Privacy and Social Media Policies 

Privacy Policy Last Updated: April 2025

As a registered counsellor in the UK, I am committed to safeguarding your personal data and ensuring your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how I collect, use, and protect your information when you visit my website or engage with my services.

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This policy complies with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and is in line with the standards set by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). I am also a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), and I adhere to the BACP’s ethical guidelines concerning confidentiality and data protection.

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This privacy notice will inform you of what I will do with the personal information you have provided to me from our point of contact until the end of our therapy sessions together. Your privacy is important to me and the personal information you provide me with will be kept safe and secure and I will only use this information for the basis it was given to me.

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I adhere to current data protection legislation, including the General Data Protection Regulation. GDPR states that I keep safe and secure your sensitive personal information that may be disclosed to me. This is classified as ‘special category personal information’. The lawful basis for me processing this type of information is for the ‘provision of health treatment’ (counselling) which is necessary for our contract.

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Who I Am

I am Amanda Garnett, a professional counsellor registered with the BACP and ICO. My contact details are as follows:

• Email: greenopaltherapy@gmail.com      

• Phone: 07541 382 536

Initial Consultations

After you contact me, you allow me consent to respond to your query using the contact information you provide me with. If we schedule an initial consultation, I may ask some questions about yourself and well-being , but at this stage I do not store this data – it is so I can assess for myself if I may be able to help.

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If you wish to proceed with counselling, I will provide you with a contract to be signed which may also ask for some additional personal information – this will be explained below.  

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If you wish to no longer proceed with your enquiry, the information you have provided me thus far (an email enquiry, a text message etc.) with will be deleted within 28 days. This gives you a chance to consider working together, but please contact me if you wish for me to do this sooner.

Information I Collect

I collect personal information when you engage with my services or visit my website. This information may be collected in a phone consultation with you (see above) or through the information form that is included with my contract. This information may include:

1. Personal Identifiable Information (PII):

   • Name

   • Email address

   • Phone number

   • Address (if relevant)

2. Health and Wellbeing Information:

   • Any information you provide during the counselling process (e.g., health history, reasons for seeking counselling, session notes, emergency contact, GP details etc.)

3. Technical Data (from website visits - this website is powered by Wix):

   • Browser type and version

   • What pages were visited on my website

   • Date and time of website visits​

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How I Use Your Information

Your personal information will be used solely for the purpose of providing counselling services and maintaining records as required by law. Specifically, I use your data for the following purposes:

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• To communicate with you regarding your counselling sessions.

• To manage appointments and bookings.

• To process payments (if applicable).

• To maintain accurate records of your sessions. These records include dates and times of sessions and may include very brief notes of themes discussed. Apart from your first name, these notes contain no other personal identifiable information and are stored securely and separately from your contract information.

• To ensure compliance with legal and professional obligations.

• To respond to any queries or feedback you may have.

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How I Protect Your Data

I take your privacy seriously and implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to ensure your data is secure. These measures include:

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• Secure storage of personal and sensitive data.

• Password-protected systems and files.

• Encryption where applicable.​

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I also ensure that my third-party service providers (e.g., email, website hosting, payment processors) comply with data protection regulations.

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Data Retention

I will retain your personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law. After this period, your personal data will be securely deleted or anonymised. The below applies to the PII you have provided me with.

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Your Rights

Under the GDPR, you have several rights concerning your personal data, including:

• Right to access: You have the right to request a copy of the personal data I hold about you.

• Right to rectification: You have the right to request that I correct any inaccuracies in your personal data.

• Right to erasure: You have the right to request the deletion of your personal data, subject to certain conditions. (You can ask me at any time to erase the data I hold about you. If we are still working together, I may have legitimate interest purposes to keep this data - this can be discussed)

• Right to restriction of processing: You can request the restriction of how your personal data is processed under certain circumstances. (E.g.: you need to check the accuracy of a provided phone number)

• Right to object: You have the right to object to the processing of your personal data in certain circumstances. (E.g.: from being sent marketing materials)

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To exercise any of these rights, please contact me at the details provided above.

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Sharing Your Information

​I will not share your personal information with third parties, except in the following circumstances:

• If required by law or a regulatory authority.

• If necessary to protect your vital interests or the safety of others.

• This will be explained in greater detail in our working contract, and I will always do my best to discuss such matters with you first.

• If you explicitly request that I share your information (e.g., with other health professionals or organisations involved in your care).

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Cookies

I power my website using Wix, who may use cookies to improve user experience. Cookies are small text files stored on your device that help with site functionality, analytics, and personalisation. You can control or disable cookies through your browser settings.

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Changes to This Privacy Policy

I may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in the law or my practices. Any updates will be posted on this page, and the date at the top will be updated accordingly. Please review this policy regularly to stay informed about how I am protecting your data.

Contact Information

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If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, or if you wish to exercise any of your rights under the GDPR, please contact me at:

• Email: greenopaltherapy@gmail.com

• Phone: 07541 382 536

For further information about data protection in the UK, you can visit the ICO website: https://ico.org.uk.

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Therapy Termination

​If you have had therapy with me which has now ended – My lawful basis for holding your personal date would be legitimate interest. I am required by my governing body to keep these records for up to 7 years, and they will then be destroyed. I realise this may sound like a long time. Please be assured that during this time, notes and contracts are securely stored and never together. I do this as an extra layer of security (as it means no one could identify you from the notes alone). As mentioned, these notes will mention only brief themes discussed, again to protect your privacy. I use passwords, encryptions and locked storage cabinets only accessible by myself, and never share any of this information with anyone else.

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If you have any questions regarding this policy, please do not hesitate to contact me using the above methods.