An Overview of GDPR in Relation to Victoria Clancy Psychotherapy
What is GDPR?
General Data Protection Regulation ‘GDPR’ came into effect across the European Union (EU) on May 25, 2018.
GDPR is a legal framework that sets out guidelines for the collection and processing of personal information of individuals within the EU.
How Does this Impact on Psychotherapy with Vicky in Private Practice?
Any therapy undertaken by Vicky will remain strictly confidential.
If you wish to use Vicky’s therapy service she will request your contact information and may take confidential notes as necessary and as per the ethical standards of the United Kingdom Council of Psychotherapy (‘UKCP’) to which Vicky is registered. These notes may be retained for a period of time after the therapy ends.
In terms of GDPR this is referred to as 'processing personal data’, this data remains completely confidential, as it always has done, unless:-
1. There is a child protection concern.
2. The child is at serious risk to themselves, or others.
3. Victoria Clancy Psychotherapy is asked to do so by a court of law.
4. Victoria Clancy Psychotherapy may need to sensitively share a general overview of the therapy with other agencies if they are involved with the young person or have made the referral for Psychotherapy, such as in the context of Schools or Children’s Social Care, for example.
5. Vicky is a member of the UKCP and is ethically required to attend professional supervision for case discussion.
As before, Vicky will be able to provide a general overview of the therapy to the parent/s or carer/s when helpful for the client to do so.
Who is the Data Controller for Victoria Clancy Psychotherapy?
Under the new guidelines, Vicky is the Data Controller and Data Processor for Victoria Clancy Psychotherapy.
In accordance with this, Vicky is registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (‘ICO’) . The ICO is the UK’s independent authority set up to uphold information rights and privacy in the public interest. Vicky’s membership number for the ICO is: ZA347065.
As before, you or your child/other family members have the rights to withdraw consent at any point of the therapy, complaints regarding data processing need to be made to the ICO, which is a separate complaints system to the UKCP.
Victoria Clancy Psychotherapy has a Privacy Statement that you can request to see at any time.
How Does this Impact on Psychotherapy with Vicky in School-Based Practice or Therapy in Other Settings?
If Vicky sees your child through another arrangement, such as in a School or other setting, the statements above will stand, however there may be other areas of the GDPR that will apply, such as the possible sharing of some data with other professionals, Vicky will explain this to you prior to the commencement of therapy.
If you wish to discuss any of the above in more detail, please feel free to contact Vicky.