I collect, store and process personal information about you to enable me to run my psychotherapy and counselling practice.  Psychotherapists and counsellors are required to comply with the directives as set out by the General Data Protection (GDPR).  I am a registered data controller with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).  I collect personal data on the legal basis of ‘legitimate interests’ or with your consent, according to the GDPR guidelines.

Collecting and Using Your Personal Data

Types of Data Collected

Personal Data

When you use my website you do so at your own discretion.  My website may collect information about the type of device you use to access the website, the Internet Protocol address you use to connect your computer to the Internet, and the date and time  you access the website.  This information is used to monitor the performance of the website.  Like many websites this website uses Cookies to enhance your experience and gather information about visitors and visits to the website (see below for definition of Cookies)

By accessing and using the website you consent to the processing of data about you in this manner and for the purposes set out in this Privacy Notice.

When you contact me by sending me a message via my website, you are in control of how much and what type of information you choose to provide.  Although I only require initial contact information from you, I accept that you may choose to provide me with further information.

Information collected

The information you give me may include your name, address, email address and phone number.  Any contact details you provide me is saved electronically in a password protected document.  When making any cheque or electronic payments for my services, this may include your banking details.

Any notes I take from our initial assessment meeting is anonymised and stored securely.  I may keep a brief record of attendance and brief reference to content of sessions to track the progress of our work together or use it as a basis of reflection and guidance in professional supervision.

I will only share your personal data with a relevant authority or healthcare provider (e.g. your GP) where it is necessary for compliance with the legal obligation to which I am subject or where it is necessary to protect the vital interests of you or of another person (e.g. in a safeguarding concern).  I am required to have regular supervision as part of my continuing professional development and any discussion of case material will be anonymised to protect patient confidentiality.

I will retain your personal information for as long as I provide services to you, and for a period of up to 7 years thereafter.  Once information is not needed it shall be securely destroyed.

Your rights

Under the GDPR you have the right to:

• Ask for a copy of the personal data held by me, at no cost to you
• Ask me to correct your personal information that I hold about you, or inform me about any changes to your personal information
• Request that your personal data be transferred to another person (data portability)
• Ask to be informed about what data processing is taking place

Tracking Technologies and Cookies

This website uses Cookies and similar tracking technologies to track the activity on the Service and store certain information. Tracking technologies used are beacons, tags, and scripts to collect and track information and to improve and analyse the Service. The technologies used may include:

• Cookies or Browser Cookies. A cookie is a small file placed on Your Device. You can instruct Your browser to refuse all Cookies or to indicate when a Cookie is being sent. However, if You do not accept Cookies, You may not be able to use some parts of our Service. Unless you have adjusted Your browser setting so that it will refuse Cookies, our Service may use Cookies.
• Web Beacons. Certain sections of our Service and our emails may contain small electronic files known as web beacons (also referred to as clear gifs, pixel tags, and single-pixel gifs) that permit the Company, for example, to count users who have visited those pages or opened an email and for other related website statistics (for example, recording the popularity of a certain section and verifying system and server integrity).

Cookies can be “Persistent” or “Session” Cookies. Persistent Cookies remain on Your personal computer or mobile device when You go offline, while Session Cookies are deleted as soon as You close Your web browser. Learn more about cookies on the Free Privacy Policy website article.

We use both Session and Persistent Cookies for the purposes set out below:

• Necessary / Essential Cookies

Type: Session Cookies
Administered by: Us

Purpose: These Cookies are essential to provide You with services available through the Website and to enable You to use some of its features. They help to authenticate users and prevent fraudulent use of user accounts. Without these Cookies, the services that You have asked for cannot be provided, and We only use these Cookies to provide You with those services.

• Cookies Policy / Notice Acceptance Cookies

Type: Persistent Cookies
Administered by: Us

Purpose: These Cookies identify if users have accepted the use of cookies on the Website.

• Functionality Cookies

Type: Persistent Cookies
Administered by: Us

Purpose: These Cookies allow us to remember choices You make when You use the Website, such as remembering your login details or language preference. The purpose of these Cookies is to provide You with a more personal experience and to avoid You having to re-enter your preferences every time You use the Website.

Changes to this Privacy Policy

I may update the Privacy Policy from time to time. I will notify you of any changes via email and/or a prominent notice on the website, prior to the change becoming effective and update the “Last updated” date at the top of this Privacy Policy.

You are advised to review this Privacy Policy periodically for any changes. Changes to this Privacy Policy are effective when they are posted on this page.

Contact me

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, You can contact me:

• By email: cjmccloskey@proton.me
• By visiting this page on our website: www.space-to-talk.com/contact