Terms
“Karen Clark” and “Plymstock Hypnotherapy” are used interchangeably in this document.
General
This privacy notice has been produced in order to explain what data Plymstock Hypnotherapy may collect from clients and how it is used and stored. It serves to help Plymstock Hypnotherapy comply with the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR).
How will my data be processed and stored?
In May 2018, the Data Protection Act was replaced by the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Karen Clark is GDPR registered. The changes to the Data Protection Act are aimed at ensuring your personal, confidential, and sometimes sensitive data is held privately and securely. This means that any data you give to Karen Clark must be processed in a way you agree with. GDPR exists to protect your rights as a consumer. It applies to your identifiable data, e.g., your name and address & any reason you might have for visiting Plymstock Hypnotherapy. It also covers any session records, text messages, or emails between Karen Clark and yourself.
How long will you hold my information for?
Karen Clark is a member of the NCH (National Council for Hypnotherapy) and AfSFH (Association for Solution Focused Hypnotherapy). As such, Karen Clark is bound by their regulations regarding the length of time they must hold onto your information. The NCH and AfSFH insist that Karen Clark must hold onto your data for 8 years after your final session. However, the rule for children is different, and the NCH and AfSFH stipulate that their data must be held until their 25th birthday. The exception to this rule applies to young adults whose treatment ends when they are 17 years old, when Karen Clark must keep their records until they reach their 26th birthday. Client records will be destroyed in the January after the durations given above. This is in line with NHS regulations for holding data.
What if I would like my data to be destroyed before this date?
Due to the sensitive nature of what Plymstock Hypnotherapy offers, the insurance company advises that deletion of a client’s data cannot occur before the minimum term (see above) has expired.
Am I able to see or get a copy of the information held by you?
In line with GDPR, if you send Karen Clark a request in writing, specifying the data you wish to see, they will supply you with a copy of your data within 30 days. Karen Clark will need to confirm your identity before sending you the information. There will be no charge for this service. NB—Karen Clark’s insurance company’s legal team may wish to verify any information Karen Clark sends out.
What are your reasons for collecting this information?
Plymstock Hypnotherapy is keen to offer the highest quality of support to their clients, and in order to do so, they will collect the following information:
- An idea of what you would like to achieve by coming for hypnotherapy
- A small amount of medical information
- Some brief session notes
- Your contact details
- Your emergency contact details
- GP contact details
- Some basic information about your important others
- General lifestyle details
- Research data (if applicable)
This information allows Karen Clark to provide continuity within the sessions in order to help you towards achieving your goals. This information will allow Karen Clark to refer to the content of earlier sessions and previous discussions. Plymstock Hypnotherapy will only use your contact details/address and GP’s details with your explicit consent as per their Terms and Conditions and Initial Consultation Consent Form.
How do I know that Plymstock Hypnotherapy will store my information safely?
- Paper records—All paperwork is stored in a locked filing cabinet behind a locked door.
- Digital records—All digital records are stored on a password-protected computer.
- Text messages—Karen Clark’s phone is secured by PIN and/or face recognition.
- Emails—Karen Clark’s email account requires a strong password to access emails.
- Research data—if research is undertaken, this will be accessed via a password-protected program on a secure device.
Are our discussions within the hypnotherapy sessions confidential?
Everything you discuss with Karen Clark during your sessions remains strictly confidential. Occasionally it may be necessary for Karen Clark to discuss elements of your sessions with their supervisor to ensure that they are helping you in the most effective way possible. However, no identifying features about you will be disclosed during these discussions. Karen Clark’s supervisor is also registered with the ICO and abides by GDPR requirements.
What if I see Karen Clark outside of a hypnotherapy session?
Karen Clark is obliged by GDPR to protect your confidentiality at all times. So, for this reason, although they may acknowledge you with a smile, it would be deemed appropriate if any conversation could be avoided. However, if you wish to discuss your therapy with other people, that is your choice, and you are welcome to do so.
Will Plymstock Hypnotherapy discuss information about me with other health and social care professionals?
Karen Clark is only able to contact other health and social care professionals with your written consent. Should they write to your doctor to notify them that you have entered into a therapeutic relationship with them or to notify them that your therapy has been successfully concluded, Karen Clark would require your signature, in line with GDPR requirements. Karen Clark does have a ‘duty of care’ towards their clients, so the only exceptions to this would be if they believed that you were about to harm/have harmed yourself or others. Should this occur, then Karen Clark would be required to inform the relevant authorities. However, Karen Clark would always aim to discuss this with you before taking any action. Legally, Karen Clark would also have to provide the police with information as set out in a warrant or court order, should the situation arise.
Who is the Data Controller and what is their ICO registration number?
The Data Controller is Mrs Karen Clark at Plymstock Hypnotherapy. This Privacy Notice was last updated in January 2025. It may be updated at any time, so please check back regularly to ensure that you are aware of the latest version.
ICO Registration number: ZB778591
To view Plymstock Hypnotherapy’s Website Privacy Policy, please click here.