Statement of intent

This policy sets out that I Emma Brookes, working under the business Emma Brookes Hypnotherapy will use and protect the information that you provide when you use my service.

It is my intention to ensure that any data you provide is managed respectfully, kept secure and only used for the purposes for which it has been provided.

The policy may be updated in the future to keep in line with legislation.

What information do I collect?

When you contact me via website, social media, telephone or email, the information I may collect is –

• Name

• Email address

• Telephone number

• Emergency name and contact number

• Any other information you choose to supply regarding the purpose of your enquiry.

What I do with this information?

I will securely save your details for the purposes of communication, to discuss your requirements with you, to send you session reminders, to contact you in the case of missed or late attendance to a session, and for any other purpose I believe is in your best interest.

I will not share any information you provide me via any forms of communication with any other person unless I receive your written consent, or I am legally required to do so.

The initial consultation

During the initial consultation I will ask you to provide me with information regarding –

• Your name

• Address

• Contact details

• Family history

• Lifestyle

• Medical

• Mental health

• Any other information you wish to discuss or I feel is relevant to our sessions.

Sessions

In the course of the sessions I will take notes of any information you provide that I feel appropriate to track progress and help plan your future sessions.

Any information I hold will be securely locked away, and used only for the intended purpose.

In the case of an emergency I will call the emergency contact you provide to me.

Webcam sessions

Where the sessions are conducted via webcam eg. Zoom, Skype or facetime the sessions are recorded only for as long as it will take me to write up notes not taken contemporaneously. Once notes have been documented, the recording will be deleted.

I will need to see you throughout the online session including during trance where you may be lying down or reclining in a chair.  If we lose connection whilst you in trance you will naturally come out of this state of relaxation.

If there is any issue with the connection I will phone you on WhatsApp and/or the telephone number you provide to me.

In the case of an emergency I will call the emergency contact you provide to me.

How will your information be stored?

Your name and telephone contact details will be saved on my mobile phone. My phone is password protected.

Your email address will be stored in my email contacts. My email address is password protected.

Any information you provide that is relevant to your hypnotherapy sessions I may take notes on, this information will be securely stored away.

How long will my information be stored?

Your information will be kept for up to 7 years after you have finished sessions under the guidance of the Association of Solution Focussed Hypnotherapy, or 7 years from the age of 18 if a client is under 18 when starting sessions.

You have the following rights

• The right to be informed – why we have produced this policy.

• The right to access. If you wish to see your profile please make a request in writing to Emma Brookes, the data processor. I will provide you with the information within 30 days of receiving the request.

• The right to rectification. This is your right to request changes to any information that I hold that is factually inaccurate. If you believe any of the information I hold about you is incorrect then please let me know and I will make the appropriate changes.

• The right to erasure. Given the nature of our work we are required to hold our details for 7 years, or 7 years from the age of 18 if a client is under 18 when starting sessions. After this your information will be securely destroyed.

• The right to restrict processing. I will only use the information for the purposes that we have stated: most standards of confidentiality applied in professional contexts are based upon the common law concept of confidentiality where the duty to keep confidence is measured against the concept of greater good. If in the therapists opinion there is good cause to believe that not to disclose would cause danger or serious harm to self, the therapist or others, your GP or the appropriate agencies may be contacted. Only information required to ensure the safety of the relevant parties would be disclosed. Information may have to be disclosed without consent for the prevention, detection or prosecution of a crime. The sharing of anonymous case histories with supervisors and peer support groups is not a breach of professional confidentiality.

• The right to data portability: I will not share your information, other than in the situations described above without your specific consent.

• The right to object. I will not contact you for any marketing purposes unless you have given me specific agreement to do so.

• The right not to be subject to automated decision making including profiling. I will not use your information for profiling purposes.

Sharing data

I, Emma Brookes am the data processor. I will be fully compliant with the GDPR requirements in using data for administration, appointment making and accounts.

Premises

In the case of using premises or clinic to see clients I will ensure that I receive written consent that any data obtained by CCTV is protected in accordance with the GDPR.

Cookies

Cookies are small files which ask permission to be places on your computer’s hard drive so that I can analyse web traffic to my website. Through this I can see which of my website pages are being viewed and of interest. Most web browsers automatically accept cookies, but you can modify your settings to decline them if you prefer. If you chose to do this you may find that you cannot make full use of the website.

Types of cookies and how we use them

Essential cookies

Essential cookies are crucial to your experience of a website, enabling core features like user logins, account management, shopping carts and payment processing. We use essential cookies to enable certain functions on our website.

Performance cookies

Performance cookies are used in the tracking of how you use a website during your visit, without collecting personal information about you. Typically, this information is anonymous and aggregated with information tracked across all site users, to help companies understand visitor usage patterns, identify and diagnose problems or errors their users may encounter, and make better strategic decisions in improving their audience’s overall website experience. These cookies may be set by the website you’re visiting (first-party) or by third-party services. We use performance cookies on our site.

Functionality cookies

Functionality cookies are used in collecting information about your device and any settings you may configure on the website you’re visiting (like language and time zone settings). With this information, websites can provide you with customised, enhanced or optimised content and services. These cookies may be set by the website you’re visiting (first-party) or by third-party service. We use functionality cookies for selected features on our site.

Targeting/advertising cookies

Targeting/advertising cookies are used in determining what promotional content is more relevant and appropriate to you and your interests. Websites may use them to deliver targeted advertising or to limit the number of times you see an advertisement. This helps companies improve the effectiveness of their campaigns and the quality of content presented to you. These cookies may be set by the website you’re visiting (first-party) or by third-party services. Targeting/advertising cookies set by third-parties may be used to track you on other websites that use the same third-party service. We use targeting/advertising cookies on our site.

Third-party cookies on our site

We may employ third-party companies and individuals on our websites—for example, analytics providers and content partners. We grant these third parties access to selected information to perform specific tasks on our behalf. They may also set third-party cookies in order to deliver the services they are providing. Third-party cookies can be used to track you on other websites that use the same third-party service. As we have no control over third-party cookies, they are not covered by Lisa Cartlidge Hypnotherapy's cookie policy.

Our third-party privacy promise

We review the privacy policies of all our third-party providers before enlisting their services to ensure their practices align with ours. We will never knowingly include third-party services that compromise or violate the privacy of our users.

How you can control or opt out of cookies

If you do not wish to accept cookies from us, you can instruct your browser to refuse cookies from our website. Most browsers are configured to accept cookies by default, but you can update these settings to either refuse cookies altogether, or to notify you when a website is trying to set or update a cookie.

If you browse websites from multiple devices, you may need to update your settings on each individual device.

Although some cookies can be blocked with little impact on your experience of a website, blocking all cookies may mean you are unable to access certain features and content across the sites you visit.

Links to other websites

Our websites may contain links to other websites of interest. However, once you use these links please be aware that you have left our website and we do not have any control over the websites.  I cannot therefore be held responsible for the information which you provide when visiting such sites and these sites are not governed by this privacy policy. I advise therefore that you exercise caution and look at the privacy statement applicable to the website in question.

Website and social media testimonials

I will only publish testimonials on my website with specific consent, and I will not publish your full name.  The testimonial will stay in there unless you specifically ask me to remove it. If you provide a testimonial on social media (eg facebook) the testimonial will stay on there unless you specifically ask me to remove it. In which case I will remove it within 14 days your request.

Waiting area

I will always ensure my clients privacy is kept to the best of my ability by bookings sessions with at least a 10-minute break in between. It is possible you may pass clients booked in the session before, or after your session.