Privacy Notice

Introduction

Your privacy is very important to me, and you can be confident that your personal information will be kept safe and secure and will only be used for the purpose it was given to me.

I adhere to current data protection legislation, including the General Data Protection Regulation (EU/2016/679) (the GDPR), the Data Protection Act 2018, and the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003.

What This Notice Covers

  • Why I am able to process your information and for what purpose
  • Whether you have to provide your data
  • How long I store it
  • Who else may receive it
  • Your data protection rights

Contact Information

Data Controller: Dezrika Ramsey

ICO Registration Number: ZB847698

Phone: 07596168815

Email: dezrika@figuringforward.com

Lawful Basis for Holding and Using Your Personal Information

I process personal data under the following legal bases:

  • Legitimate Interest: Holding data for past therapy clients
  • Contractual Necessity: Processing data for current therapy clients
  • Special Category Data: Processing health-related data under GDPR provisions

How I Use Your Information

Initial Contact

When you contact me regarding my services, I collect information such as your name, contact details, and the nature of your enquiry.

If you decide not to proceed, I will delete your information within one month.

During Counselling

Your discussions with me remain confidential unless:

  • You disclose risk of harm to yourself or others
  • There is a legal obligation to disclose information
  • There are safeguarding concerns (e.g., child or vulnerable adult abuse)

Record-Keeping and Data Security

Personal data is stored securely:

  • Encrypted files and password-protected devices
  • Written notes stored in locked filing systems

After Counselling Ends

Records are retained for seven years and then securely destroyed. If you wish to have your data deleted sooner, please let me know.

Session Transcription

With your explicit consent, I may transcribe our sessions to support my clinical notes. Transcripts are treated as confidential health records and stored under the same encryption and retention terms as my other client records. You can decline transcription at any time without it affecting your therapy.

Now the recordings section. Your current wording says recordings are “encrypted during transmission via Microsoft Teams.” Since Teams is only an occasional backup now, replace that line with something tool-neutral:

Technical Security for Recordings

Recordings are transmitted and stored using secure, encrypted services (which may include Microsoft Teams, Carepatron, or Google Workspace depending on the session)
Files are stored on password-protected, encrypted devices

Third-Party Recipients of Personal Data

I use third-party services to facilitate my work:

  • WordPress: Website hosting (Privacy Policy)
  • Carepatron: Virtual therapy platform, appointment scheduling, and session transcription (with your consent)  (Privacy Policy)
  • Cal.com: Meetings, introductory calls and initial consultation schedulding  scheduling (Privacy Policy)
  • Google Forms & Gmail: Client communication (Privacy Policy)
  • Microsoft Outlook: Email and client communication (Privacy Policy)

Data Security

I implement the following security measures:

  • Encrypted digital records
  • Password-protected systems
  • Locked storage for physical records

Visitors to My Website

I use Google Analytics to track website usage. Data collected includes:

  • Visitor numbers
  • Page interactions

Google’s privacy notice: Google Privacy Policy.

Cookies

Cookies help improve website functionality and user experience. Types of cookies used:

  • Session Cookies: Essential for website operation
  • Persistent Cookies: Store user preferences
  • Tracking Technologies: Such as web beacons for visitor insights

Managing Cookies

You can disable cookies in your browser settings. More information on managing cookies is available on the ICO website.

Changes to This Privacy Notice

I may update this notice from time to time. Updates will be posted here.

Contact Me

If you have any concerns about data handling, contact me at dezrika@figuringforward.com

Your Rights

Under data protection laws, you have the right to:

  • Access your personal data
  • Request corrections or deletions
  • Restrict or object to processing
  • Request data portability

For more details, visit ICO – Your Data Matters.

DATA PROTECTION & YOUR RIGHTS

I am committed to handling your personal information with care, transparency, and respect. This section explains your rights, how to make a complaint, and how to request access to your personal data.

YOUR RIGHT TO MAKE A COMPLAINT

If you believe your personal data has been handled incorrectly, or that your data protection rights have not been respected, you have the right to raise a complaint with me directly.

How to contact me

Email me at: dezrika@figuringforward.com

Please include your name, contact details, and a brief description of your concern.

What happens next

Once I receive your complaint:

  • I will acknowledge it within 15 working days
  • I will investigate your complaint and keep you informed of my progress
  • I will let you know the outcome as soon as possible

If you are not satisfied with how I handle your complaint, you also have the right to contact the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) directly at ico.org.uk or by calling 0303 123 1113.

YOUR RIGHT TO ACCESS YOUR PERSONAL DATA (SUBJECT ACCESS REQUEST)

You have the right to request a copy of the personal data I hold about you. This is known as a Subject Access Request (SAR).

How to make a request

Email me at: dezrika@figuringforward.com with the subject line “Subject Access Request”.

Please include your name and enough detail to help me identify the information you are looking for.

My process

  • I will respond to your request within one calendar month of receiving it
  • If your request is unclear or very broad, I may contact you to ask for clarification – the response deadline will pause while I wait for your reply, and restart once I hear back from you
  • I will only search for data that is reasonable and proportionate to your request

There is no charge for making a Subject Access Request.

CONTACT ME

For any data protection queries, please get in touch: dezrika@figuringforward.com

Social Media Disclaimer

I maintain a presence on social media for professional purposes. While you’re welcome to view my posts, please note that liking or commenting can be seen by anyone who visits my page. I will never identify you as a client. I will not engage in counselling via social media. In this instance, I will normally invite you to contact me directly. I do not accept friend requests from clients on personal accounts to maintain professional boundaries. If you have any questions about this, please don’t hesitate to ask.

Last updated: July 2026