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Privacy, GDPR & Cookie Policy 

This policy explains how Ruth Omokhui Counselling Care collects, uses, stores, and protects your personal information. As your counsellor, I am committed to maintaining the highest standards of privacy and confidentiality, in line with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the ethical guidelines of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).

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1. Who I Am

Ruth Omokhui Counselling Care is a private counselling practice operated by Ruth Omokhui. I am a qualified psychotherapist and a registered member of the BACP.

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2. What Information I Collect

I collect personal information to provide you with safe and effective counselling services. This may include:

  • Contact Details: Your name, address, email address, phone number.

  • Background Information: Relevant personal history, family background, and current life situation.

  • Health Information: Details about your mental and physical health, medications, and relevant medical history.

  • Session Notes: Brief, anonymised records of our counselling sessions.

  • Counselling Goals: Information related to your therapeutic goals and progress.

  • Referral Information: Details from anyone who referred you, if applicable.

When you use the contact form on my website, I collect your name, email, and any message you send, which helps me respond to your inquiry.

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3. How I Collect Your Information

I collect information in several ways:

  • Directly from You: During initial inquiries, assessment sessions, and throughout our ongoing counselling work.

  • From Referrers: If you are referred by another professional or service, with your explicit consent.

  • Via My Website: Through the contact form, which captures your name, email, and message.

 

4. How I Use Your Information

I use your information to:

  • Provide you with professional counselling services tailored to your needs.

  • Manage your appointments and communicate with you about our sessions.

  • Maintain accurate and confidential client records.

  • Fulfil my ethical and professional obligations, including seeking supervision (where client anonymity is maintained).

  • Process payments for sessions.

  • Respond to your inquiries made through my website.

 

5. Legal Basis for Processing

Under GDPR, I process your personal data based on:

  • Consent: For specific purposes where you have given clear consent (e.g., sharing information with third parties for a referral).

  • Legitimate Interests: For managing my professional practice and ensuring the quality and safety of my services (e.g., maintaining records, engaging in supervision).

  • Contractual Necessity: For providing the counselling services you have agreed to.

  • Legal Obligation: To comply with legal requirements (e.g., safeguarding concerns, court orders).

Special Category Data (Health Information): I process your health information, which is a 'special category' of personal data, with your explicit consent for the provision of health care services.

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6. Who I Share Your Information With

Your confidentiality is paramount. I will not share your personal information with anyone outside of Ruth Omokhiu Counselling Care unless:

  • You give explicit consent: For example, if you agree that I can liaise with your GP or another health professional for your benefit.

  • There is a legal obligation: If I am required to do so by law (e.g., a court order).

  • There is a safeguarding concern: If I believe you or someone else is at serious risk of harm, I may need to break confidentiality to ensure safety. This would be done in line with BACP ethical guidelines, and I would aim to discuss this with you first, where possible.

  • Supervision: I discuss my client work in regular clinical supervision, but this is always done in a way that protects your anonymity. My supervisor is also bound by strict confidentiality and ethical codes.

 

7. How I Store Your Information

I take the security of your data very seriously.

  • Digital Records: Stored securely on encrypted devices or password-protected cloud services.

  • Physical Records: Any minimal paper notes are kept in a locked filing cabinet.

  • Website Data: Information submitted via the contact form is securely transmitted and stored according to the privacy policies of my website hosting provider.

  • Retention: I retain client records for a period of 4 years after our last session, as recommended by professional guidelines and my indemnity insurance requirements. After this period, records are securely destroyed.

 

8. Your Rights Under GDPR

You have several rights regarding your personal data:

  • Right to be Informed: To know how your data is being used (as explained in this policy).

  • Right of Access: To request a copy of the information I hold about you.

  • Right to Rectification: To ask me to correct any inaccurate or incomplete information.

  • Right to Erasure (Right to be Forgotten): To request the deletion of your personal data, though this may be subject to legal and ethical obligations for retention.

  • Right to Restrict Processing: To limit the way I use your data in certain circumstances.

  • Right to Data Portability: To receive your personal data in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format.

  • Right to Object: To object to the processing of your data in certain situations.

  • Rights in relation to automated decision-making and profiling: My practice does not involve automated decision-making or profiling.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact me directly at [ruthomokhui.counsellingcare@gmail.com].

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9. Cookies Policy

My website uses cookies to enhance your Browse experience. Cookies are small text files placed on your device.

  • Strictly Necessary Cookies: These are essential for the website to function correctly (e.g., for contact forms to work).

  • Analytics Cookies (Optional): These cookies help me understand how visitors interact with my website (e.g., which pages are popular). This helps me improve the website's content and user experience. These cookies do not identify you personally.

  • Managing Cookies: Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. You can choose to accept or decline cookies. Please note that disabling cookies may affect the functionality of the website.

 

10. Changes to This Policy

This policy may be updated from time to time to reflect changes in law or practice. Any updates will be posted on this page.

11. Complaints

If you have a complaint about how I have handled your personal data, please contact me directly in the first instance at ruthomokhui.counsellingcare@gmail.com]. If you are not satisfied with my response, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) – the UK's independent authority for data protection.

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