Privacy Policy
Effective Date: 10th March 2025
1. Introduction
At Jason Alexander Counselling Services, we are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring that your personal data is handled safely and in compliance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and safeguard your information when you engage with our counselling services.
2. What Information
We Collect We may collect and process the following types of personal data:
Personal Identification Data: Name, date of birth, contact details (email, phone, address).
Health & Wellbeing Data: Information shared during therapy sessions, medical history (where relevant), mental health assessments (e.g., PHQ-9, GAD-7).
Payment Information: If applicable, for processing session fees.
Technical Data: If using online counselling, IP addresses, and device/browser type for security purposes.
3. How We Use Your Information
We collect and use your data for the following purposes:
To provide and manage counselling services.
To maintain accurate client records.
To comply with ethical and legal obligations.
To process payments (where applicable).
To contact you regarding appointments or important service updates.
To ensure the security of online counselling sessions.
4. Legal Basis for Processing Your Data
We process your personal data under the following lawful bases:
Contractual Necessity: To provide counselling services based on our counselling agreement.
Legal Obligation: Where safeguarding or legal reporting requirements apply.
Legitimate Interests: To improve service quality and maintain records.
Consent: For processing special category data (e.g., health-related data), we will obtain explicit consent.
5. Confidentiality & Data Sharing
Your information remains confidential except in the following situations:
When required by law (e.g., safeguarding concerns, court orders).
When there is a risk of harm to yourself or others.
With your explicit consent for professional referrals.
For secure storage with our GDPR-compliant service providers (e.g., case note systems, encrypted communication platforms).
6. Data Retention
We will retain client records for 6 years after therapy ends, in accordance with professional guidelines. After this period, data will be securely deleted or anonymised.
7. Your Rights
Under GDPR, you have the following rights regarding your personal data:
Right to Access: Request a copy of the information we hold.
Right to Rectification: Correct any inaccuracies in your data.
Right to Erasure (‘Right to be Forgotten’): Request deletion of your data (subject to legal and ethical obligations).
Right to Restrict Processing: Limit how your data is used in certain circumstances.
Right to Data Portability: Request transfer of your data to another service provider.
Right to Object: Object to processing based on legitimate interests.
To exercise any of these rights, please contact info@jacounselling.co.uk
8. Data Security
We take appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your data against unauthorised access, loss, or misuse. This includes:
Encrypted communication for online sessions.
Secure storage of client records.
Restricted access to client data.
9. Online Counselling & Data Protection
If you engage in online counselling, additional safeguards apply:
Sessions are conducted via GDPR-compliant platforms.
No sessions are recorded without explicit consent.
Clients should ensure they access sessions from a secure and private location.
10. Contact Information & Complaints
If you have any concerns about how your data is handled, you can contact us at:
Address: Jason Alexander Counselling Services,
448 The Royal Exchange building, Manchester, M2 7PE
Email: info@jacounselling.co.uk
Phone: 07950619911
If you are unsatisfied with our response, you can lodge a complaint with the UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) at https://ico.org.uk/.
11. Policy Updates
We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. Any changes will be posted on our website and communicated where necessary.