Where will the sessions be held.

All sessions are held at my private practice in Downend, Bristol. The counselling room is located on the first floor; prospective clients will need to be able to walk up a flight of stairs.

Sessions

Sessions are face to face, for 1 hour and generally take place at the same time and day on a weekly basis. However there may be some flexibility for example; shift workers.

Fees

My counselling fees are per session; £65 for individuals, £80 for couples.

Cancellations / Missed Sessions

If you are unable to attend a session I need 48 hours notice; if less than 48 hours notice is given I will charge for that missed session. For sessions held on a Monday, cancellations need to be made by the previous Friday. The same applies over a bank holiday period. I appreciate as much notice as possible for any holiday leave.

Payment

Payment may be made by cash, cheque or bank transfer, by the end of each session. Alternatively you can pay in advance of each session via bank transfer.

What to expect in first session

This is the time for you to share with me why you have come for counselling. It also gives me the opportunity to find out more about you. Just by being with me, you will gain a sense of whether I am the right person to help you.

Privacy Notice of Denise Loftus Counsellor

This statement confirms how I Denise Loftus use and protect any information that you give to me whilst using my service.

1 am committed to safeguarding and protecting your information. if 1 ask you for any information it will only be used according to this privacy statement. I may change this policy from time to time in line with legislation and whilst we are still working together I will provide you with a copy of any change. If we have ceased working together and you would like a copy of my up to date privacy policy i will provide one on request. This policy is effective from May 2018.

For the purposes of Data Protection Act 1998 and General Data Protection Regulation 2016 Denise Loftus is the data controller of 48 Oakdale Road, Downend, Bristol, UK BS166EA.

Your data
Information I collect: I store your name, telephone number and email address and other personal information that you provide to me. I will also write brief notes of sessions.
How I store information: I keep brief notes recording the themes of our counselling sessions. These are stored in a locked filing cabinet and destroyed 7 years after your counselling sessions end unless agreed otherwise. Any information stored online will be kept securely on a password protected computer. Your contact and appointment details will be kept for 7 years after your counselling sessions end and then destroyed unless agreed otherwise. Any emails, voicemail messages or other communications will be deleted at any time but not later than one month after receipt unless they form part of your notes or are needed for income tax purposes in which case they will be kept for 7 years as above. If any reports are provided on your behalf then these will be stored for 7 years password protected. I store a note of your appointment in my diary either by first name or by your initials. This is kept for 7 years. At the end of these periods respectively I will confidentially shred all paper copies.
How I use this information: I will use your contact details to engage in my work with you according to my contract with you including contacting you about appointments, keeping records such as appointments, running and maintaining my business. I also keep brief notes of counselling sessions in order to support me in offering you counselling. I will not use contact information or your session notes for any other purpose other than in this notice and my contract. If for any reason I am asked to provide a report of the sessions – eg at your request then this will be sent to you, password protected for your approval before it is provided to the person requesting it. It will also be stored for 7 years.
Your rights and Access to Information: You have the right to ask to see any information that i hold about you. Unless prevented from doing so by legal reasons, I will provide this information to you within a month of your request. I am happy to look at this in a session. You also have the right to ask me to change any information that I hold that is incorrect and to ask me to delete any information that I hold about you. I will do this except for any information I need to hold for legal purposes such as my business tax purposes.
Complaints: If you wish to complain about how I hold your data in any way then in the first instance please contact me Denise Loftus who is the data controller of Denise Loftus Counselling 48 Oakdale Road, Downend, Bristol, UK BS166EA.