info@maragalcounselling.com if you would like to submit a request.

This Privacy Notice may be edited from time to time and clients will be notified in writing of any substantial changes.