Phase Counselling (“we”, “our”, “us”) is committed to protecting your privacy and handling your personal information in a secure and responsible way. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your personal data when you contact us, visit our website, or use our counselling services.

1. Who We Are

Phase Counselling
Website: https://phasecounselling.co.uk/
Email: info@phasecounselling.co.uk

We provide remote counselling services to clients across the United Kingdom, primarily via secure video platforms such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams.

2. The Personal Data We Collect

a) When you contact us

When you contact us using the website contact form, by email, or by phone, we may collect:

• Your name
• Your email address
• Your phone number (if provided)
• Any information you choose to include in your message or enquiry

b) During counselling sessions

When you work with us in counselling, we may collect and process information that includes:

• Personal details that you choose to share (for example your background, circumstances, and history)
• Information about your mental health, wellbeing, and any issues you bring to therapy
• Brief clinical notes necessary for professional record-keeping

c) Technical data (website)

Our website is a static site and does not use analytics, tracking cookies, advertising technologies, or profiling tools. We do not collect behavioural or usage data about visitors for marketing or tracking purposes.

3. How We Use Your Personal Data

We use your personal data to:

• Respond to enquiries and communicate with you
• Arrange and provide counselling sessions
• Maintain appropriate clinical records
• Manage our relationship with you as a client
• Comply with legal, regulatory, or professional obligations

We will not use your information for marketing unless you explicitly ask us to, and we will never sell your personal data.

4. Lawful Basis for Processing

Under the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR), we rely on the following lawful bases:

• Contract – to provide counselling services at your request.
• Legitimate interests – to respond to your enquiries and manage our relationship with you.
• Legal obligation – to keep records where required by professional and legal standards.
• Consent – for specific activities where we ask for and you provide explicit consent.

5. How We Store Your Personal Data

Your personal information is stored securely and may be held in encrypted digital systems and/or secure paper records. Access is restricted to those who need it in order to provide counselling or manage our services.

We keep clinical records for a period that is consistent with professional guidance (typically up to seven years after the end of counselling, or longer where required by law) and then securely delete or destroy them.

We do not store client data on the publicly accessible website.

6. Sharing Your Data

We treat your information as confidential. We will not share your personal data with third parties except in the following situations:

• Where you have given clear, informed consent.
• Where we are required to do so by law or regulation.
• Where there is a serious and immediate risk of harm to you or someone else and sharing information is necessary for safeguarding.
• Where we need to seek professional supervision or consultation in line with ethical practice; in such cases, information is anonymised as far as possible.

We do not sell your data, and we do not pass it to third parties for marketing purposes.

7. Remote Counselling (Video and Phone)

If you choose to work with us remotely, sessions may take place via secure video platforms such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams, or by telephone.

• We do not record video or audio sessions.
• You are responsible for ensuring you have a private space for sessions.
• The platforms we use have their own privacy policies and terms of use, which we encourage you to read.

8. Your Data Protection Rights

Under UK data protection law, you have the right to:

• Request access to the personal data we hold about you.
• Request correction of any inaccurate or incomplete data.
• Request deletion of your data, where this is not in conflict with legal or professional obligations to retain records.
• Request restriction or object to certain types of processing.
• Withdraw consent where consent is the lawful basis for processing.
• Request the transfer of your data to another provider, where technically feasible.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details in the “Contact Us” section below. We may need to verify your identity before responding to your request.

9. Data Security

We take data security seriously and use reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect your personal information from unauthorised access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction.

While we strive to protect your data, no method of transmission or storage is completely secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security, but we take all appropriate steps to minimise risks.

10. Links to Other Websites

Our website may contain links to other websites that are not operated by us. If you click on a third-party link, you will be directed to that site. We have no control over, and assume no responsibility for, the content or privacy practices of any third-party sites or services.

11. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, legal requirements, or for other operational reasons. Any updates will be posted on this page with an updated “Last updated” date at the top of the policy.

12. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your personal data, please contact us at:

Email:
Website: https://phasecounselling.co.uk/