Privacy Policy

 

Your privacy is very important to me, and you can be confident that your personal information will be kept safe and secure and will only be used for the purpose it was given to me.

 

This privacy policy aims to safeguard your right to privacy. I adhere to the principles outlined in the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. I am committed to being transparent about how I collect, use, and store your information. Your privacy and confidentiality are of utmost importance, and I ensure that any personal information shared with me is kept safe and used only for the purposes for which it was provided.

 

Who I am:

 

I am Maureen Williams, a registered therapist offering private therapy to adults and young people aged 16 and over. I am a member of the BACP and ACTO, and I am registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office, Registration Reference number ZB850804. As a sole trader, I am also regulated by HMRC for tax purposes. In this context, I am the data controller responsible for the personal data I collect and store.

 

What Information I Collect:

 

• Your name, address, phone number and email address

• Your date of birth

• Emergency contact details

• GP contact information

• Brief session notes and any correspondence (emails, messages)

• Sensitive personal data you choose to share

• Enquiry form submissions and website interaction data (via Wix)

 

Why I Collect This Information:

 

I collect your personal data to:

​

• Communicate with you and deliver therapy services

• Respond in case of emergencies

• Manage appointments and payment records

• Fulfil my legal and professional obligations

• Meet tax and insurance requirements

• Improve your experience on my website

 

How I Use Your Information:

 

When you contact me with an enquiry about my service, I will collect information to help me respond. If you decide not to proceed, I will ensure all your personal data is deleted within one month. If you would like me to delete this information sooner, just let me know.

 

While you are accessing the service, rest assured that everything you discuss with me is confidential. That confidentiality will only be broken in the following instances:

​

• Where you give consent that I share information

• Where I am compelled by a court of law (eg, court order)

• Where the information is of such gravity that confidentiality cannot be maintained, e.g., where there is a risk of serious harm to self or others, or in cases of terrorism, fraud and crime.

 

I will always try to speak to you about this first, unless there are safeguarding issues that prevent this.

 

How I Store It:

 

If we proceed with therapy, I will keep a record of your personal details. This helps the service run smoothly and is used in cases where there is a risk of serious harm. These details are kept in secure, encrypted, password-protected digital files, and only I have access to them.

 

Sharing Information:

 

Like all therapists, I am in regular supervision and will discuss issues from my therapy work with my supervisor. At such times, I will take all possible measures to preserve your anonymity.

 

I do not share your data without your consent, unless I am legally required or there is a serious risk of harm (see above).

 

After therapy has ended:

 

Once the therapy has ended, your personal details will be kept for seven years from the end of our contact with each other and will then be securely destroyed. If you want me to delete this information sooner than this, please tell me.

 

Data security:

​

I take the security of the data I hold about you very seriously, and as such, I take every effort to make sure it is kept secure. Digital data will be kept in secure, encrypted, password-protected digital files.

 

Visitors to My Website:

 

When someone visits my website, I use a third-party service, WIX, which collects standard usage data. This information is anonymised and used to improve services. Cookies are used to enhance site performance. You may turn off cookies in your browser settings.