Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

At Liz Brindle Counselling I am committed to protecting your privacy and handling your personal data responsibly. This policy explains what information I collect, how it is used and stored, and the rights you have regarding your data.

Liz Brindle Counselling

Data Controller: Elizabeth Brindle

Contact: ebrindlecounselling@protonmail.com

ICO Registration No.

2. What information is collected

Contact Details; name, email address, telephone number
Personal Information (including health and sensitive information); details you share relating to your mental health, wellbeing or personal circumstances, provided voluntarily during sessions or intake forms / emails
Booking and session information; appointment dates, session notes

3. How information is used

Your information is used so I can:

Provide and manage counselling services
Communicate with you about your appointments, invoices or your care
Meet legal, regulatory and ethical requirements
Maintain appropriate clinical records

4. Lawful basis

Where required under UK GDPR / Data Protection Act 2018, I process your data on the following basis:

Consent - for entering into a therapeutic relationship and communicating with you
Contract - for fulfilling the counselling services you have booked
Legal obligation - to meet requirements set by professional or legal requirements
Legitimate Interests - for administrative or record keeping purposes

Special category data (such as health information) is processed with your explicit consent and is treated with the highest level of confidentiality.

5. Storing and keeping information

Your data is stored securely whether in electronic or physical form:

Electronic data is stored on password protected, encrypted systems
Physical records (if any) are kept in a locked location
Access is limited to me alone, except where required by supervision or legal requirements

6. Sharing information

I do not share personal information with third parties accept:

I am legally required to do so
You have expressly given your consent
When required by law or in a genuine safeguarding emergency
With my clinical supervisor, for my professional development (anonymised)

7. How long is information kept for?

Personal information is kept only for as long as necessary

Clinical records are retained in line with the BACP guidance after which they are securely destroyed. Retention periods varies depending on your age at the time of therapy or specific legal requirements

8. Your rights

Under UK GDPR you have the right to:

Request access to the personal data I hold about you
Request correction of inaccurate data
Request deletion of your data (subject to legal and professional retention requirements)
Restrict or object to certain processing
Withdraw consent at any time (this does not affect processing carried out before withdrawal)
Lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) if you believe your data has been mishandled

To exercise any of these rights please contact me @ ebrindlecounselling@protonmail.com

9. Cookies and website

This website uses essential cookies required by the website to function correctly and to understand how visitors use the website.

What are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files placed on your devise when you visit a website, they help the site function properly and can also provide anonymous information about how the website is used.

Types of cookies used

Strictly necessary cookies

These cookies are essential for the website to work. They enable basic functions such as page navigation and access to secure areas of the site. The website cannot function properly without these cookies.

Functional and performance cookies

These cookies help the site to remember your preferences and may collect anonymous information about how visitors use the website. This helps me to understand how the site is used and improve it over time.

Cookies and personal data

Cookies used on this site are not intended to identify you personally. However, some cookies may collect information that could be linked to you, such as your IP address or the device and browser you use. Where this happens, the information is treated as personal data and handled in line with this website's Privacy Policy and UK data protection laws.

Managing Cookies

When you first visit the site, you will see a cookie banner that allows you to accept or manage certain types of cookies. You can also control cookies at any time by changing the setting in your web browser. You can usually:

Block all cookies
Block cookies from specific sites
Delete cookies when you close your browser

If you choose to block or delete cookies some parts of the website might not properly.

Updates to this cookie policy

This cookie policy may be updated from time to time to reflect changes in the law or how the website uses cookies. The latest version will always be available on this page.

If you have any questions on how cookies are used on this website please contact me @ ebrindlecounselling@protonmail.com

10. How to raise a concern

If you have any concerns about how your data is handled, I encourage you to speak with me first. You also have the right to contact the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) at www.ico.org.uk if you have concerns that cannot be resolved directly

11. Contact details

For any privacy-related enquiries, please email me at: ebrindlecounselling@protonmail.com. I aim to respond to all queries within a reasonable timeframe.