Privacy Policy

The data controller is Inga Burbule (‘I’, ‘me’ or ‘my’). I operate https://www.existentialpsychotherapist.co.uk (the ‘Site’).

The type of personal information I collect

I currently collect and process the following information:

Personal identifiers, contacts, characteristics, and any communication you send to me through text, email, social media messaging, or posting (for example, name, contact details,
appointment time, etc.).
Contracts and agreements signed by you.
GP and next of kin details.
Anonymised counselling notes.
Site Log Data. Like many site operators, I collect information that your browser sends whenever you visit my Site (‘Log Data’). This Log Data may include information such as your computer’s Internet Protocol (‘IP’) address, browser type, browser version, the pages of my Site that you visit, the time and date of your visit, the time spent on those pages, and other statistics.
Cookies. Cookies are files with a small amount of data, which may include a unique anonymous identifier. Cookies are sent to your browser from a website and stored on your computer’s hard drive. Like many sites, I use only ‘strictly necessary cookies’. These cookies are essential for you to browse the website and use its features, such as accessing secure areas of the Site.

How I get the personal information and why I have it

All personal information I process is provided to me directly by you for one of the following reasons:

Personal identifiers, contacts, characteristics, and communication data. I process this data for the purpose of communicating with you and for the establishment, pursuance, or defence of legal claims. The lawful ground I rely on for processing this information is legitimate interests.
Contracts and agreements signed by you. I process this data for the purpose of the establishment, pursuance, or defence of legal claims. The lawful ground I rely on for processing this information is legitimate interests.
Your GP and next of kin details will be used to contact them in case of emergency. The lawful ground I rely on for processing this information is legitimate interests.
Anonymised counselling notes. I use this data to supply the necessary service for you. The lawful ground I rely on for processing this data is the performance of a contract between you and me.
Site Log Data and Cookies. I process this data in order to enable the publication and administration of my Site. The lawful ground I rely on for processing this information is legitimate interests.

Sharing your personal information

I would only share your data in line with ethical and legal obligations.

These are:

During my supervision and intervision sessions when I will talk about our work together. However, only your first name would be used.
If I receive a court order for the release of my notes.
For safeguarding reasons or if you disclose, you are at risk of serious harm to yourself or another.
If you share information about a proposed act of terrorism/money laundering/drug trafficking. If there is a request by the Police for information regarding a road traffic accident.

How I will store your personal information

I will keep your data encrypted on a password-protected computer. It will be regularly backed up to an external hard drive, which will be held in a locked file cabinet.
Smartphone. If you phone or text me or agree to me phoning you or sending you a text, your number will stay on my phone until it is automatically deleted. I would not store your name or save your number to contacts.
Email and social media messaging. Your email address or/and profile name and correspondence will be stored in my business email or/and social media business account by nature of you contacting me. All above accounts are password protected.
Bank account – your name will appear on my bank account statement/Paypal statement, both of which are electronic only and password protected.
Contracts and agreements signed by you will be kept in a locked file cabinet unless they are signed electronically, in which case they will be held as encrypted documents on a password-protected computer.

Unfortunately, the transmission of information via the internet cannot be completely secure. Therefore, it is recommended that no sensitive information is shared via email, text or social media messages. I have in place security measures to protect your personal data, but I cannot guarantee the security of your data transmitted to me; any transmission is at your own risk. Once I have received your information, I will use my own policies and procedures as far as is reasonably possible to prevent unauthorised access.

How long I will store your personal information

I will only retain your personal data for as long as is necessary to fulfil the purposes I collected it for, including for the purposes of satisfying any legal, accounting, or reporting requirements.

I will keep your personal identifiers, contacts, appointment times, financial and transaction data for six years after you cease to be my client.
Your communication data are retained for two weeks unless you would like to make an appointment or are my regular client, in which case I will retain this information until after you have attended your next session.
I will retain contracts and agreements signed by you for six years after you cease to be my client.
Your GP and next of kin details are held until after you have attended your last session.
I will retain anonymised counselling notes for six years after you cease to be my client.

Once the retention period expires, personal data shall be deleted or securely disposed of.

Your data protection rights

Under data protection law, you have rights including:

Your right of access – You have the right to ask me for copies of your personal information.
Your right to rectification – You have the right to ask me to rectify personal information you think is inaccurate. You also have the right to ask me to complete information you think is incomplete.
Your right to erasure – You have the right to ask me to erase your personal information in certain circumstances.
Your right to restriction of processing – You have the right to ask me to restrict the processing of your personal information in certain circumstances.
Your right to object to processing – You have the right to object to the processing of your personal information in certain circumstances.
Your right to data portability – You have the right to ask that I transfer the personal information you gave me to another organisation or you in certain circumstances.

You are not required to pay any charge for exercising your rights. If you make a request, I have one month to respond to you.

Please contact me at inga@existentialpsychotherapist.co.uk if you wish to make a request.

How to complain

If you have any concerns about my use of your personal information, you can make a complaint to me at inga@existentialpsychotherapist.co.uk.

You can also complain to the ICO if you are unhappy with how I have used your data.

The ICO’s address:

Information Commissioner’s Office

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

Helpline number: 0303 123 1113

ICO website: https://www.ico.org.uk.