Privacy Policy

Effective Date : 26.6.25

This privacy notice explains how Persimmon Counselling collects, stores, and processes your personal data in accordance with the UK/EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

To provide you with the best counselling service possible, I will hold your personal contact details and records of your therapy sessions.   Please find below important information about how this information will be held and stored.

Your personal Information

I use a secure, encrypted and password protected practice management platform, Kiku (wearekiku.com) to collect and store your personal data. Please see Kiku’s privacy notice here : https://www.wearekiku.com/privacy–notices

At your initial consultation with me you will be asked for your personal contact information, for example your name, address, email address and telephone number.  This contact information is stored securely in Kiku and can only be accessed by me.

To fulfil my duty of care to you, in your initial session I will ask for your contact information for your GP and elected emergency contact.  These details will also be stored in Kiku and can only be assessed by me. I also keep brief, anonymous notes which are a record of the sessions and a way of reviewing your circumstances. This personal information will be held for the duration of your therapy after which it will be deleted from the system.  Please note I will need to keep a record of your name and client reference for five years so I can respond to any potential requests regarding your clinical notes.  Business records such as invoices/receipts are also retained for seven years in line with the current legal requirements. I take all reasonable steps to keep your data safe and confidential. 

How I may process your personal information

Your personal information will be used to contact you in line with our counselling agreement.  I will only use your email address and telephone number to contact you about your appointments.  Your phone number may also be used to issue appointment reminders via text message.  You can opt out of these text updates.  Your personal information will also be used for billing or financial records.

Your data is collected directly from you, through initial contact and during therapy sessions.  Via secure online forms, email or telephone correspondence.

I have supervision once a month and the consultation process is for my practice.  I may refer to your information verbally when it’s helpful to my professional processes.

All your personal information is confidential except in the following circumstances.  If imminent risk is identified relating to yourself or others, I may share your contact details with a GP or an emergency healthcare service. Wherever possible I will endeavour to speak to you about this first. I also have a legal obligation to share your details if I become aware of your intent to harm another person or organisation eg terrorism or child protection & safeguarding.  In such a situation, the law may require that I share your personal information without your knowledge.

Your communications with me

Persimmon Counselling store information securely on devices such a laptop and mobile phone. These devices are protected by a PIN code and are only accessible by me and in the event of incapacity by a confidential colleague.  

Your rights

Any personal data retained by me is kept in accordance with the GDPR 2018

You can request to view the information that I hold about you, please let me know directly at goodcounselling@pm.me

You have the right to request amendments to your contact details or session notes

You can request that your information is deleted and confidentially destroyed which we will do, save for that which we have a legal obligation to keep

You have the right to complain if you take the view that I have processed your information in a way that does not comply with GDPR.  Please speak to me in the first instance so we can try and resolve it.  The Information Commissioners Office (ICO) can also be contacted at ico.org.uk

Consent

When you book your first session you will be asked to provide a digital signature and tick a checkbox to confirm that you consent to the storage and processing of your personal data for the purposes of providing therapeutic services.

If you have any questions about this privacy document please ask and we can talk about it together.