Privacy Notice

Aldridge Counselling Services respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal information. This notice explains what information I may collect, why I use it, how it is protected and your rights under UK data protection law.

1. Who is responsible for your information

Aldridge Counselling Services is the data controller for personal information processed through my private counselling practice and website. I am registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), registration number ZA313991.

2. Information I may collect

Depending on how you contact or work with me, I may collect your name, telephone number, email and postal address, date of birth, GP and emergency contact details, appointment and payment information, and information you provide during enquiries, assessment or counselling.

Counselling may involve special category data, particularly information concerning physical or mental health and, where relevant, other sensitive personal information.

3. How I use your information

I may use personal information to respond to enquiries; arrange and provide counselling; maintain appropriate counselling records; communicate about appointments; manage fees and administration; meet professional, insurance, tax and legal obligations; and respond appropriately to serious safety or safeguarding concerns.

4. Lawful basis for processing

I process personal information only where there is an appropriate lawful basis. Depending on the purpose, this may include taking steps at your request before entering into a counselling agreement, performance of our counselling agreement, legitimate interests in operating a safe and accountable private practice, compliance with legal obligations, and protection of vital interests in an emergency.

Where special category data is processed, an additional condition under UK data protection law is required. Consent may be used where appropriate, but not all processing depends on consent.

5. Confidentiality and when information may be shared

Counselling is normally confidential. I do not routinely share identifiable information with other people or organisations without discussing this with you.

Information may need to be disclosed where there is a serious risk of harm, a safeguarding concern, a specific legal requirement or court order, or another circumstance in which disclosure is required or justified by law or professional ethics. Where appropriate and lawful, I would normally aim to discuss this with you first.

6. Clinical supervision

I undertake regular clinical supervision as part of ethical counselling practice. Client work may be discussed in supervision, but identifying information is minimised and your identity is not routinely disclosed.

7. Counselling notes and security

Counselling notes are kept brief and factual. Wherever practicable, notes are stored separately from identifying information and a client code is used. Electronic records are password protected and reasonable technical and organisational measures are used to protect personal information.

8. Email, telephone, text and WhatsApp

If you contact me by email, telephone, text message or WhatsApp, records of those communications may contain personal information. Devices and accounts used for practice communications are protected by security controls, and some electronic services may use cloud-based storage or backup. No method of electronic communication can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

9. How long I keep information

Counselling records are normally retained for five years after counselling ends, reflecting my current professional/insurance record-retention arrangements, unless there is a justified reason to retain particular information for longer. Administrative and financial information may be kept for the period required for tax, accounting, insurance or legal purposes. Information that is no longer required will be securely deleted or destroyed.

10. Your rights

Depending on the circumstances and applicable law, you may have rights to access your personal information, correct inaccurate information, request deletion, restrict processing, object to certain processing and receive information about how your data is used. These rights are not absolute, and there are circumstances in which information may lawfully be retained.

11. Personal data breaches

If a personal data breach occurs, I will record and assess it and take appropriate steps to contain and address the incident. Where the legal reporting threshold is met, the ICO will be notified without undue delay and, where feasible, within 72 hours of my becoming aware of the breach. If a breach is likely to result in a high risk to your rights and freedoms, I will also inform you without undue delay.

12. Website and cookies

The website may process limited technical information needed for its operation and may use cookies or similar technologies. A separate Cookies Policy will explain the cookies used on this website and the choices available to visitors.

13. Complaints and contact

If you have a concern about how I handle your personal information, please contact Aldridge Counselling Services using the contact details published on this website. You also have the right to make a complaint to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

14. Changes to this notice

This privacy notice may be reviewed and updated when 14. Changes to this noticemy practice, website, service providers or data protection requirements change. The current version will be published on this website.

Last reviewed: October 2026