Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy explains how personal data is collected, used, and protected by Jenny Prescott Counselling.

Jenny Prescott Counselling is committed to protecting your privacy and handling your personal information with care, transparency, and respect, in line with UK data protection legislation.

Data Controller

The data controller is:

Jenny Prescott Counselling
Email: jennyprescottcounselling@gmail.com
Location: United Kingdom

Legal Framework

This policy operates in accordance with:

The UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR)
The Data Protection Act 2018

What Personal Data We Collect

We may collect and process the following types of personal data:

Enquiries and Contact

Name
Email address
Telephone number
Information shared in an enquiry or initial contact

Counselling Services

Booking information
Session dates and times
Brief session notes
Relevant personal information shared during counselling

Online Services

Email correspondence
Video-conferencing details (where online sessions are used)

How Your Data Is Collected

Personal data is collected when you:

Contact us via email or website enquiry
Complete booking or intake forms
Attend counselling sessions
Communicate by email or phone

Lawful Basis for Processing

Under UK GDPR, we rely on the following lawful bases to process your data:

Contract – to provide counselling services you have requested
Legitimate interests – to manage the counselling relationship safely and effectively
Legal obligation – where records must be kept for regulatory or legal reasons
Consent – where required (for example, if additional information is requested)

How Your Data Is Used

Your personal data is used to:

Respond to enquiries
Arrange and deliver counselling sessions
Maintain brief clinical notes
Communicate about appointments or changes
Meet professional, legal, and ethical obligations

Your data will never be used for marketing purposes without your explicit consent.

Confidentiality

All counselling work is confidential.

There are limited circumstances where confidentiality may be broken, including:

If there is a serious risk of harm to you or others
If there is a legal obligation to disclose information
If safeguarding concerns arise involving children or vulnerable adults

These limits to confidentiality will be explained before counselling begins.

Sharing Your Data

Your data will not be shared with third parties except in the following circumstances:

With a clinical supervisor (anonymised wherever possible)
Where required by law or safeguarding duties
With your explicit consent

Your data is never sold or shared for commercial purposes.

Data Storage and Security

Reasonable steps are taken to protect your personal data.

Electronic records are stored securely and password-protected
Paper records (if any) are stored securely
Access to data is restricted to Jenny Prescott Counselling only

Data Retention

Counselling records are retained in line with professional and legal guidance.

Client records are typically kept for up to 7 years after the end of counselling
For clients who were children at the time of counselling, records may be kept longer in accordance with legal guidance

After this period, records are securely destroyed.

Your Rights

Under UK GDPR, you have the right to:

Access the personal data we hold about you
Request correction of inaccurate data
Request erasure of your data (where applicable)
Restrict or object to processing
Request data portability
Withdraw consent where consent is the lawful basis

Requests should be made in writing via email. Responses will be provided within one month.

Complaints

If you have concerns about how your data is handled, please contact us first so we can try to resolve the issue.

You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO):

Information Commissioner’s Office
Website: https://ico.org.uk
Helpline: 0303 123 1113

Changes to This Policy

This Privacy Policy may be updated from time to time.
The most recent version will always be available on this website.

Contact

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or how your data is handled, please contact:

Jenny Prescott Counselling
Email: jennyprescottcounselling@gmail.com