Privacy Policy

I am committed to protecting the confidentiality, privacy and security of your personal information. This privacy policy explains how I collect, use, and protect your personal data in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and other relevant data protection laws.

Data Controller:

Name: Dawn Henderson

Business: The Emotional Edit

Email: dawn@theemotionaledit.org

Mob: 07584-492066

I am registered with the ICO- My registration number is ZB826630.

I am Registered Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)- I work within their ethical framework- You can view this and their complaints procedure here - https://www.bacp.co.uk/

Information I Collect

Name, address, telephone number, and email address
Date of birth
GP details and emergency contact information
Relevant medical history and current medications
Personal and family background information
Session notes
Assessments - PHQ9/GAD7/Warwick Edinburgh Scale or other necessary assessment forms

Communication

Emails will be securely stored in my email system.
My email facility has phishing, malware protection and malware protection for attachments.
If we exchange telephone communication or texts to confirm/change appointments or request fees your contact number will be stored as a code with a number code with your first and last name initials in a smart phone. Only I have the passcode to this phone.
Communications by phone and your contact details will be deleted from the phone once our sessions conclude. A log of them will be stored securely with your file.

How I Use Your Information

I use your personal information for the following purposes:

To provide counselling services
To communicate with you about appointments and therapy-related matters
To maintain accurate records of our therapy sessions
To comply with legal, ethical, and professional obligations
For administrative purposes, including billing and insurance claims (if applicable)

Purpose for Using Your Data

I use your personal data for the following reasons:

Contract: To fulfil the terms of our counselling services agreement and provide the services you requested.
Legal Obligation: To comply with legal and regulatory requirements, I am required to retain certain records.
Legitimate Interests: To support the legitimate interests of my practice, such as maintaining accurate records and ensuring the delivery of high-quality care.

Other Data

Articles on this The Emotional Edit website may include embedded content (e.g. media, images, articles, etc.) and suggested links or affiliates to other sites. Accessing this content will be the same as if you are directly visiting their website.
These websites will also have their own data collection policy and may collect data about you, use cookies, embed additional third-party tracking, and monitor your interaction with that embedded content, including tracking your interaction with the embedded content if you have an account and are logged in to that website.
The Emotional Edit is not responsible for the content of any linked site but will ensure the information is relevant and aligns with BACP ethics and guidelines.

Data Storage and Security

I take the security of your personal data seriously.

I use Google Workspace for data storage which provides robust security measures. All electronic data is password-protected with an additional two-factor authentication and is encrypted., Their data policy here. workspace encryption .

I use Google Meet for online sessions- Google Meet

Data Retention

I will retain your personal data for 7 years after the end of our counselling relationship. Any paper records are stored in a secure, fireproof, locked filing cabinet to which only I have access .

Your Rights

Under GDPR, you have the following rights regarding your personal data:

The right to be informed about how your data is used
The right to access your personal data
The right to rectification of inaccurate or incomplete data
The right to erasure (also known as the 'right to be forgotten')
The right to restrict processing
The right to object to processing
Rights related to automated decision-making and profiling

To exercise any of these rights, please contact me using the details provided above.

Data Sharing

I will not share your personal information with third parties except in the following circumstances:

With your explicit consent
If required by law or court order
To prevent serious harm to yourself or others
For professional supervision (with all identifying details removed)
For legal or regulatory compliance
I attend a regular clinical supervision group and Individual supervision. I may discuss our work together, but your identity will never be disclosed. The purpose of this is to ensure I am providing quality therapeutic counselling care. My supervisors are also members of the BACP, bound by the same Code of Ethics.

Changes to This Policy

I may update this privacy policy from time to time.

I will notify you of any significant changes in person, by email or notice on my website.

Complaints

I trust you will have no complaints. If you do have concerns about how I handle your personal data, please let me know. If you are not satisfied with my response, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) at www.ico.org.uk.

Contact Me

If you have any questions about this privacy policy or how I handle your personal data, please contact me at dawn@theemotionaledit.org

Last updated: 10/01/2025