Psychotherapy & Clinical Supervision in Crouch End, North London

Patterns and breaking them

Therapy is about change. What generally motivates people to come to the consulting room is that they are unhappy, anxious, in pain. Their life is in a place that is not working for them and they do not know how to improve their situation. People often speak of feeling stuck or hopeless. They have tried to make changes but nothing has worked. Often patterns of behaviour (as well as patterns of thinking and feeling) have developed over a long period of time, some of which may be outside of the client’s awareness.

By having the space to talk through or map their subjective experience, clients build up a clearer picture of how and what they are doing, some of which may be directly contributing to the painful, stuck place they are in. With this awareness they are then in a position to decide to do things differently, to change the pattern. This often looks like a re-resourcing of the client. They feel they have more options available to them, and can even, for example, find that new words are coming out of their mouths which take them in a new and unexpected direction. This kind of fluidity, feeling the possibility of not being stuck and the hope that one day life will be different and that they will be happier is very energising. A glimmer of hope can create momentum for further change to happen.

Debilitating depression and anxiety paint pictures of an impoverished life of no hope. When this is overly dominant the client may need the experience of the therapist to carry the possibility of things being different and ask the client to trust them on this. This is where relationship is so key; if the client experiences that the therapist has really heard them and engaged with their pain, this can be the motivation to be open to change.

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Privacy Policy and Data Retention Statement-Effective from 25th May 2018

I aim to be fully compliant with current GPDR legislation and to let you know how I use and protect the data you’ve given me. GDPR replaces the previous Data Protection Act. I wish to be transparent with regard to the processes I have in place. Identifiable information, if shared, will only be used in accordance with this privacy statement. I follow guidance from my governing bodies UKCP and my insurers Towngate.

As a private practitioner and supervisor, I’m considered the data processor and controller in my practice. As the data controller, I process some of your personal data. During the assessment process information such as next of kin, family members and medication are gathered and held. This is encrypted (if digital) and securely stored. No one but me can access this information.

Data Processing means obtaining, recording or holding information. The definition is very wide, and most of what I do involves a degree of processing. I process the personal data I have collected as controller. I maintain records of personal data and processing activities and hold responsibility should there be a breach.

Consent.

This is a primary concern and is separate to other terms and conditions. As my client, you can withdraw consent at any time. I hope to offer you choice and control. As a therapist and supervisor who occasionally uses creative interventions, I want to ensure you know that any drawings or art done in session is yours. I will store this material safely and dispose of it in a timely manner. I will never use any of your data/artworks for writing, publishing, research or training purposes.

I have bi-weekly ongoing supervision for support/creative inspiration and to ensure that my practice is safe. When I share client material or images this is always done confidentially, protecting your identity. Nobody but me has access to any of your data. I will keep this process under review and refresh it if anything changes.

Note keeping.

I keep notes on the ongoing work that I do with clients, but only use initials to identify people and I keep these notes minimal. I hold notes for five years. After this time frame, they're disposed of securely. You have a right to see the information I hold about you should you wish to. You have a right to change any information which you consider to be incorrect. You can also ask me to delete all/any of the information that I hold. There are however some details I need to keep due to legal and professional obligations.

Data Storage.

I promise to keep all sensitive data safely. This involves using passwords and encrypted documents. I keep all sensitive data in a lockable file. I dispose of data by shredding documents after the counselling has finished after a 5 year window. I dispose of emails on a regular basis.

While we work together I will store your name and phone number on my smartphone. I will only contact you in response to you or concerning appointments. I do not engage with clients through any social media.

In the event of a complaint.

Please contact me directly. If we cannot resolve this you could then contact the Information Commissioner Office ( ICO). I am registered with them and my reference is ZA257108 (A8189801). https://ico.org.uk/concerns/handling/ or Guidance for GDPR Compliance.


Clinical will

In compliance with my membership of the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy, I am required to hold an up-to-date Professional Will. In the event of a sudden cessation of my therapy practice eg through an accident or death, I have appointed 2 Professional Executors and a Co-ordinator who would manage things on my behalf. This is arranged for your welfare as my client and every step is taken to ensure GDPR standards are met. The Exectors and Co-ordinator have access to a password protected document with the names and contact details for all my clients. However they are instructed only to view these details in the event my becoming incapacitated.