ProgressPsychology.com is a website of Progress Psychology Limited (PPL), a company incorporated in the UK and registered at Companies House (No. 12040288). This webpage refers to the delivery of psychological and behavioural services including therapy, coaching, training and counselling psychology offered by Progress Psychology Limited.
Privacy Notice
The UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) is a legal framework that sets guidelines for data management, and the rights of the individual regarding the collection and processing of their personal information within the United Kingdom (UK). The following privacy notice outlines how Progress Psychology Limited manages your data and your rights in relation to this. It is important that you understand and explicitly consent to the details outlined in this notice.
What information we hold and why
Progress Psychology Limited only collects basic data at the point of initial contact that you or your referrer supply such as your contact details and if appropriate insurance policy number and the details of formal (e.g. GP, parent/guardian) and informal support persons. You are required to inform Progress Psychology Limited where updates to these are necessary. Written notes (including images of diagrams) are made in sessions (via paper and electronic based systems) and these combined with your previously mentioned contact details, signed Therapy or coaching Agreement and this signed Privacy Notice are either stored in a locked filing cabinet or on a secure password protected electronic device, associated cloud based storage or external hard drive. Email communication is also stored. These details together enable Progress Psychology Limited to communicate with you and provide efficient and effective services and bill for services as required.
What we do with your information and why
Your personal data is used solely for providing an efficient and effective service and continuity of care. Only persons working with Progress Psychology Limited (or in support of Progress Psychology Limited such as admin/accountancy support) have access to your basic data. When your case detail may be discussed with other professionals in supervision, no identifying details are shared. Your data is not shared with any third parties unless there is a concern regarding severe and imminent risk and then appropriate persons, most likely your GP or nominated informal support person.
In exceptional circumstances personal data may be shared with relevant authorities, for example when there is need-to-know information for another health provider such as your GP, when disclosure is in the public interest to prevent a miscarriage of justice or to prevent harm, or where there is a legal duty for example a court order. Where possible all proposed instances of disclosure will be discussed with you, unless it is believed that to do so could increase the level of risk to you or someone else. If an insurance company or other third party referrer (typically through legal claims) funds your sessions invoices are submitted through secure portals to the company themselves. Where clinical updates are required by such companies (such as requested if asking for further funded sessions), these will be discussed with you before being shared with the relevant organisation. These reports are then submitted as securely as possible, typically directly to the insurance company’s secure portal.
Data such as your referrer details and alternative contact details may be collected to enable service development. We will not share your personal information with third-parties for marketing purposes or for profit. We will not share your personal information with any external organisation for any other reason, unless we have discussed this with you in advance and received your permission to do so.
Where and how long your information is stored
Your data is either stored in a locked filing cabinet or on a password-protected computer, cloud based storage, external hard drive or other electronic device. Access to all electronic data is protected with a passcode/ thumbprint/ facial recognition or other similar security system. The British Psychological Society (BPS) recommend the storage of clinical notes for 7 years (and for children until they reach the age of 25), after this time your notes will be shredded and all electronic communication will be deleted.
Electronic Communication and Online Session Security
Routine emails such as arranging appointments and sending links/worksheets/updates are sent via gmail, which automatically encrypts emails in transit using Transport Layer Security. We do not normally add separate password login, however clients can choose if they would like to further secure their communications via password protecting emails or documents. For online therapy or coaching sessions the standard secure platform is Zoom. Progress Psychology Limited will never record any online sessions, which will remain entirely confidential, unless given permission by the client in advance and by email to record for training purposes.
Your rights of data access
You may ask to see your notes, it is recommended that reviewing your notes is completed in collaboration with your psychologist/ therapist/ coach, to discuss and explore and issues arising. If you would like to access your notes please submit a written request to Progress Psychology Limited who will respond within 30 days. You can also submit a written request to Progress Psychology Limited for your data to be deleted prior to 7 years (or if you are turning 25 years of age). Each case will be discussed on an individual basis and advice sought from professional bodies, current liability insurers and The Information Commission Office (ICO). Progress Psychology Limited is registered with the ICO.
If a request for information is made an admin fee will be applied for supplying the information and we may ask for further evidence to check your identity, a copy of your personal information will usually be sent in as a printed copy and you have a right to get your personal information corrected if it is inaccurate. Progress Psychology Limited has the right to refuse a request to delete a client’s personal information where this is a psychological record, as these are retained for a period of 7 years in accordance with the guidelines and requirements for record keeping by The British Psychological Society (BPS; 2000) and The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC; 2017). If you have concerns about the practices of Progress Psychology Limited in relation to UK GDPR compliance these can be taken to the ICO, details of which can be found at ico.org.uk.
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Terms & Conditions
Fees & Payments: Group/ team/ organisational training or coaching
Fees for groups, teams or organisations, or contracts between Progress Psychology Limited and business/ organisational clients for delivery of any psychological services, counselling, coaching or training work to employees or any other parties will always be negotiated on a case-by-case basis and will be agreed in advance between all parties in writing or by email, before work is commenced.
Fees & Payments: Individual/ couples counselling, therapy or coaching
- Standard fees are £180 (pounds sterling) per 50-minute session, however Progress Psychology Limited reserves the right to charge outside the standard fees
- All self-funding fees will be proposed, agreed and communicated in advance by email from the company to the client and it is the client’s responsibility to ensure this has occurred
- No hidden fees – all self-funding fees will be agreed in advance between the psychologist and the client by email
- No additional costs will ever be applied – unless agreed in advance between the psychologist and the client by email
- All fees quoted in emails will supersede and take precedence over the standard fees
- Progress Psychology may agree to a different fee structure in its work with some private insurance providers, which will not impact the client directly
- All fees are typically quoted in UK Pounds Sterling. Progress Psychology has bank accounts in the USA, Australia and the European Union to facilitate payments in US dollar, Australian dollar and Euro, respectively.
- Any international transactions in other currencies may incur additional transaction fees to cover FX/ bank charges, which will be agreed in advance between the psychologist and the client by email
- For missed sessions, where fees have not been agreed in advance in writing or by email, Progress Psychology Limited reserves the right to charge any outstanding fees at up to the standard rate
- For missed sessions, where alternative fees have been agreed in advance, Progress Psychology Limited reserves the right to charge any outstanding fees at up to the agreed alternative rate
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Legal jurisdiction
At times, Progress Psychology Limited delivers non-therapeutic psychological services remotely to international clients, and to UK clients who at any time may be based temporarily or otherwise, outside of the United Kingdom. Progress Psychology Limited cannot and does not ever, knowingly provide Psychological Therapy, Counselling or Psychotherapeutic Services to any clients who are resident or domiciled outside of the UK.
Regardless of the location of the Progress Psychology practitioner/ coach/ employee or the location of the client at the time of service delivery; any Progress Psychology Limited client reading this who is living in another country (that is not part of the United Kingdom) hereby understands and agrees that the psychological services they are receiving from Progress Psychology Limited are always classified simply as either “coaching” or “training”; and are therefore not subject to oversight by any regulatory or healthcare bodies.
Regardless of the location of the Progress Psychology practitioner/ coach/ employee or the location of the client at the time of service delivery; any Progress Psychology Limited client reading this who is living in another country (that is not part of the United Kingdom) hereby understands and agrees that the psychological services they are receiving from Progress Psychology Limited are covered by and are in accordance with UK (English) law, and further agrees that any disputes that may arise are exclusively subject to UK (English) law.
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Further Information
About our services
Performance and Wellbeing Coaching/ Training services (for groups, teams and organisations): We are available to consult to a wide range of multinational organisations and enterprises, business leaders and teams. All our services are evidence-based to help improve delivery, performance and effectiveness. Our approach allows professionals to work more effectively with team members experiencing performance, psychological or behavioural issues (e.g. disengagement, lack of motivation, burnout, anxiety or anger issues). Mentors, coaches and mental health support teams can benefit by improving core competencies that can improve their capacity to work under stressful conditions. For more details or to arrange a complimentary initial consultation please use the contact form below.
Psychological Skills Coaching/ Counselling Psychology services (for individuals): We ground our approach in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) using tried and tested processes of therapy, coaching and behaviour change, that focus on building mental resilience through Psychological Flexibility (or Emotional Agility), to enhance both wellbeing and performance. We may also use elements drawn from other evidence-based approaches and modalities including (but not limited to): Addictions Counselling; Acceptance and Commitment Coaching (ACC); Behavioural Couples Therapy (BCT); Career Coaching; Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT); Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT); Executive & Performance Coaching; Integrative Counselling Psychology; Mindfulness and Acceptance Coaching (MAC); Mindfulness Based Relapse Prevention (MBRP); Mindfulness- integrated CBT (MiCBT/ MBCT); Motivational Interviewing (MI); Positive Psychology (PP).
About Dr Mick Darby
Dr Michael (Mick) Darby is the founder of and a Director of Progress Psychology Limited. He is registered by the UK Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) as a regulated Practitioner Psychologist and Counselling Psychologist (Registration No. PYL37161). He is also registered in the UK as a Chartered Psychologist and Coaching Psychologist with the British Psychological Society (BPS No. PLY37161). He works under the standards of conduct, performance and ethics of the HCPC and within the BPS code of ethics and conduct.
Dr Mick Darby is registered to work therapeutically as a Practitioner Psychologist in the UK. He does not at any time purport to be registered as a Psychologist in any territory other than the UK. Further, he does not define himself, or conduct any work whatsoever as a Counselling Psychologist, Coaching Psychologist, Practitioner Psychologist, Registered Psychologist or indeed any type of Psychologist or Psychotherapist whatsoever, in any jurisdiction outside the UK. To avoid any confusion Dr Mick Darby always defines himself as, and operates as, simply either a “coach” or as a “trainer” when working outside the UK or with clients he knows to be living/ resident/ domiciled outside the UK.
For more details or to arrange a complimentary initial consultation please contact us at:progresspsychology@gmail.com