Privacy Policy

This policy explains what personal data I collect through this website and my counselling practice, why I collect it, how it’s stored, and what rights you have over it. I’ve tried to write this in plain terms rather than legal jargon, so it’s actually useful to read.

Who I am

I’m Clive Wade, trading as Clive Wade Counselling & Psychotherapy, a sole practitioner counsellor based in Cornwall. I am the data controller for the personal data described in this policy. If you have any questions, you can contact me at clive@cwadecounselling.com.

I am registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), registration reference [add once received].

What information I collect

Through this website: if you use the contact form, this collects your name, email address, and the content of your message. If you book a free 15-minute consultation, I’ll also collect whatever you choose to share with me during that call.

If you become a client: once we begin working together, I keep session notes covering what we discuss, my professional observations, and our working agreement. Because this relates to your health and wellbeing, it’s treated as special category data under UK GDPR, which means I need your explicit, informed consent before I hold it. We’ll go through this together, alongside confidentiality and its limits, before we start regular sessions.

How your data is stored and kept secure

Session notes are kept on paper, not digitally, and stored in a locked cabinet that only I have access to. Enquiry and booking details sent through this website are handled through my website host (Squarespace) and, once set up, my professional email provider (Google Workspace). I don’t share your information with any third party beyond what’s described in this policy.

How long I keep your information

In line with my professional indemnity insurance requirements, I keep client records for a minimum of 7 years after our work together ends. This period exists to protect both of us in the rare event of a complaint or claim, and reflects standard practice recommended by my insurer and the wider counselling profession.

Enquiries that don’t go on to become ongoing client work (for example, a contact form message or a free consultation that doesn’t lead to sessions) are kept only for as long as needed to respond to you, and are deleted after a reasonable period if no further contact takes place.

Confidentiality and the limits to it

What you share with me is confidential. The only circumstances in which I would need to break confidentiality are if I believe you or someone else is at serious risk of harm, or where I have a legal obligation to disclose information. This is set out in more detail in my working agreement with you, and reflects the BACP Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions, which governs my practice.

Your rights

Under UK data protection law, you have the right to ask what personal data I hold about you, to ask for it to be corrected if it’s inaccurate, and to ask for it to be deleted. Because I have a professional obligation to retain client records for a set period (see above), I may not always be able to delete records immediately on request, but I will explain why if that’s the case.

If you’re unhappy with how your data has been handled, you have the right to complain to the ICO at ico.org.uk.

Cookies

This website may use basic analytics cookies provided by Squarespace to understand how visitors use the site. These don’t identify you personally. You can control cookies through your browser settings.

Changes to this policy

I may update this policy from time to time, for example if my practice or the tools I use change. The most recent version will always be available on this page.

Last updated: [add date when published]