THE THERAPY BUBBLE
Privacy Notice
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This privacy notice explains how I, William Thomson, gather, utilize, store, and safeguard your personal information in my therapy practice. As a counselor providing both online and in-person sessions, I the confidentiality and security of your data. I serve as the data controller for any personal information collected through my services. Your trust is vital, and I am dedicated to handling your information with the highest level of care and respect.
This means I am responsible for deciding how personal information is used and for keeping it safe. If you have any questions about this notice, or about how your information is handled, you can contact me at: Email: thetherapybubble@icloud.com Phone: +44 7359 417798 Website: https://www.thetherapybubble.net/
This notice applies to people who contact me about therapy, current and former clients, and visitors to my website.
Therapy is confidential, but confidentiality is not
absolute. I will not share what you tell me unless
there is a lawful, ethical or safeguarding reason to
do so. Where information does need to be shared,
I will aim to share only what is necessary. I may
need to share information if:
• I believe there is a serious risk of harm to you or
someone else
• there is a safeguarding concern involving a child,
vulnerable adult or person at risk
• I am required to do so by law, court order or
legal process
• disclosure is necessary to prevent or detect a
serious crime
• there is a medical emergency and information is
needed to protect life
• I need to consult my clinical supervisor, while
protecting your identity as far as possible Where
possible and appropriate, I would aim to discuss
this with you before sharing information. I may
not be able to do so if this would increase risk,
prejudice safeguarding action, undermine the
purpose of the disclosure, or would otherwise not
be possible.
Information I collect
I only collect information that I need to respond to enquiries, provide therapy safely and professionally, keep appropriate records and meet legal, professional and ethical responsibilities. When you contact me, I may collect:
-your name
-your email address
-your phone number
-the information you choose to share in your enquiry
-any preferences around contact, availability or therapy format If we arrange an initial call or begin therapy.
I may also collect:
-your address
-your date of birth
-your GP details
-emergency contact details, where appropriate -relevant health, mental-health or wellbeing information information about your personal history, relationships, work, identity, family, circumstances and reasons for seeking therapy
-brief clinical notes
- attendance, payment and appointment information correspondence between us.
Some of this information is special-category data under UK data protection
law. This may include information about health, mental health, sexuality,
ethnicity, religion or other sensitive areas where these are relevant to therapy.
How I use your information
I use your personal information to:
• respond to enquiries
• arrange initial calls and appointments
• provide therapy
• keep appropriate clinical records
• manage payments, invoices and appointments
• communicate with you about sessions
• meet legal, professional and ethical
responsibilities
• manage risk, safeguarding or emergency
situations where necessary
• maintain insurance, tax and accounting records
• respond to data protection requests or
complaints I do not sell your personal
information.
Where I ask for your consent for something
specific, such as recording a session, using a
transcription tool, or contacting another
professional, I will explain what I am asking for
and whether you can withdraw that consent.
Consent is not the only lawful basis available
under data protection law, and I will only rely on
it where it is appropriate to do so.
How long I keep information
I keep information only for as long as necessary
for the purpose for which it was collected.
Retention periods may vary depending on the
type of record, the nature of the work, legal and
professional requirements, and whether the work
involved a child or young person. Please ask me if
you require further details.
There may be times when I need to keep records
for longer, for example where there are
safeguarding, legal, insurance, complaint-related
or professional-body reasons. I keep retention
periods under review and aim to make sure they
remain justified and proportionate.
Clinical notes and records
I keep brief clinical notes to support safe and
ethical therapy. These are usually factual,
proportionate and relevant to the work. I do not
aim to keep a full transcript of sessions. Clinical
records may include:
• session dates
• brief themes discussed
• relevant risk, safeguarding or clinical
information
• agreed actions or important decisions
contact and administrative information.
AI Tools, Transcript and Recording
I do not record, transcribe or use AI tools to
process therapy sessions. I may use digital tools for
general practice administration, writing, planning
or education. Where I do, I avoid putting
identifiable client material into tools that are not
appropriate for confidential clinical information,
and I take data protection and confidentiality
into account when choosing how to use those
tools.
Online Therapy
If we work online, sessions will take place using
Zoom. I will take reasonable steps to protect
confidentiality from my side, and I ask that you
choose a private space where you cannot easily be
overheard or interrupted. Online platforms may
process technical information such as IP address,
device information or connection data. You may
wish to check the privacy notice of the platform
we use for more detail.
Where your information is stored
Your information may be stored in the following
systems. I have named the actual providers I use so
you can see where information may be processed:
Website: WIX
Email: iCloud
Online Sessions: Zoom
Payments / Invoicing: Bank Transfer
Phone / messages: SMS, WhatsApp
Supervision
Like other ethical therapists, I use clinical
supervision to support safe and effective practice.
In supervision I may discuss aspects of client
work, but I aim to minimise identifying detail
where possible and appropriate.
My supervisor is also bound by confidentiality
and professional standards.