Privacy Policy
Privacy statement
This privacy policy provides a summary of how Dr Connie Geyer, Clinical Psychologist, deals with your personal data. In line with the code of ethics outlined by the professional body for UK Clinical Psychologists, the ‘Health Care and Professions Council’ (HCPC), the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR, EU 2016/679), and any other relevant legislation, I am committed to protecting your personal information at all times, and to taking all actions necessary to ensure that your personal data is processed lawfully, fairly, and in a transparent manner. You can find out more about my professional and legal responsibilities on their websites.
Use of Internet ‘cookies’
Cookies are small pieces of text sent to your browser by a website you visit. They help the website remember information about your visit, which can both make it easier to visit the site again and make the site more useful to you (Google, 2023). More detailed information about ‘cookies’ can be accessed here:
https://www.kaspersky.com/resource-center/definitions/cookies
The following links explain how to access cookie settings in various browsers:
Firefox:
http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Enabling%20and%20disabling%20cookies
Internet Explorer:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/17442/windows-internet-explorer-delete-manage-cookies
Google Chrome:
http://www.google.com/support/chrome/bin/answer.py?answer=95647
Safari (OS X):
http://support.apple.com/kb/PH17191?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US
Safari (iOS):
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201265
Android:
https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/95647?co=GENIE.Platform%3DAndroid&hl=en&oco=0
What type of information does the website drconniegeyer.com collect?
The website collects the Internet Protocol (IP) address used to connect your computer to the Internet. It uses software tools to measure and collect session information, including page response times, length of visit, page interaction information, and general user information (general geographical area, referral source (e.g. Psychology Today, Google search, or social media platforms), type of device used to access the site (e.g. phone or desktop)). This data is anonymous and unidentifiable. It is collected and analysed to optimise website functionality and user experience.
When do I collect your personal and identifiable information?
By submitting a general enquiry via my website, I begin processing your personal data. For example, I require full names and email addresses in order to follow up with you about your request. Similarly, if we arrange a phone call together and you provide your number to me via email, or you complete a further information form, I begin processing this information.
By signing up to the mailing list, basic information is also stored- this includes the name and email address that you used to sign up. The mailing list is for the sole purpose of updating you about offers, workshops, courses and occasional blog posts. You can choose to ‘Unsubscribe’ from the mailing list at any time.
During any work together, depending on the nature of our work, for example clinical psychology sessions, consultancy or yoga sessions, I may collect further private, sensitive and personal information in order to best support our work together. Please see below about the information that I may be legally required to store, and in order to provide safe and effective clinical psychology services, or private yoga sessions.
Confidentiality and how your data is stored
All information I collect is kept confidential and private (within the limits thereof – see below for further information about this). I store private and confidential information electronically. All electronic devices and programs that I use are GDPR compliant and either password/passcode protected, and wherever possible, I use encryption, and/or password protection, to protect your data if/when it is sent electronically (e.g., a GP letter).
My website is hosted on the Wix.com platform. Wix.com provides me with the online platform that allows me to offer my services to you. Your data may be stored through Wix.com’s data storage, databases and the general Wix.com applications. They store your data on secure servers behind a firewall. For information on how my website provider may use your personal data please see www.wix.com .
Why I collect personal information, and what information I collect
As a clinical psychologist and yoga teacher, I need to collect some basic personal information in order to provide safe, professional and effective services. I am registered with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) as a "data controller" for this purpose. As well as being legally required to operate in accordance with GDPR, as a clinical psychologist, I am also governed by the Health & Care Professions Council's 'Standard of Conduct, Performance and Ethics', which advocates for the privacy and confidentiality of all psychological services offered.
Upon requesting a consultation for my services, basic personal information will be collected for contact, identification and signposting reasons. Notes will be taken during sessions. These will include personal and sensitive details about your life. The assessment and notes are used solely for the delivery of a service to you. I will only ever collect information about you in accordance with offering safe, professional and maximally effective psychological services - I therefore have a legal "legitimate interest" in processing the personal data that I request from you in this context, and for the purposes of providing preventative or ongoing healthcare.
Please note that I use Zoom video sessions. It is assumed that all people agreeing to meet me in any capacity (e.g. therapy, consultation, yoga sessions) online using this platform are aware of Zoom’s privacy policy, and understand the GDPR implications of speaking with me on Zoom.
How can I withdraw consent?
You can decline cookies when visiting my website, using the cookie banner options at the bottom of the page. You can unsubscribe from newsletters and blogs using the ‘Unsubscribe’ option. If you encounter any issues, please contact me using the message form for further assistance.
Regarding psychological services, you can always decline to provide the information I request. If you decline to provide either contact information and/or GP information (for you and/or your child, if relevant), then I will be unable to offer you psychological services, as I would be unable to work safely and professionally without this information. Sharing more sensitive information at your pace will also allow me to most effectively work and support you.
How information shared via social media is used
Dr Connie Geyer has business pages on various social media platforms, such as Instagram, LinkedIn and Threads. Please be aware that by interacting with posts (i.e. 'like' or comment on a post etc.), information such as your username and your comment will be visible / accessible to me and to all those who view the social media page or blog; however, I do not process this data further. I therefore trust you are aware of, and understand, the privacy policies of the various social media or business platforms you may interact with.
Confidentiality
All information I collect is kept confidential and private with a few exceptions. I am under legal obligation to:
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inform appropriate agencies if I perceive you are a danger to yourself or to others
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share information if required to do so under a court order or by law
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disclose information if required to do so for the prevention, detection or prosecution of a crime
These situations happen very rarely, and normally I will always try to discuss with you first if I have to contact a third party.
I am also required to have clinical supervision (1:1 and / or peer), where I may discuss our work together as part of my professional registration and code of ethics, and in order to provide the best support to you. The duty of confidentiality extends to supervisors and peers. Full names will not be used.
How long do I keep the data?
Your information is kept for the duration of our time working together. For therapy sessions, I am required to hold your details and session notes for seven years following the end of our work together to comply with legal obligations as a clinical psychologist and the 'Practice Guidelines’ of the British Psychological Society.
What are your rights?
GDPR states that you have the following rights regarding any personal data of yours processed by someone else: 1. The right to be informed; 2. The right of access; 3. The right to rectification; 4. The right to erasure, in certain circumstances; 5. The right to restrict processing, in certain circumstances.; 6. The right to data portability, in certain circumstances; 7. The right to object, in certain circumstances.; 8. Rights in relation to automated decision making and profiling. Please see https://ico.org.uk for more information.
If you have any concerns, questions, or complaints about how I manage personal information, please contact me (Dr Connie Geyer) directly in the first instance. Thank you.
Dr Connie Geyer
Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Yoga Teacher