![]() Data protection in private practiceĪ recent survey suggests that electronic record keeping is still an uncharted aspect of practice for many private practitioners. This applies even if the electronic file is deleted immediately after printing off and a hard copy added to the client’s paper-based file. It also includes the use of a tablet, laptop or PC to word-process client records. It embraces apparently innocuous activities, such as using a smartphone to store client numbers for phone, email, or text messages. The sweep of data protection law is intentionally very broad. There are fewer things less forgiving, after all, than an inadvertently pressed ‘send’ or ‘delete’ key, when trying to compose a brief electronic client record.Įlectronic record keeping also requires a different mindset, namely of compliance with data protection law. Electronic recording requires a much more rule-based approach to record keeping, as opposed to the more personalised records, which are set up, accessed and managed by a sole private practitioner. ![]() The other key aspect of recording in agencies is related to the seismic shift from manual (handwritten) client records to electronic record keeping. EAPs will expect compliance with their own in-house recording and assessment systems, and may require the electronic uploading of client notes for agency safekeeping. This different approach is often clearly evident to private practitioners when working for EAPs. They are often more standardised in tone, allowing easier communication between therapists, and can provide continuity of care, in case of staff absence or illness. Client records are increasingly less personalised within agency settings. Records provide a paper trail of service provision and accountability for the organisation, above and beyond the contribution of any individual practitioner. However, in an agency setting, recording usually plays a number of key additional roles. The records can also provide the administrative basis for running an efficient practice. In other words, the primary purpose of the records is to underpin the therapeutic work with clients, by acting as an aide-memoire for key issues. ![]() In private practice, records of counselling are probably primarily task related. There are a number of different reasons for this. This can also be the case for the same practitioners if they run a private practice in addition to undertaking paid counselling employment. These can be experienced as being more difficult to manage than similar issues facing those colleagues working for counselling agencies, whether voluntary or statutory in nature. Recording in private practice presents a number of distinct challenges to private practitioners. The client also voices his anger towards work colleagues – who he thinks talk about him behind his back – and his difficulty trusting people.įollowing a particularly challenging session, after which Matias has written about how hard he finds it to empathise with, or find anything to like about this client, the client asks him if he keeps notes of the sessions and, if so, whether he can see them. Matias has been working with a client whom he experiences as critical of him and of therapy in general. But, because he doesn’t keep identifiable client records electronically, he doesn’t think this is relevant to him. He has heard about the Data Protection Act, and is aware that some therapists in private practice register with the Information Commissioner’s Office. He also uses his notes to process his own countertransference responses, and finds this particularly helpful if he is experiencing a strong negative response to a client. His notes also include a full case history, his hypothesis about clients’ psychopathology, if relevant, and his strategy for working with them. He anonymises them by filing them under the client’s initials and stores clients’ contact details in his smartphone. ![]() Matias, an accredited counsellor in private practice, keeps handwritten notes of the main issues discussed in client sessions.
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