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About This Policy: Paula Watson Therapy is a sole trader psychotherapy and counselling practice. I am committed to protecting your privacy and handling your personal data responsibly and lawfully.​ This policy explains:

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• What data I collect

• Why I collect it

•  How I protect it

• Your rights

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What Data I Collect: When you work with me as a client, I collect:

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Initial Contact Information

• Your name, phone number, email address

• Basic information about why you're seeking therapy

• Your preferred location (Chiswick or Belmont Road)

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During Therapy

• Session notes (summary of topics discussed, relevant to your therapeutic progress)

• Your medical/mental health history (as relevant to therapy)

• Emergency contact information

• Payment records

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Website

•  If you contact me via the website, your email and message content

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Why I Collect This Data: I collect your data because:

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Legal Basis: You have consented to therapy, and I need this information to:

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• Provide you with safe, effective therapeutic care

• Keep clinical records (legal requirement under BACP ethics and UK law)

• Contact you about appointments

• Process payments

• Respond to any concerns or complaints

I do not use your data for marketing, profiling, or any other purpose without your explicit consent.

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How I Protect Your Data

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Storage

• Session notes and client records are stored securely

• Data is held on encrypted devices or secure cloud storage

• Only I have access to your records

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Data Security

• I hold professional indemnity insurance

•  I am DBS cleared (enhanced)

•  I follow BACP Ethical Framework and UK data protection law

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Who Has Access

•  Only me (Paula Watson)

• In rare emergency situations (safeguarding concern), I may share information with relevant authorities

 

How Long I Keep Your Data

 

During Therapy - Session notes are kept for the duration of our work together

 

After Therapy Ends

• I keep records for 6 years after your final session (professional and legal requirement)

• After 6 years, records are securely destroyed

• You may request earlier deletion (see Your Rights below)

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Your Rights​

 

You have the right to:

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 - Access | Request a copy of your personal data (Subject Access Request)

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• Contact me at complaints@paulawatson.co.uk

• I will provide this within 30 days

• There is no charge for reasonable requests

 

- Correction |  Ask me to correct inaccurate information about you

 

- Deletion | Request deletion of your data (right to be forgotten)

• I may need to retain some information for legal/professional reasons

• I will discuss this with you

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- Complaint | Make a complaint about how I handle your data (see below)

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Data Protection Complaints

If you have a complaint about how I handle your personal data, please contact me at: complaints@paulawatson.co.uk

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I will acknowledge receipt of your complaint within 30 days and respond as quickly as possible.

If you are not satisfied with my response, you can also contact the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO):

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• Website: www.ico.org.uk

• Phone: 0303 123 1113

 

Contact Me - For therapy enquiries:

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• Phone: +44 (0) 7555 040794

• Email: info@paulawatson.co.uk

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Contact Me - For data protection queries or complaints:

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• Email: complaints@paulawatson.co.uk

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Registered Address:

Paula Watson Therapy

1a Belmont Road

Chiswick, LONDON W4 5UL

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Changes to This Policy

I may update this policy if my practice changes or data protection law changes. I will notify you of significant changes.

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Paula Watson

BA, PGDip (MBACP), MSc, FRSA

Psychotherapist

Accredited by BACP and UKCP

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Last updated: June 2026