Privacy Policy

Privacy Policy

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​This policy outlines how Fiona Macbeth Hypnotherapy uses and protects the information you provide when using my services and accessing this website. It sets out the conditions under which this information is processed.  It covers information that could identify you (“personal information”) along with other anonymous information.  In the context of the law and this notice, “process” means collect, store, transfer, use or otherwise act on information.  This policy complies with UK law accordingly implemented, including that required by the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The policy will be updated periodically in line with current legislation.

I ensure any data you provide is kept secure, managed respectfully and only used for the purposes for which it has been provided. 

When you contact me via my website, phone or email I will collect your:

Name

Email Address

Telephone Number

Any information you choose to supply regarding the purpose of your enquiry.

I will ask you for your GP contact details and some basic health information: there

are some conditions that are contra indicated for hypnotherapy and sometimes

there are circumstance where it may be necessary to contact your GP before

commencing therapy. I will inform you of this at our appointment should this appear

appropriate.

I will ask you for details of your next of kin: this is used very rarely and only in

emergency situations.

You do not have to consent to the collection of information, however, if you choose

not to provide it, I may not be able to work with you.

In the course of our sessions:

I will ask for your email address for the purposes of sending you a recording to

listen to as part of the therapy. It may also be necessary to send emails to confirm

or rearrange appointments.

I will make a note of information you provide me in order that we can plan bespoke

therapy sessions and identify/produce scripts which will be used in session and/or

which can be sent to you to listen to between sessions.

For the purposes of clarity, I do not receive or retain your bank details.

How is this information used?

Fiona Macbeth Hypnotherapy  takes seriously the protection of your privacy and confidentiality.  Your personal data, where shared by you in enquires, will not be used for any purpose other than to reply to your enquiry, and will not accidentally fall into the hands of a third party.  

If you choose to proceed with making an appointment to see me, I will send you a

copy of this Privacy Policy so that you are aware in advance how I will use

information provided in the course of our sessions together.

I may ask you at some point if you wish to receive my newsletter. If you would like to do this, I will invite you to request the newsletter on the button for my website. If you request this, you will be added you to my emailing list. I sent a newsletter every quarter with information about courses I am offering and new ideas that are emerging in the field. 

Your privacy and confidentially are also a requirement of the professional governing bodies of which Fiona Macbeth Hypnotherapy is a registrant.  (NCH, ICO) Your data will be stored in line with current GDPR regulations and will be retained only for a period of time sufficient to deal with your enquiry and any subsequent follow-ups for which your permission will be required to hold a record of your data.  You may at any time request that data relevant to your enquiry is destroyed.  Please note that if as a result of your enquiry, any further course of action on your part is pursued, then there may well be a legitimacy of interest in retaining your data.  This will be discussed with you.

​Sometimes you might give implicit consent for your information to be used, such as when you send a message by e-mail to which you would reasonably expect us a reply. Your information is not used in any way that would identify you personally, except where you have consented to use of it for a specific purpose.

The sharing of anonymous case histories with supervisors and peer support groups is not a breach of professional confidentiality.

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Sometimes, a statutory obligation demands the sharing of your personal information.  For example, if legal authorities request information and have the proper authorisation such as a search warrant or court order.  In the course of therapy treatment, should there be legitimate concerns of risk to a minor or other persons then a duty of legal obligation, adhering to the NCH Code of Ethics,  would require notification and sharing.

Your rights

Under the General Data Protection Regulations which are effective from May 2018

you have the following rights:

• the right to be informed (the purpose of this policy)
• the right of access: if you wish to see your file then please make a request in

writing to me, Fiona Macbeth, the Data Processor. I will provide you with the information within 30 days of your request.

• the right to rectification: this is your right to request changes to any information I hold that is factually inaccurate. If you believe any of the information I hold on you is incorrect then please let me know as soon aspossible and I will make the relevant changes.
• the right to erasure: given the nature of our work I am required to hold your details for a period of 7 years, after this your information will be securely destroyed.
• the right to restrict processing: I will only use the information for the purposes that I have stated above. I uphold the common law principles of confidentiality where the duty to keep confidence is measured against the concept of ‘greater good’. If in my opinion as a therapist there is good reason to believe not to disclose would cause danger or serious harm to self, the therapist or others then your GP or other appropriate agencies may be contacted. Only information required to ensure safety of relevant parties would be disclosed. Information may have to be disclosed without consent for the prevention, detection or prosecution of a crime. 
• the right to object: I will not contact you for marketing purposes unless you have given me specific consent to do so.
• the right not to be subject to automated decision-making including profiling: I will not use your information for profiling purposes.

ICO  (Information Commissioner's Office) Reference number C1841173