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Privacy Policy

Indre Brinkyte, Basis Psychologist, is the sole owner of the private practice, which delivers psychological services to adults and adolescents.

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Your privacy and safety are important to me, and I make it a priority to handle your personal information with respect and care. If you would like to know more about how I safeguard your personal data and ensure your safety throughout our therapy sessions and beyond, please consult the privacy policy outlined below. My privacy policy is in accordance to AVG. The AVG sets out the rules for the processing of personal data and grants individuals a number of rights with respect to personal data. It also imposes a number of obligations on organizations that collect, process, and store personal data.

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 1. Confidentiality:

I acknowledge that during treatment, there may be private and sensitive information that you share. Please be assured that all of my services are strictly confidential, and any information that you disclose will be kept between us in confidence. All third-party service providers are aware of confidentiality obligations.

Breaking confidentiality: The only situations in which confidentiality will be breached without your approval are:

  • there is an immediate and serious risk of harm or danger to the you or others: I am required by law to disclose confidential information to appropriate third parties, such as medical professionals, family members, or the authorities, in order to ensure the safety of the patient or others.

  • Referral to another professional: I may need to provide some confidential information about the client to the other healthcare provider in order to facilitate the referral for further evaluation, diagnosis, or treatment. However, I am required to provide only the minimum amount of information necessary for the referral, and I must take steps to ensure that the information disclosed is relevant, accurate, and up-to-date.

  • Supervision and intervison: During these professional activities, I may need to share information about clients in order to receive feedback or guidance on my work. However, when sharing this information, I am required to maintain the confidentiality of clients to the greatest extent possible. This means that I am expected to use pseudonyms or other identifying information that will not reveal the true identity of the client.

  • I am ordered to do so by a judge or other legal authority. As psychologists, I am bound by strict guidelines when disclosing confidential information in response to a request by a judge or other legal authority. These guidelines are set out by the Dutch Professional Association of Psychologists (NIP). The guidelines stipulate that I should only disclose the minimum amount of information necessary to comply with the request, and that the disclosure should be limited to information that is directly relevant to the legal case.

Prior to breaching confidentiality in any situation, I will make every effort to communicate with you and obtain your consent. In cases where informed consent cannot be obtained, I may still be required to disclose confidential information, but only after careful consideration and consultation with colleagues, legal experts, and the Dutch Data Protection Authority (Autoriteit Persoonsgegevens). I must also keep detailed records of any disclosures made, including the date, time, and purpose of the disclosure, as well as the identity of the professionals to whom the information was disclosed

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2. Privacy and personal information processing: 

  • Processes personal data: data I process is: names, phone number, e-mail addresses, sex, bank account number and session notes about personal history, therapy process and treatment outcomes. Additionally, we collect this information in order to contact you or your emergency contact (in case of emergencies). I understand that sharing personal information can be sensitive, which is why I only collect it in order to provide you with the best possible psychological care. I will not share this information with any third parties without your explicit consent, and I will not use it for research purposes. You have the right to withhold your consent, and this will not impact the services we provide to you.

  • Your name might be shared for billing and administrative purposes with the administrative person who has been informed about the importance of data protection.

  • Informed consent: I must obtain the informed consent of clients before collecting, processing, or storing any personal data.

  • Protection: I must make all reasonable measures to ensure that this information is protected from unauthorized access, disclosure, or misuse. I implement usernames and strong passwords while storing your data. I make backups of the personal data in order to be able to recover them in the event of physical or technical incidents. I am also using encryption, firewalls, and antivirus software, as well as physical measures such as locking file cabinets and securing electronic devices.

  • Keep records accurate and up-to-date: I will ensure that client records are accurate, up-to-date, and relevant to the treatment provided. They should also regularly review and update client records as necessary to ensure that they reflect the client's current situation.

  • Access to personal data: Clients have the right to access and review their personal data. It is your right to ask for a copy of this file. I must provide clients with this information within a reasonable time frame and in a format that is easily accessible.

  • Correcting and deleting personal data: Clients also have the right to request that their personal data be corrected or deleted if it is inaccurate or no longer necessary. I must comply with these requests within a reasonable time frame, unless there is a legal obligation to retain the information.

  • Storing and keeping your file: the Dutch law requires that I as psychologists keep client records for at least 15 years after the end of the treatment or until the client reaches the age of 18, whichever is longer. The purpose of maintaining these records is to provide continuity of care, facilitate professional accountability, and ensure compliance with professional and legal standards. The records must contain relevant information about the client's history, diagnosis, treatment plan, progress, and outcomes, as well as any other information that may be relevant to the client's care.

  • Reporting data breaches: I must report any data breaches that occur to the relevant authorities within 72 hours of becoming aware of the breach.

If a client requests put others or themselves at risk, I may be obligated to breach confidentiality in order to prevent harm to others. In this situation, I must carefully weigh the potential harm to the client against the potential harm to others and make a decision that is in the best interest of all parties involved. I may need to consult with professional organization, legal counsel, or other relevant authorities to determine the appropriate course of action.

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3. I adhere and follow NIP code of conduct which includes thee principles and standards:

  • Respect for autonomy: I respect and promote the autonomy of clients by providing them with the necessary information, support, and guidance to make informed decisions about their own lives.

    • I inform clients about their rights and the scope and limits of confidentiality.

    • I inform clients about the purpose, duration, and costs of the services I provide.

    • I respect the client's right to refuse or terminate services at any time.

  • Professional competence: I maintain high levels of professional competence through ongoing education, training, and supervision.

    • I only provide services within their areas of competence and expertise.

    • I take steps to ensure that I stay up to date with developments in my field of work.

    • I take responsibility for my own professional development and seek appropriate supervision and consultation.

  • Responsibility to society: I recognize my responsibility to promote the welfare and well-being of society as a whole.

    • I do my best to promote social justice, equality, and human rights.

    • I do my best to promote the prevention and resolution of social problems (such as discrimination, cultural differences, crime, substance abuse, domestic violence etc.). They can also have far-reaching consequences, such as social exclusion, marginalization, and reduced opportunities for personal and collective growth.

    • I do my best to engage in activities that promote the public good and contribute to the development of the psychologist profession.

  • Responsibility to clients: I prioritize the well-being and interests of my clients above my own. This principle emphasizes that the client's needs, rights, and welfare should be prioritized over any personal or professional interests of the psychologist, including financial gain or personal relationships.

    • I establish clear and appropriate professional boundaries with my clients.

    • I inform clients about the purpose and nature of the services they provide.

    • I avoid conflicts of interest and refrain from engaging in dual relationships. This standard prohibits psychologists from engaging in dual relationships, which means having a personal or business relationship with a client that goes beyond the therapeutic relationship. By following this standard, I aim to ensure that clients receive objective and unbiased care that prioritizes their well-being.

  • Responsibility to colleagues: I promote a positive and supportive professional environment by maintaining respectful and professional relationships with my colleagues.

    • I treat their colleagues with respect, honesty, and integrity.

    • I take steps to resolve conflicts and disagreements with my colleagues in a professional manner.

    • I recognize and respect the contributions of my colleagues to the profession.

  • Confidentiality and privacy: I respect the privacy and confidentiality of my clients and take steps to protect their personal information.

    • I inform clients about the limits of confidentiality and the circumstances under which confidential information may be disclosed.

    • I only disclose confidential information with the client's informed consent or when legally required to do so.

    • I take steps to ensure the security of confidential information, including electronic data.

 

4. Rights of Minors

  • I only process personal data of minors (persons under the age of 16) if written permission has been given by the parent, caretaker or legal representative.

  • Reporting Requirements. In the Netherlands, psychologists are I obliged to report suspected child abuse or neglect. 

I am required to report suspected child abuse or neglect in any situation where I have reasonable cause to believe that a child is being abused or neglected. This includes situations where the child has disclosed abuse or neglect, as well as situations where I observed signs or symptoms of abuse or neglect, such as unexplained injuries, changes in behavior, or poor hygiene. The reporting of suspected child abuse or neglect in the Netherlands is typically done through the Dutch Child Abuse Reporting and Advice Centre, known as "Meldpunt Kindermishandeling" in Dutch.

Some key rights of adolescents in therapy treatment in the Netherlands include:

  1. The right to consent: Adolescents have the right to give or withhold their consent to therapy treatment. This means that they must be fully informed about the nature of the treatment, as well as any potential risks or benefits, before they can give their consent.

  2. The right to privacy: Adolescents have the right to confidentiality and privacy in their therapy treatment. This means that information about their treatment cannot be shared without their consent, except in certain situations where there is a risk of harm to the adolescent or others.

  3. The right to information: Adolescents have the right to receive information about their diagnosis, treatment plan, and progress in therapy. This information must be provided in a way that is age-appropriate and understandable for the adolescent.

  4. The right to participate: Adolescents have the right to participate in their therapy treatment, and to have their opinions and preferences taken into account in the treatment planning process.

  5. The right to end treatment: Adolescents have the right to end their therapy treatment at any time, and to receive information about any potential consequences of doing so.

The right to complain: Adolescents have the right to make a complaint about their therapy treatment, and to have their complaint taken seriously and addressed in a timely manner.

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I regularly review these principles to ensure that I am adhering to them

 

You can reach out to you with any questions or concerns regarding privacy policy to: authentic.therapy@outlook.com

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privacy policy
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