GDPR & Protection Statement
Reviewed 15th July 2025
General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) forms part of the Data Protection Act (2018) and provides you with greater transparency over your personal data, such as data used to identify you. Helen Thorpe Counselling & Psychotherapy abides by the terms of GDPR (2018) and have outlined how your personal data is used and stored.
1. How your data is used:
a. Name: Used to address you, to ensure confidentiality client notes are assigned a code.
b. Email: Used to confirm appointments and for general communication
c. Phone number: Used to confirm appointments and for general communication, phone numbers saved on work phones are saved under your assigned code.
d. Address: Used to contact you in writing.
e. GPs address: Used to contact your GP if required.
f. Emergency contact number: This may be used in the event that a planned session has been missed and the Counsellor has been unable to contact you by other means. This number may be called within 7 days of the missed session at the discretion of the Counsellor.
g. Clinical notes: Brief notes are made at the end of each session. h. Assessment information: This information is taken during the initial session / assessment. The information is used to assess any risk, take note of any client goals and to help the Counsellor assess what support you are looking for.
2. How your data is stored:
a. Your name, email, phone number, addresses and emergency contact number are all stored on a password and virus protected computer system. All client notes are stored on a password and virus protected computer system.
b. All notes will be assigned a code so your name will never be attached to any client notes, this is to provide anonymity.
c. In the event of a data breach, I will notify you as soon as possible and inform you of any actions taken to mitigate harm. You will also be provided with guidance on how to protect yourself if necessary.
3. Therapeutic Executor
a. As outlined in the Counsellor/Client agreement I have a therapeutic executor, Siobhan Towland who is a registered therapist. In the event of my unexpected incapacity, illness, or death Siobhan Towland would gain access to clients securely stored name and number. Siobhan Towland will only call to provide clients with signposting to other mental health services then will securely destroy your contact details.
4. BACP Compliance and Supervision
a. As a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), I adhere to their Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions. This framework ensures that I handle your personal information with the utmost confidentiality and in accordance with ethical and legal standards. All client data is processed with the utmost care, and I engage in regular professional supervision to ensure the highest standard of care. During supervision, any details about your case are anonymized to protect your confidentiality.
5. Visitors to my website
a. When visiting my website, I use Google Analytics to collect non-personal information, such as site traffic and visitor behaviour patterns, to improve the site and service. Google Analytics does not identify any specific individuals.
6. General
a. Your information will not be shared with any third party, and you have the right to remove personal contact information at any time.
b. Should you want Helen Thorpe Counselling & Psychotherapy to delete all contact information please get in touch via:
Email: helenthorpecounselling@gmail.com
c. Helen Thorpe Counselling & Psychotherapy will keep your signed client/counsellor agreement, anonymised notes and first session assessment form for seven years after our final session (your contact details will be removed from these forms automatically after five years of sooner at your request). After seven years, all information will be removed and disposed of securely.