Open Sky Therapy

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This privacy policy sets out how Open Sky Therapy uses and protects any information that you give when you use this website.

Open Sky Therapy is committed to ensuring that your privacy is protected. Should we ask you to provide certain information by which you can be identified when using this website, then you can be assured that it will only be used in accordance with this privacy statement.

Open Sky Therapy may change this policy from time to time by updating this page. You should check this page from time to time to ensure that you are happy with any changes.

 What we collect

We may collect the following information:

• Name
• Contact information including email address
• Therapy assessment: Open Sky Therapy may ask about your background and family history, as well as the issues which are affecting you now.
• Therapy notes: After each appointment Open Sky Therapy will record notes from the appointment, this may include what was done in the session, information on thoughts and feelings and any other information deemed relevant to the therapeutic process.
• Client feedback and photographs: gathered with the clients explicit.

What do we use your information for?

 We require this information to understand your needs and provide you with a better service, and in particular for the following reasons:

• To provide clients with the professional service requested from us.
• To provide clients with the professional counselling service requested from us.
• To provide clients with the professional counselling service requested from us.
• To provide clients with the professional counselling service requested from us.
• Internal record keeping.
• We may periodically send promotional email about new products, special offers or other information which we think you may find interesting using the email address which you have provided.
• We may use the information to customise the website according to your interests.
• To fulfil our administrative, legal and contractual obligations.

What information do we share?

We will not share any information about you with other organisations or people, except in the following situations:

• Consent– The Open Sky Therapy may share your information with professional carers or others whom you have requested or agreed we should contact.
• Serious harm– The Open Sky Therapy may share your information with the relevant authorities if we have reason to believe that this may prevent serious harm being caused to you or another person.
• Compliance with law– The Open Sky Therapy may share your information where we are required to by law or by the regulations and other rules to which we are subject.

Security

We are committed to ensuring that your information is secure. In order to prevent unauthorised access or disclosure we have put in place suitable physical, electronic and managerial procedures to safeguard and secure the information we collect online.

All information you provide to us is stored as securely as possible.  All paper forms and correspondence are kept in locked filing cabinets.  All electronic records are stored on computer,  access to which requires password-protected authentication, or by reputable service providers using secure internet ‘cloud’ technology.

Your identifiable personal information is kept separately from any session notes and other descriptive material. Client notes and other documentation are destroyed 7 years after the end of therapy.

 How we use cookies

A cookie is a small file which asks permission to be placed on your computer’s hard drive. Once you agree, the file is added and the cookie helps analyse web traffic or lets you know when you visit a particular site. Cookies allow web applications to respond to you as an individual. The web application can tailor its operations to your needs, likes and dislikes by gathering and remembering information about your preferences.

We use traffic log cookies to identify which pages are being used. This helps us analyse data about web page traffic and improve our website in order to tailor it to customer needs. We only use this information for statistical analysis purposes and then the data is removed from the system.

Overall, cookies help us provide you with a better website, by enabling us to monitor which pages you find useful and which you do not. A cookie in no way gives us access to your computer or any information about you, other than the data you choose to share with us.

Links to other websites

Our website may contain links to enable you to visit other websites of interest easily. However, once you have used these links to leave our site, you should note that we do not have any control over that other website. Therefore, we cannot be responsible for the protection and privacy of any information which you provide whilst visiting such sites and such sites are not governed by this privacy statement. You should exercise caution and look at the privacy statement applicable to the website in question.

Controlling your personal information

You have the right to ask us to provide a copy of the information held by us in our records. You also have the right to require us to correct any inaccuracies in your information. If you would like to do this, please use the contact form.

 You may withdraw your consent for us to hold and process your data at any time.  However, if you do this while actively receiving therapy at Open Sky Therapy, your therapy would have to end. 

What is Ecotherapy?

Ecotherapy is one of the names given to therapeutic benefits of being in the outdoors and nature.   It covers a broad range of treatments that improve both physical and mental health.  

Spending time in nature has been proven to help manage and prevent mental ill health. Busy schedules and more sedentary lifestyle have taken us away from our natural environment and it’s benefits.  

Reconnecting with nature in this way offers clients a  safe place to talk and explore their feelings, while finding space to unwind and relax.  Being in nature can help clients to feel more grounded and enjoy a mindful experience that they can take away into everyday life. 

Ecotherapy Sessions

I offer a number of options for different Ecotherapy experiences. All of which operate from Glantawe Riverside Park, Pontardawe. 

Eco-CBT

Eco-CBT  combines all of the unique and special qualities of connecting with nature to a structured CBT treatment plan.  Eco-CBT is collaborative and less restricted.  Along with CBT it combines elements of mindfulness, compassion focused therapy with bush craft and conservation.  There are numerous benefits to taking therapy outside:

• Easily accessed.
• Less formal. 
• Can form part of the treatment plan. 
• Naturally reduces stress.
• Less perceived stigma.
• Grounding and calming. 
• Creates behavioural change.

Walk and Talk

A walk and talk session can feel much more relaxed than meeting in a therapy office.  It brings the benefits of being outdoors as well as those associated with physical exercise.   By getting out for a walk and talk clients can find that it helps to kick start a healthier lifestyle. 

Ecotherapy Groups

Ecotherapy groups are usually small groups of people engaging in outdoor activities, these can include practical work, bushcraft or green woodworking.  Ecotherapy groups combine the benefits of physical exercise and wellbeing along with increased self esteem, a sense of community and feelings of accomplishment.  For more information about Ecotherapy groups please see my Facebook page or contact me. 

Open Sky Therapy aims to help people manage a variety of issues using Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).  CBT has proven benefits for mental health.  I offer one to one sessions in a therapy room and online using Skype.  I also offer one to one and group therapy in a less formal outdoors setting.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy or CBT is a form of talking therapy or counselling. It is endorsed by NICE and the NHS as the preferred treatment for many mental health issues.  Using Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) I work with clients to overcome and manage a variety of mental health issues including:

We will work together to gain a better understanding of your problem.  Then using a variety of techniques and interventions we aim to reduce distress, improve quality of life and increase happiness.  By learning about your condition(s) you can discover new coping strategies, which will enable to take care of yourself in the future and help prevent further set backs.  Read on to find out more about CBT or to book an appointment contact me. 

Each session is usually 1 hour long and can be held online using Skype, in a therapy room or outdoors.  Click here to find out what to expect from a CBT or session or contact me to discuss it further or book an appointment.