Privacy Policy

 Gentle Kindness Counselling upholds each person’s rights.  Privacy and confidentiality are central  to our relationship.  

The latest General Data Protection Rules (GDPR) came into effect on the 25th of May 2018.   Clients have the right to access their notes, to know for how long the information is stored and  how/where it will be stored.   I am also registered with the Information Commissioners Office (ICO)  as a controller of sensitive data and work to their standards for storing any information about you.  More information can be found at: https://ico.org.uk/ 

To receive copies of your notes please advise via email see below for details.  There will be a fee  of £40 for this request.  

All client paper notes will be held in a locked storage facility, the key is held in a key-safe and  Michelle Lumley is the only person with the key-safe number. All electronic data is held on a USB  device that is also locked in a different key-safe with a different access number.  

All information will be held for 6 years after the client counsellor relationship has ended.  After the  6th year the information is shredded and/or deleted.  

If a client believes their rights to confidentiality or data protection have been breached, they must  raise this directly with Michelle in the first instance. Complaints can be submitted by email and will  be acknowledged within 30 days. Michelle will investigate without undue delay and keep the client  informed of progress and the outcome.  If the client remains unsatisfied following this process, they  may then approach the relevant external body; the British Association for Counselling and  Psychotherapy (BACP) regarding professional conduct, or the Information Commissioner's Office  (ICO) regarding data protection matters. My BACP membership number is 00921017. 

To allow me to complete my work I utilise the services of a Virtual Assistant, Gemma.  My  priority is always the care and privacy of our work together, so please be assured that Gemma  is a true professional, is fully insured and ICO registered.  Gemma has also signed a formal  Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) to ensure all information remains strictly confidential. 

Please note all clients will be asked to sign a disclosure form prior to the first paid session allowing  Michelle Lumley to break confidentiality in an emergency situation.