Last updated: 10 October 2026

 

1. Introduction

 

Your privacy and confidentiality are important to me. This Privacy Policy explains how I collect, use, store and protect your personal information when you contact me about counselling or engage in counselling sessions.

 

I am committed to treating your personal information with care, respect and confidentiality, in accordance with applicable UK data protection legislation.

 

2. Information I Collect

 

I may collect and hold the following information:

 

- Personal details: Your name, email address, telephone number and other contact details.

- Enquiry information: Information you share when you first get in touch, including what you hope to gain from counselling.

- Counselling information: Relevant information you share during sessions, including personal experiences and information about your emotional and mental wellbeing.

- Administrative information: Completed paperwork, counselling agreements, session arrangements and other records necessary for our work together.

 

I aim to collect only the information necessary to provide counselling and manage our professional relationship.

 

3. How Your Information Is Used

 

Your personal information may be used to:

 

- Respond to enquiries, usually within 72 hours.

- Arrange your free 15-minute introductory conversation.

- Discuss your reasons for seeking counselling and what you hope to achieve.

- Send and manage the paperwork required before counselling begins.

- Arrange appointments and communicate with you about sessions.

- Maintain appropriate counselling records and support the therapeutic process.

- Meet relevant professional, legal and regulatory obligations.

 

Your information will not be used for unrelated purposes without an appropriate lawful basis.

 

4. Confidentiality

 

Counselling provides a confidential space in which you can explore your thoughts, feelings and experiences. I respect your privacy and treat the information you share with care.

 

However, confidentiality is not absolute. There may be circumstances in which information needs to be shared, for example where there are serious concerns about your safety or the safety of another person, or where disclosure is required by law or is otherwise legally justified.

 

The limits of confidentiality will be explained during our initial conversation and outlined in your welcome pack and counselling agreement. Wherever appropriate and safe to do so, I will aim to discuss any necessary disclosure with you beforehand.

 

Where information must be shared, I will seek to limit disclosure to what is necessary and appropriate in the circumstances.

 

5. How Your Information Is Stored and Protected

 

I take appropriate steps to protect your personal information against unauthorised access, loss, misuse, alteration or disclosure.

 

This may include secure storage of electronic records, appropriate protection of paper documents and the use of suitable passwords and security measures.

 

Access to your information will be restricted to those who have a legitimate reason to access it. Where third-party services are used to manage communications, appointments or records, appropriate care will be taken to protect your information.

 

6. How Long Your Information Is Kept

 

Your personal information and counselling records will be retained only for as long as necessary for the purposes for which they were collected, taking account of relevant legal, professional and insurance requirements.

 

The applicable retention periods will be determined in line with my record-keeping policy. When information is no longer required, it will be securely deleted or destroyed, where appropriate.

 

7. Sharing Your Information

 

I will not routinely share your personal information with others.

 

Information may be shared where necessary and lawful, including in circumstances involving serious risk of harm, a legal obligation or another applicable justification for disclosure.

 

I may also use trusted service providers to support the secure administration of my counselling practice. Where this involves personal information, appropriate safeguards will be considered.

 

8. Your Data Protection Rights

 

Under applicable data protection law, you may have the right to:

 

- Request access to the personal information I hold about you.

- Ask for inaccurate information to be corrected.

- Request the erasure of your information in certain circumstances.

- Request restrictions on how your information is used in certain circumstances.

- Object to certain types of processing.

- Request a copy of your information in a portable format where the relevant legal requirements apply.

- Complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) if you have concerns about how your information is handled.

 

These rights are subject to certain legal conditions and exemptions. For example, some counselling records may need to be retained for legal or professional reasons.

 

You can find further information on your rights through the "Information Commissioner's Office" (https://ico.org.uk/).

 

9. Contact

 

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or how your personal information is handled, please contact me using the contact details provided on this website.

 

Email: Helenmariecounselling@gmail.com

 

Telephone: 07878 805 025

 

10. Changes to This Privacy Policy

 

This Privacy Policy may be updated from time to time to reflect changes in my counselling practice, professional obligations or data protection requirements. The latest version will be published on this website, together with the date it was last updated