This Privacy Notice explains how I collect, use, store and protect your personal information in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.
Who I am
Therapy by Choice is the trading name used by Victoria Kilchevskaya, a sole trader providing counselling and psychotherapy. I am the data controller for the personal information I use in running the practice.
You can contact me at:
- Email: therapybychoice@gmail.com
- ICO registration number: ZC275192
What information I collect
I may collect personal information that you provide to me when you enquire about counselling or begin working with me. This may include:
- your name, address, email address and telephone number;
- your GP practice details, where provided;
- emergency contact details;
- information about your availability and how you heard about my service;
- information you choose to share about what you hope to get from counselling, previous counselling, your circumstances, or anything else you feel is relevant.
Some of the information you choose to share may include sensitive information about your physical or mental health.
Where information comes from
Most of the personal information I hold about you will come directly from you. In some circumstances, I may receive relevant information from another professional or service, where you have agreed to this or where sharing is permitted by law. If I receive information about you from another source, I will handle it in accordance with this Privacy Notice and any applicable data protection requirements.
Why I collect your information
I use your personal information to:
And the bullet list:
- provide counselling safely and appropriately;
- communicate with you about appointments and practical arrangements;
- understand your needs and support the counselling process;
- fulfil my relevant legal, ethical and professional responsibilities; and
- where necessary, support your safety by facilitating contact with relevant healthcare professionals when there are concerns about your health or wellbeing.
Lawful basis for processing
I process your personal information in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.
Depending on the purpose for which your information is used, I rely on different lawful bases under data protection law. These may include:
- Contract: where processing is necessary to respond to your request before counselling begins, provide counselling and manage the practical arrangements of our work together.
- Legal obligation: where I am required to process or retain information to comply with a legal requirement.
- Legitimate interests: where processing is necessary for the appropriate and responsible operation of my practice, including professional, insurance or legal purposes, provided that my interests do not override your rights and freedoms.
- Vital interests: in exceptional circumstances where processing is necessary to protect your life or the life of another person.
Some of the information I process, particularly information relating to your physical or mental health, is considered special category data and receives additional protection under data protection law. Where I process special category information as part of providing counselling, I rely on an applicable condition under Article 9 of the UK GDPR together with the relevant provisions of the Data Protection Act 2018.
Providing information
Some information is necessary for me to arrange and provide counselling and to manage the practical aspects of our work together. You are not required to provide information that is not necessary or that I have indicated is optional. If information that is necessary for me to provide counselling safely and appropriately is not provided, I may not be able to offer or continue the service. If you have any questions about why particular information is requested, we can discuss this together.
Confidentiality
I treat information you share with me as confidential. There are some circumstances where information may need to be shared, including where there is a serious risk of harm to you or another person, where safeguarding concerns arise, or where disclosure is required by law or a court.
Wherever possible, I will discuss this with you before information is shared.
Supervision
As part of safe professional practice, I attend regular clinical supervision.
Your counselling work may be discussed with my supervisor as part of professional supervision. Where possible, information will be anonymised so that you are not personally identifiable. My supervisor is also bound by confidentiality.
Who may receive your information
Your personal information will be treated confidentially. It may be shared with my clinical supervisor as part of professional supervision, with appropriate service providers who support the operation of my practice, website and communications, or where disclosure is required or permitted by law, including in certain safeguarding circumstances.
I do not sell your personal information to third parties.
How your information is stored
I take reasonable steps to keep your personal information secure and protected from unauthorised access, loss or misuse.
Personal information may be stored electronically using password-protected systems and, where applicable, in secure paper records. Access is limited to those who need the information for legitimate professional, legal or safeguarding purposes.
Information collected through the website
If you contact me through the contact form on my website, I may collect your name, email address, telephone number (if provided) and the contents of your message. This information is used to respond to your enquiry and, where appropriate, to arrange an initial conversation or counselling appointment.
Please avoid including detailed personal or sensitive health information in the website contact form. You will have an opportunity to discuss this privately during your initial contact.
How long your information is kept
I keep personal information only for as long as it is necessary for the purposes for which it was collected, taking into account my legal, ethical and professional responsibilities.
Your Rights
Under data protection law, you have rights in relation to your personal information. Depending on the circumstances, these may include the right to:
- ask for a copy of the personal information I hold about you;
- ask me to correct inaccurate or incomplete information;
- ask me to restrict how your information is processed;
- object to certain types of processing; and
- ask for your information to be deleted where there is no lawful reason for me to continue keeping it.
Some of these rights may be subject to legal exemptions or limitations, depending on the circumstances and the information concerned.
If you have concerns about how I handle your personal information, you can contact me using the details below. You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).
Automated decision-making
I do not use automated decision-making or profiling to make decisions about you that have legal or similarly significant effects.
Contact
If you have any questions about how your information is handled, please contact:
Victoria Kilchevskaya MBACP
Email: therapybychoice@gmail.com
Telephone: 07884 196376
If you are not satisfied with how I have handled your personal information, you have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).