Privacy Policy

This privacy notice explains how your personal information is collected, used, and stored in line with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

Who I am

I am an independent counsellor/psychotherapist working in private practice.

Data controller: Nicole Nicolson
Contact email: nicolson.nicole@gmail.com

As the data controller, I am responsible for keeping your information safe and using it appropriately.

What information I collect

I may collect and store personal information including:

• Name,      address, email address, and telephone number
• Date      of birth
• GP and      emergency contact details
• Information      about your physical and mental health
• Medication      details
• Information      about previous therapy
• Your      reasons for seeking therapy and aims for therapy

This information is provided by you through enquiry, intake forms, or during sessions.

Why I collect this information

Your information is collected and used in order to:

• Assess      whether therapy is appropriate for you
• Support      safe and effective therapeutic work
• Communicate      with you about appointments and practical arrangements
• Meet      professional, ethical, and legal obligations

The lawful basis for processing this information is:

• Consent, which you may withdraw at any time
• Legitimate      interests, in providing therapeutic services
• Provision      of health care, where relevant

How your information is stored

Your information is stored securely and accessed only by me.

This may include:

• Secure      digital storage (for example, password-protected systems)
• Paper      records stored in locked storage

Reasonable steps are taken to protect your data from loss, unauthorised access, or disclosure.

Confidentiality and sharing information

Your information is treated as confidential.

It will not be shared with third parties unless:

• You      have given explicit consent
• There      are concerns about your safety or the safety of others
• Disclosure      is required by law

Where information is discussed in professional supervision, identifying details are removed wherever possible.

How long your information is kept

Records are kept only for as long as necessary and in line with professional and legal guidance.

In private practice, therapy records are typically retained for up to seven years after the end of therapy (or longer in the case of work with children), after which they are securely destroyed.

Your rights

Under data protection law, you have the right to:

• Access      the personal data held about you
• Request      correction of inaccurate information
• Request      deletion of your data where appropriate
• Withdraw      consent at any time
• Raise      concerns about how your data is handled

Requests can be made by contacting me using the details above.

Complaints

If you are unhappy with how your personal data is handled, you may raise this with me directly. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

ICO website: www.ico.org.uk

Updates to this notice

This privacy notice may be updated from time to time. The most recent version will always be made available to you.