Confidentiality and Record Keeping                                                                                         
Confidentiality is an essential part of all counselling and psychotherapy. Embrace Counselling holds all records and personal contact details securely and will ensure confidentiality in the treatment of any information held about its clients, in line with the Code of Ethics of the BACP.  All information recorded and held is solely for the purpose of maintaining effective therapeutic treatment.

What data do I hold and why?
At Embrace Counselling we holdAssessment, Notes, Measures completed at Assessment and Final Session. All information held is kept anonymised and cannot be indentified to you. We will discuss with you how you like to be contacted, and it is important that while you remain a client you notify us if any of these details change.

How is it stored?                                                                                                               
Most session notes are held on paper and kept locked securely when not in use. Data held electronically is on a personal computer and password protected.  Phone contact details are held on a password protected work phone.

Who is it shared with?
All information will be kept confidential unless the client and therapist agree to discuss something with a third party such as your GP or if the therapist was liable to civil or criminal court proceedings if the information was not disclosed. If at all possible this would be discussed beforehand.

In the event of being unable to contact you (eg through sudden incapacity) a trusted person has access to the client list and will contact you directly.  This is also a professional requirement. If I experience any data breaches, Embrace Team will inform you as soon as possible.

Freedom of Information
Clients can access their records by making a verbal or written request.  Clients agreement and consent will be sought for the purpose of communication related to their therapy arrangement.