Understanding abuse

Here at the Practice we understand Abuse and Domestic Violence/Abuse as it is defined by the latest legislation. Since March 2016 the definition for Domestic Violence/Abuse is as follow:

 

“Any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between those aged 16 or over who are, or have been, intimate partners or family members regardless of gender or sexuality. The abuse can encompass, but is not limited to:

  • Psychological
  • Physical
  • Sexual
  • Financial
  • Emotional
  • Controlling behaviour

Controlling behaviour is a range of acts designed to make a person subordinate and/or dependent by isolating them from sources of support, exploiting their resources and capacities for personal gain, depriving them of the means needed for independence, resistance and escape and regulating their everyday behaviour.

 

Coercive behaviour is an act or a pattern of acts of assault, threats, humiliation and intimidation or other abuse that is used to harm, punish, or frighten their victim.”

Forced Marriage and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) are also condiered forms of domestic violence/abuse

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/domestic-violence-and-abuse

At the Practice we also uderstand Child Abuse to be:

 “Any action by another person – adult or child – that causes significant harm to a child. It can be physical, sexual or emotional, but can just as often be about a lack of love, care and attention. We know that neglect, whatever form it takes, can be just as damaging to a child as physical abuse”

 

https://www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/child-abuse-and-neglect/

 Here at the Practice we can help you by:

  • Identifying and affirming your experiences and feelings with you.
  • Help you explore your own resources and find more tools to ground, support and process your emotions and options.
  • We work alongside you at your pace, empowering you to make the choices and changes that are right for you at this time and recover the sense of self that was harmed/abused/traumatised.

Testimonials

It is within the herd that I have finally found my voice.....long forgotten but not lost.
Thank you, Cleo and Sultana for allowing me to be part of the herd.

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Alice

Thanks to my therapist I am now more assertive and clearer of my needs and therefore more able to live a life that I want rather than what people want.

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Mary

Although at the beginning I was very scared of horses, today I realised that the biggest fear was that I could be as powerful as the horses.

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Sophie

We are recognized with AVIVA, BUPA and many more insurances. Call us to see if check if you are covered. We are also accredited member of BACP, NDCP and NCS. 

Privacy Overview

The Practice will always make it clear to you when we collect your personal information and will explain to you what we intend to do with it and how long we store it

 

For the purpose of the Data Protection Act 1998 (soon to be General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) (Regulation (EU) 2016/679)) , the data controllers are Maya Gagni and Shirani Situnayake

 

 

Website

When someone visits our website we use a third party service, Google Analytics, to collect standard internet log information and details of visitor behaviour patterns. We do this to find out things such as the number of visitors to the various parts of the site. This information is only processed in a way which does not identify anyone. We do not make, and do not allow Google to make, any attempt to find out the identities of those visiting our website.

 

When you contact us via our website, your contact details will be stored only for the purpose to contact you back and discuss how we can help you. If we cannot help you, your details will be deleted from our emails.

 

Our website is fully protected and encrypted and we do not collect Cookies.

 

 

Collecting and Storing your information

When starting counselling we will collect your contact details and some basic information about you.

Click here to view a copy of the form.

 

By filling the form you will give us the consent to store your information.

 

After each session brief notes will be written for the sole purpose of mantaining a record of what has been discussed.

 

The information you will give us and the notes will be stored and kept securely and confidentially in a safe filing system. Any electronic correspondance is stored in an encrypted computer system protected by an Antivirus system that is updated on a regular basis.

 

Your details will be stored for 7 years ( Statutes of limitation under Civil Law or Tort)

 

Sharing your information and Confidentiality agreement

Maintaining a confidential services at the Practice is paramount to our work.

The Practice will only share your information in the following circumstances:

 

 

Consent to disclose information will be sought whenever possible.

 

Click here for a copy of the Contract you will be asked to sign which contains further information about the limitations of our Confidentiality agreement.

 

Accessing your information - Subject Access Request (SAR)

What is a subject access request?

Under the Data Protection Act 1998 an individual has the right to request all personal data that a Data Controller holds about them by making a subject access request. The Data Protection Act gives Data Controllers 40 calendar days to complete a subject access request. This time starts from the day we receive a clear request and enough identification to be sure that the request is from the data subject. Once this information has been received the designated Data Controller (your counsellor) will contact you to acknowledge that the 40 day period has started.

 

You can make a request to access your personal information by filing a SAR form and e-mail it to mayanayake1@talktalk.net for the attention of your counsellor.

 

Click here to download a SAR form.

 

Your rights to rectification and erasure

You have the right to ask us to rectify any information we hold about you and to delete them including your personal information that is no longer relevant to original purposes – for example when the therapeutic relationship has ended or if you wish to withdraw consent. In all cases and when considering such requests, these rights are obligatory unless it’s information that we have a legal obligation to retain.

 

Your rights to data portability

You have the right to receive your personal information as previously provided, and to transfer this information to another party.