Privacy Notice


How will my data be stored?

In May 2018 the Data Protection Act was replaced by the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR). The changes to the Data Protection Act are aimed at ensuring that your personal and sometimes sensitive data, is held privately and securely.

How long will you hold information for?

Emma Senior of Coppertree Clinical Hypnotherapy is a student member of the National Council for Hypnotherapy (NCH) and as such is bound by their regulations for data retention. The NCH require that your data must be kept securely for 8 years after your last session. For children NCH require that data is kept up to the age of 25 for a child under 16 when last seen or age 26 for 17- to 18-year-olds. In line with NHS regulations, all client information will be destroyed / deleted in the January following the dates given above.

What if I would like my data to be destroyed before this date?

If you would like your data to be destroyed at any time prior to this date, please make a request in writing to Coppertree Clinical Hypnotherapy asking for your records to be destroyed / deleted. We will need to confirm your identity prior to doing this. All written records will be shredded using a crosscut shredder, any electronic data such as emails / text messages and online records will be permanently deleted from any devices they are stored on. There will be no charge for this service. Please note that Coppertree Clinical Hypnotherapy are required to retain the written deletion request.

Am I able to see or get a copy of the information held by you?

In line with GDPR if you send Coppertree Clinical Hypnotherapy a request in writing, specifying the data you wish to see, we will supply you with a copy of your data within 30 days. We will need to confirm your identity before sending you the information. There will be no charge for this service. Please note that Coppertree Clinical Hypnotherapy’s insurance company’s legal team may wish to verify any information we send out.

What are the reasons for collecting the data?

To provide the highest quality support to her clients Emma Senior will collect the following information: 

  • What you would like to achieve by coming for hypnotherapy

  • Minimal medical information  

  • Information about your important others 

  • Brief session notes

  • Your contact details

  • GP contact details

This information will allow Coppertree Clinical Hypnotherapy to provide continuity within the sessions, in order to help you towards your goal, and will allow Coppertree Clinical Hypnotherapy to refer to content of previous sessions and discussions. Coppertree Clinical Hypnotherapy will only use your contact details / address and GP’s details with your explicit consent. 

How do I know that you will store my information securely?

  • All paper session notes will be stored within locked cabinets or in password protected electronic files, on a password protected device.

  • All text and WhatsApp messages are securely protected on a phone with a pass code.

  • All emails are stored on an account that requires a username and password.

Are our discussions within the hypnotherapy sessions confidential?

Our discussions will remain strictly confidential. The only exception being where it may be necessary for Emma Senior to discuss aspects of your session with her supervisor to ensure that you are receiving the most effective help. No identifying data will be shared. Emma Senior’s supervisor is obligated under GDPR to always protect your confidentiality. 

What if I see you outside of the hypnotherapy session?

Whilst you may wish to discuss your therapy with others, that is your choice, and you are welcome to do so. However, under GDPR Coppertree Clinical Hypnotherapy is obligated to always protect your confidentiality. For this reason, although Emma Senior may acknowledge you, it would be ideal if any further conversation could be avoided.  

Will you discuss information about me with other health and social care professionals?

Coppertree Clinical Hypnotherapy is only able to contact other health and social care professionals with your written consent. If Coppertree Clinical Hypnotherapy writes to your GP, to inform them that you are undergoing Solution Focused Hypnotherapy, Coppertree Clinical Hypnotherapy would require your signature in line with GDPR requirements. 

Emma Senior has a “Duty of Care” towards her clients, as such the only exceptions to this would be if she believed that you were about to harm yourself or others, and she would be required to inform the relevant authorities”. Coppertree Clinical Hypnotherapy would always aim to discuss this with you before taking any action. Legally, Coppertree Clinical Hypnotherapy would also have to provide the police with information as set out in a warrant or court order, should the situation arise.  

Other information

This policy was last updated 25 June 2023. It may be updated at any time, so please check back regularly to ensure that you have the latest version. There is a separate cookie policy for www.coppertreehypnotherapy.co.uk which is available to view by clicking on the link at the bottom of the page.