Privacy Policy

Last updated: 05/11/2026

At Stephanie Counselling, I respect your privacy and understand the importance of keeping your personal information safe and confidential.

This Privacy Policy explains what personal information I collect, how I use it, how it is stored and what rights you have regarding your information.

I aim to handle all personal information responsibly and in accordance with applicable UK data protection legislation, including the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

1. Who I Am

For the purposes of data protection legislation, the data controller is:

Business Name: Stephanie Counselling

Email: hello@stephaniecounselling.com

Location: Prestwich, North Manchester.

If you have any questions about how your personal information is handled, you can contact me using the details above.

2. What Information I Collect

Depending on how you interact with my services, I may collect the following information:

Personal Information

  • Your name.

  • Email address.

  • Telephone number.

  • Contact details.

  • Date of birth, where necessary.

Counselling Information

  • Information you share during counselling sessions.

  • Personal experiences and circumstances.

  • Relevant mental health and wellbeing information.

  • Counselling notes and session records.

  • Other information relevant to providing appropriate support.

Website Information

  • Basic technical information, such as your IP address and browser information.

  • Information submitted through website contact forms.

  • Cookie information, where applicable.

I only aim to collect information that is relevant and necessary for providing my services or responding to enquiries.

3. How I Use Your Information

Your information may be used for the following purposes:

  • Responding to enquiries and arranging initial consultations.

  • Managing appointments and bookings.

  • Providing counselling services.

  • Maintaining appropriate counselling records.

  • Communicating about appointments and practical arrangements.

  • Meeting professional, legal and insurance obligations.

  • Maintaining the safety and security of my services.

  • Responding to legal requests where required.

I will not use your personal information for unrelated marketing purposes without an appropriate lawful basis.

4. Sensitive Personal Information

Counselling can involve sharing sensitive information about your mental health, personal experiences and circumstances.

This information is treated with additional care and protection.

I only process sensitive personal information where I have identified an appropriate lawful basis and special-category condition under applicable data protection legislation.

Your counselling information will not be shared with other individuals or organisations unless there is an appropriate legal basis to do so.

This may include circumstances involving safeguarding concerns, serious risks of harm, legal obligations or other circumstances where disclosure is permitted or required by law.

5. Confidentiality

Information shared during counselling sessions is treated as confidential.

However, confidentiality is not absolute.

There may be circumstances where information needs to be shared, including:

  • Where there is a serious risk of harm to yourself or another person.

  • Where there are safeguarding concerns.

  • Where disclosure is required by law or a court order.

  • Where information is discussed with a professional supervisor as part of appropriate professional practice.

Where possible and appropriate, I will discuss any necessary disclosure with you beforehand.

6. How Your Information Is Stored

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

Information may be stored electronically and/or in physical records, depending on the nature of the information.

Appropriate security measures are used to protect these records.

Any third-party services used to manage appointments, communications, payments or online sessions will be selected with consideration for their data protection and security arrangements.

7. How Long I Keep Your Information

I only retain personal information for as long as it is necessary for the purposes for which it was collected, or where retention is required by applicable legal, professional or insurance obligations.

Different types of information may be retained for different periods.

My counselling records are generally retained for [Insert Retention Period], after which they will be securely destroyed or deleted.

If you would like further information about how long your information is retained, please contact me.

8. Sharing Your Information

I will not sell, rent or trade your personal information.

Your information may be shared with appropriate third parties where necessary, including:

  • Professional supervisors, where relevant and subject to appropriate confidentiality arrangements.

  • Insurance providers or legal advisers where necessary.

  • Website hosting, email and appointment management providers.

  • Payment processing providers.

  • Relevant authorities where disclosure is legally required or justified.

Where third-party services process personal information on my behalf, appropriate data protection arrangements will be put in place.

If information is transferred outside the UK, appropriate safeguards will be considered and implemented where required.

9. Your Data Protection Rights

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

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

  • Request corrections to inaccurate or incomplete information.

  • Request deletion of personal information where applicable.

  • Request restrictions on how your information is processed.

  • Object to certain types of processing.

  • Request a copy of your information in a portable format where applicable.

  • Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent.

Some rights are subject to legal exceptions, particularly where professional record-keeping or legal obligations apply.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact me using the details provided above.

10. Cookies and Website Tracking

This website may use cookies or similar technologies to improve functionality and understand how visitors use the website.

Where required, consent will be requested before non-essential cookies are placed on your device.

You can manage your cookie preferences through the website's cookie settings or your browser settings.

Further information can be found in the website's Cookie Policy, where applicable.

11. External Websites

This website may contain links to external websites or services.

I am not responsible for the privacy practices or content of external websites. I recommend reviewing their individual privacy policies before sharing personal information.

12. Making a Complaint

If you have concerns about how your personal information has been handled, please contact me first so I have the opportunity to address your concerns.

You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), the UK's independent data protection regulator.

Website: https://ico.org.uk/

Telephone: 0303 123 1113.

13. Changes to This Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy may be updated from time to time to reflect changes to my services, working practices or legal requirements.

Any updates will be published on this website, with the revised date shown at the top of this page.

14. Contact

For any questions about this Privacy Policy or how your personal information is handled, please contact:

Stephanie Counselling

Email: hello@stephaniecounselling.com

Location: Prestwich, North Manchester.