Privacy Notice – Open Lens Counselling

 

Your Privacy and Data Protection Rights

At Open Lens Counselling, I take your privacy seriously and am committed to protecting your personal data in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

This notice explains what personal information I collect, how I use it, and your rights regarding your data.

1. Who I Am

I am a registered and qualified counsellor providing private online and in-person counselling services to adults across the UK.

If you have any questions about this privacy notice or how your data is handled, please contact:
• Ewa Augustyniak
• Open Lens Counselling
• Email: info@openlenscounselling.co.uk
• Phone: 0044 123 455 678

2. What Information I Collect

I collect and store the following types of personal data:

Personal Identification Data:
• Name
• Age and date of birth
• Contact details (email, address, phone number)
• Emergency contact information (deleted after sessions end)
• GP details

Sensitive (Special Cathegory) Data:
• Mental health history
• Medical information relevant to therapy
• Session notes
• Information you disclose during sessions

Administrative Data:
• Payment information (where applicable)
• Appointment records

3. Why I Collect This Information

• To provide a safe, ethical and effective counselling service
  • To contact you regarding appointments
  • For safeguarding purposes
  • To comply with legal or professional obligations (e.g. supervision, insurance, tax requirements)

4. Lawful Basis for Processing

• Contract – to deliver the counselling service you have requested
  • Consent – for processing sensitive (special category) data
  • Legal obligation – for record keeping, safeguarding and tax compliance
  • Vital interests – in rare cases, to protect your life or someone else’s
  • Legitimate interest – for the effective running of my practice while respecting your rights

5. How Your Information Is Stored

• Digital data is stored securely in encrypted format on password-protected systems
  • Written notes are kept securely in a locked location
  • Records are retained for 5 years after the end of therapy, in line with professional and insurance requirements

6. Sharing Your Data

Your data is kept confidential. I will never sell or share your information for marketing purposes.

Information may be shared only:
• With my clinical supervisor (anonymously) to ensure best practice
• If required by law or court order
• If there is a serious risk of harm to you or others
• In safeguarding situations involving a child or vulnerable adult
• With emergency services in the event of an emergency

Where possible, I will aim to discuss this with you first unless doing so would increase risk.

7. Confidentiality & Safeguarding

All sessions are confidential within clear professional limits. Confidentiality may be breached where:
• There is a serious risk of harm to you or others
• There are safeguarding concerns involving a child or vulnerable adult
• Disclosure is required by law

These limits are explained during assessment and outlined in the working agreement.

8. Your Rights

You have the right to:
• Access the personal data I hold about you
• Request correction of inaccurate data
• Request erasure of your data (in certain circumstances)
• Object to or restrict processing of your data
• Withdraw your consent at any time (where processing is based on consent)
• Lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO)

9. ICO Contact Details

• Website: www.ico.org.uk
  • Helpline: 0303 123 1113

10. Complaints

If you have concerns about how your data is handled:
• Please contact me directly first
• If unresolved, you may contact the Information Commissioner’s Office at www.ico.org.uk

11. Changes to This Privacy Notice

This notice may be updated from time to time. The latest version will always be available on request.

This policy is dated March 2026.