Welcome to my website: www.saragomesdasilva.com. 

I, Sara Gomes da Silva, am committed to protecting your privacy and handling your personal data safely according to the general data protection regulation (GDPR). This privacy statement sets out the basis in which, as a therapist, I process personal data. The UK GDPR determines that you have rights as an individual which you can exercise in relation to the personal data I hold about you. For example, you can exercise your right to request access to, and deletion or correction of, information about you. Please read the following carefully to understand how I will treat and regard your personal data in compliance with the GDPR. 

A. How I gather and store information 

Initial contact: When you contact me with an enquiry about my psychotherapy services via email, my professional website or by phone I will collect information, such as your name, email address, phone number and/or any other information you provide me with. Records of this correspondence may be kept. I use this information exclusively to communicate with you about my services; I do not rent or trade email lists with other organisations and businesses. I do not use any information you provide me with for marketing purposes. 

Working together: (1) If we decide to enter a therapeutic relationship, I may ask you to fill in a form providing me with more detailed information about you, such as address, next of kin, reason to seek therapy and GP contact details. (2) Note taking: I keep notes that contain information about the main themes discussed in session, attendance and payments. These are anonymised using client’s initials. (3) Personal data I collect from you [(1), (2)] is kept securely: electronic information is stored in a computer with password protection. Printed forms or documents are stored in a locked cabinet. Only I have access to these. 

B. How long I keep your notes for 

After therapy has ended: in line with professional record keeping guidelines, assessment forms and brief session notes will be kept securely in archive for 7 years after we end, after which time these will be safely disposed. 

C. Who I might share personal information with? 

All information I collect is kept confidential and private, with a few exceptions, summarised here. 

1. As part of my commitment to providing a professional service, I attend supervision regularly. Accessing supervision ensures that my clients get the most professional, safe and effective service from me possible. When client’s material is discussed in supervision their identity is always protected. 

2. I also have a legal obligation to share any information in cases of significant concern about your safety or that of others. 

D. Working online 

While working together, we may agree to use communications software such as ZOOM or similar. This software has a facility to record sessions – I will not use this. 

E. Your rights 

You are entitled to view, amend or delete the personal information that I hold. All requests have a month to be carried out. Please make your request in writing. This does not include any data I am obliged to keep for administrative, legal, or security purposes. 

F. How my website collects personal data 

When someone visits this www.saragomesdasilva.com, a third party service, Google Analytics, is used to collect standard internet log information and details of visitor behaviour patterns. This is done to find out things such as the number of visitors to the various parts of the site. This information is only processed in a way which does not identify anyone. I do not make, and do not allow Google to make, any attempt to find out the identities of those visiting this website. Please note that my website uses cookies. Cookies are anonymous and contain no personal data. You can turn cookies off in your website browser if you wish to.