Privacy Policy and Data Protection - Brett Dean Therapy
Brett Dean Therapy

Privacy Policy

Brett Dean Therapy
Last Updated: 17/5/2026

At Brett Dean Therapy, your privacy and confidentiality are taken seriously. This privacy policy explains how your personal information is collected, used, stored, and protected in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

1. Who I Am

Brett Dean is the data controller responsible for your personal information. I am registered with, and act in accordance with the regulations set out by, the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).

Information Commissioner's Office (ICO)

Contact Details:
Email: brettdeanpsychotherapy@gmail.com
Website: www.brettdeantherapy.co.uk

If you have any questions about this privacy policy or how your information is handled, please get in touch using the details above.

2. What Information I Collect

I may collect and process the following personal information:

  • Name
  • Email address
  • Telephone number
  • Information provided through contact forms or emails
  • Appointment information
  • Clinical or health-related information shared during therapy
  • Emergency contact details where appropriate
  • Website usage information through cookies or analytics tools

As a psychotherapist, I may also process sensitive personal information relating to mental and physical health. This is considered “special category data” under UK GDPR.

3. How Information Is Collected

Information may be collected through:

  • Website contact forms
  • Email correspondence
  • Telephone or online enquiries
  • Therapy sessions
  • Assessment forms or intake documents
  • Online scheduling systems
  • Cookies and website analytics

Please avoid including highly sensitive or confidential information in initial website contact forms or emails where possible.

4. Why I Collect Your Information

Your information is collected for the purposes of:

  • Responding to enquiries
  • Arranging and managing appointments
  • Providing psychotherapy services
  • Maintaining clinical records
  • Ensuring safe and ethical practice
  • Meeting professional, legal, and insurance requirements
  • Improving website functionality and user experience

5. Lawful Basis for Processing

Under UK GDPR, the lawful bases relied upon for processing personal data include:

  • Contract – where processing is necessary for providing therapy services
  • Legitimate Interests – for managing and operating the practice safely and effectively
  • Legal Obligation – where records must be retained for legal, safeguarding, or insurance purposes
  • Consent – where consent is specifically required

For special category health-related information, processing is carried out under the provision of healthcare and counselling services and in accordance with professional confidentiality obligations.

6. Confidentiality

Everything discussed within therapy is treated confidentially and with respect.

However, there are some limits to confidentiality where disclosure may be necessary, including:

  • If there is serious concern about risk of harm to yourself or others
  • Safeguarding concerns involving children or vulnerable adults
  • Legal or court requirements
  • Professional or ethical obligations

Where possible, confidentiality concerns will be discussed with you first.

7. Clinical Notes and Record Keeping

Brief clinical notes will be kept to support safe, ethical, and effective therapy practice.

Notes will be handwritten where possible and stored in a secure, locked filing cabinet. Any identifiable and contact information will be stored in a separate secure location. If records are to be stored electronically, they will be stored securely using password-protected and/or encrypted systems where appropriate. Access to information is limited and handled confidentially.

Clinical records are retained for a period consistent with professional guidance, insurance requirements, and legal obligations before being securely destroyed. As a standard, this is for a seven year period. 

8. Sharing Information

Your information will not be sold or shared for marketing purposes.

Information may occasionally be shared with:

  • Clinical supervisors (with identifying information minimised where possible)
  • Legal or safeguarding authorities where required
  • Secure third-party service providers used for administration or communication

Any third-party providers used are expected to comply with relevant data protection standards.

9. Online Therapy

Therapy sessions that are conducted online will be completed via secure video platforms where possible. While reasonable steps are taken to protect confidentiality, no online platform can be guaranteed to be completely secure. Possible video platforms will include Zoom, Google Meet and Microsoft Teams. 

Clients are encouraged to attend sessions from a private and secure environment wherever possible.

10. Website Cookies and Analytics

This website may use cookies or analytics services to understand website usage and improve user experience.

Cookies are small files stored on your device that help websites function effectively.

You can manage or disable cookies through your browser settings.

If analytics services such as Google Analytics are used, anonymised website usage information may be collected.

11. Your Rights Under UK GDPR

Under UK data protection law, you have rights including:

  • The right to access your personal information
  • The right to request correction of inaccurate information
  • The right to request erasure of information where applicable
  • The right to restrict or object to processing in certain circumstances
  • The right to withdraw consent where consent is relied upon
  • The right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office

Further information can be found via:

Information Commissioner's Office (ICO)

12. Data Security

Reasonable technical and organisational measures are taken to help protect personal information from loss, misuse, unauthorised access, disclosure, or alteration.

This may include:

  • Password-protected devices
  • Secure storage systems
  • Encrypted communication where appropriate
  • Restricted access to records

13. Changes to This Privacy Policy

This privacy policy may be updated periodically to reflect changes in legal, professional, or practice requirements.

The most recent version will always be available on the website.

14. Contact

If you have any questions about this privacy policy or how your information is handled, please contact:

Brett Dean Therapy
Email: brettdeanpsychotherapy@gmail.com
Website: www.brettdeantherapy.co.uk

 

©Copyright 2026. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy

BABCP Accreditation: 1002530 | EMDR Association UK Membership: 175187

I do not provide crisis intervention or support. If you are in crisis and feeling suicidal or at risk of harming yourself, please contact the NHS Mental Health Support via 111 (option 2) or the 24-hours free Samaritans line on 116 123. If you feel unable to keep yourself safe or are in immediate danger, please call 999 for an ambulance or go straight to A&E.

 

 


 

Information icon

We need your consent to load the translations

We use a third-party service to translate the website content that may collect data about your activity. Please review the details in the privacy policy and accept the service to view the translations.