Your Privacy -Â Understanding privacy rights & confidentiality
While I maintain robust digital security protocols, no internet-based service can be entirely risk-free. I operate with full openness, adhering strictly to UK legislation and ethical guidelines to keep you safe.
Our data protection commitment
I manage your personal data with care and sensitivity, following UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018. When you reach out, you agree to me handling your details for our clinical work. I also uphold the UK Equality Act to foster a welcoming space for everyone. Your unique identity is respected here, and I maintain a zero-tolerance policy against harassment, ensuring you feel comfortable and prioritised throughout your sessions with Integrative Counselling Services.
Managing your information
Upon visiting this site, I gather your name and email to respond to enquiries. If we start therapy, I collect health details and emergency contact info for your safety. We will sign a professional agreement, and I'll keep concise, anonymised notes as required by my governing bodies. These records are held securely to assist your progress, ensuring your therapeutic journey remains confidential, professional, and focused exclusively on your mental health.
Secure use of technology
To support our sessions, I might utilise digital platforms to craft tailored resources. I never input your name or personal markers into these systems. All content is generated anonymously because your privacy and growth are my focus. This contemporary approach allows me to offer high-quality therapeutic support while keeping your private life strictly protected. Maintaining the confidence you place in me is the foundation of my digital ethics.
Ethics and our confidentiality
As an accredited registrant of the NCPS and registered member of the BACP, I am bound by rigorous ethical frameworks. These standards ensure your wellbeing is always the priority. Privacy is fundamental to our therapeutic relationship; I only disclose information if required by law or if there is an urgent risk to your safety or of those directly connected to you, typically after a discussion with you. For continuity, a Practice Executor can access contact info if I am incapacitated, and I always use anonymised notes for supervision.
Knowing your data rights
How long I keep your information: In line with data minimisation principles, I only hold your personal data for as long as is necessary to provide your counselling, fulfill my legal and professional obligations, and address any potential questions or complaints. Once this period ends, your data is securely destroyed or permanently anonymised. You also have rights regarding Transparency, Access to records within 30 days, Accuracy of your details, and Erasure, though certain clinical records must be kept to meet legal requirements.
Staying up to date with UK law\nI am dedicated to maintaining the highest level of care for your data. This practice is fully compliant with UK data protection laws, including the UK GDPR and all current regulatory standards. If you have any concerns about how your details are managed, please reach out to me at rachel.rayfield@lightcircle.co.uk so we can address them. I treat all privacy enquiries with the utmost importance and aim to reply within 30 days. My aim is to be transparent about how and why your information is processed. If you are dissatisfied with my response or believe your data is being handled incorrectly, you have the right to contact the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) via www.ico.org.uk.