Your privacy is very important, and you can be confident that your personal information is kept safe and used only for the purpose it was given.
I follow UK data protection legislation including the UK GDPR, the Data Protection Act 2018 and the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR).
This policy explains:
Why I can process your information
What information I collect
How long I store it
Who it may be shared with
Your rights
How to contact me about your data
If you have any questions, please email: 📧 info@risecounselling.uk
1. Data Controller
The data controller for Rise Counselling is: Rise Counselling — Victoria Peters
Email: info@risecounselling.uk
I am registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).
ICO Registration Number: {insert ICO number}
2. Lawful Basis for Processing
The lawful bases I rely upon include:
• Contract
When you contact me or begin therapy, I need to process your personal data to provide counselling services.
• Legitimate Interests
If therapy has ended, I may retain your information for a reasonable period for record-keeping and professional obligations.
• Special Category Data
Information about your mental health is “special category data.”
I process this under the lawful basis of: “Provision of health treatment and management.”
3. Information I Collect
I may collect:
Name
Email address
Phone number
Emergency contact (optional)
Information you share during enquiries
Session notes
Appointment history
Invoicing or payment information
If you are referred by a GP or third party, I may receive your details from them with your consent.
4. How Your Information Is Used
Your data is used to:
Respond to enquiries
Arrange sessions
Provide counselling
Maintain required professional records
Contact you about appointments
Uphold safeguarding duties if necessary
Your data is not used for marketing unless you explicitly opt in.
5. Confidentiality
Everything you share is confidential except where:
I believe you or someone else is at serious risk of harm
I am required to share information by law
I discuss work anonymously with supervision (standard practice)
I will always discuss this with you where possible.
6. How Your Information Is Stored
Digital records are kept on a secure password-protected device
Paper notes are locked in a secure cabinet (if used)
Only I have access to therapy notes
Records are retained for 7 years after our work ends, then securely destroyed
7. Sharing Your Information
I only share your data:
With professional supervisors (anonymised)
If legally required
With emergency services if serious risk is present
With third-party services used for secure storage (e.g., website hosting, email providers)
Third-party providers are GDPR compliant and cannot use your data for any other purpose.
8. Website Data
My website www.risecounselling.uk may collect non-identifiable visitor data, such as:
page views
traffic patterns
basic analytics
Forms submitted via the website may be temporarily stored by the web host before being sent to my email inbox.
Cookies may be used to help the website function efficiently.
9. Your Data Rights
You have the right to:
Access your personal data
Correct inaccurate information
Request deletion (where applicable)
Restrict processing
Object to processing
Request a copy of your records
To make a request, email: 📧 info@risecounselling.uk
You can learn more about your rights at: https://ico.org.uk/your-data-matters/
10. Complaints
If you have concerns about how your data is handled, please contact me directly so I can address them.
If you wish to make a complaint, you can contact the ICO: https://ico.org.uk
11. Contact
For questions about this policy or your data: