Privacy Policy

GDPR Policy

Terms

Ronan de Burca and Ronan de Burca Hypnotherapy are used interchangeably in this document.

General

This policy has been produced to explain what data Ronan de Burca Hypnotherapy may collect from clients, and how it is used and stored. It allows me to comply wih General Data Protection Requirements (GDPR).

How long will you hold my information?

I am a member of the Association for Solution Focused Hypnotherapists (AfSFH) and am bound by their regulations regarding information retention. This professional body says that your data must be held for eight years after your final session. 

However, the rule for children is different in that their data must be held until their 25th birthday. The exception to this rule is for young adults whose treatment ends when they are 17, their data must be kept until their 26th birthday. 

Client records will be destroyed in the January after the dates mentioned above. This is in line with NHS regulations for holding data.

What if I want my data destroyed before this time?

I’m professionally obliged to keep certain data, in particular session notes and any communictions relating to how I work with you. You can request that these be anonymised and that all identifying information be removed. In this case, the identifying information will be replaced with coded filenames. 

Can I request a copy of my information?

In line with GDPR guidelines, you can request (in writing) the data you would like to see, and I will respond to your request within 30 days. I will need to verify your identity before sending you this information. Note that my insurance provider may wish to verify any information sent out as the result of any request. 

What and why is the data collected?

Ronan de Burca Hypnotherapy may collect the following information:

  • your contact details
  • your GP’s contact details
  • some basic information about your next of kin/significant others
  • an idea of what you would like to achieve in coming for hypnotherapy
  • a small amount of medical information (if relevant)
  • some brief session notes.

This allows me to provide continuity between sessions to help you towards your goals. I will only use your contact details/GP details with your explicit consent. There is one exception to this, please see under ‘Confidentiality’ below. 

How do I know my information is stored securely?

Session notes will be taken on an electronic tablet which is secured by a PIN and/or facial recognition. 

Contact details and other confidential data are stored securely in a 3rd party cloud-based file storage system, protected by 2FA (two factor authentication). 

Confidentiality

Everything we discuss during your sessions remains strictly confidential. Occasionally it may be necessary for me to discuss elements of your sessions with my Supervisor to ensure that I’m helping you in the most effective way. 

However, no identifying features about you will be disclosed during these discussions. 

I’m obliged by GDPR to always protect your confidentiality. For this reason I won’t initiate conversation with you if I see you outside of therapy sessions, unless you wish to do so.

I’m only able to contact other health and social care professionals with your written consent. I have a ‘duty of care’ towards my clients so the only exception to this would be if I believed that you were about to harm yourself or others. Should this occur I’d be required to inform the relevant authorities.

However, I would always aim to discuss this with you before taking any action. Legally, I would also have to provide the police with information as set out in a warrant or court order, should the situation arise.

Registration Details

I am registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), registration number ZC097614.

*Ronan de Burca Hypnotherapy is not a crisis centre or a 24/7 service. If you feel that you are in crisis, please contact the emergency services.