Privacy Policy
Your privacy is an important priority. We are committed as both data processors and data controllers to always being good custodians of all personal data of both any individual who contacts us and/or engages in a counselling relationship with us either for their self or their child with any of the East Surrey Counselling Group’s (ESCG) Counsellors.
This document covers your initial contact with any of the ESCG’s Counsellors with a view to beginning a counselling relationship with them or another of our group in our Consulting rooms in Godstone. Once you have began working with your counsellor please refer to their individual Privacy and Digital polices as advertised on their own websites/literature.
We aim to handle personal data in a responsible, transparent manner and secure it with industry standard administrative, technical and physical safeguards and follow the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) guidelines.
Please note by contacting any of the counsellors of our group by email and/or telephone to ask about our services you are allowing us to access your personal data (e.g. telephone numbers, email addresses and names) about yourself and/or your child which will be stored securely.
If you or your child does not proceed to an initial meeting with one of our counsellors then your details/communications will be destroyed.
We will not pass your information to a third party, without your consent, unless we are required to do so by law, as part of our duty to protect a child, vulnerable adult or the public or where we are required to do so by any court or law.
We are not currently using email encryption programmes so any emails you send to us and/or our replies may be vulnerable to viruses or human error. for these reasons it is best to be thoughtful about what you include in emails to us and which email addresses you choose to use with us.
Often, it is best to rely on email only for non-confidential communications like initial contact and setting up appointment times.
In an effort to keep confidential and psychological material “in the room” it is best avoided in emails unless you have discussed it with your ESCG counsellor beforehand. However, if you choose to communicate by email, be aware that all emails are retained in the logs of Internet Providers. Furthermore, they can be vulnerable to viruses and unintended forwarding for replication.
If you are concerned about the confidentiality of emails, you may wish to contact your ESCG counsellor by telephone only.
We try to meet the highest standards when collecting and using data and take any complaints or concerns very seriously. We encourage you to let us know if you think that our collection, use or storage is unfair, misleading or inappropriate and we welcome any suggestions for improving our procedures.
If you wish to make a complaint you can contact the ICO as the statutory body which oversees data protection law.
Clients rights under GDPR (2018):
To access a copy and explanation of personal data held
To request correction or erasure, in certain circumstances
To request limiting or ceasing data processing, where applicable
To compensate for substantial damage or distress caused by data processing, where applicable.
Carol Belsey for East Surrey Counselling Group
2nd Edition 9th February 2023