This Privacy Policy tells you what I will do with your personal data from initial point of contact through to after your therapy has ended, including: 

• Why I am able to process your information and what purpose I am processing it for
• How long I store it for
• Whether there are other recipients of your personal information
• Your data protection rights.

I am happy to discuss any questions you might have about my Privacy Policy, please contact me by e-mail to do so: jane@janeadamscounselling.co.uk

Personal data is any information about you that enables you to be identified.  Personal data covers obvious information such as your name and contact details, but it also covers less obvious information such as identification numbers, electronic location data and other online identifiers.  

My website may use cookies to enhance your experience. 

I take reasonable steps to protect your data using secure systems and processes.    

I adhere to current data protection legislation, including the Data (Use & Access) Act 2025 (DUAA), the General Data Protection Regulations (EU/2016/679) (the GDPR), the Data Protection Act 2018 and the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003. 

I am registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office. 

I may update this Privacy Policy from time to time.

My lawful basis for holding and using your personal information: 

The GDPR states I must have a lawful basis for processing your personal data:

• If you are currently having therapy or if you are in contact with me to consider therapy, I will process your personal data where it is necessary for the performance of our contract. 
• If you have had therapy with me and it has now ended, I will use legitimate interest as my lawful basis for holding and using your personal information. 

The GDPR also makes sure that I look after any sensitive personal information that you may disclose to me appropriately. This type of information is called ‘special category personal information’. The lawful basis for me processing any special categories of personal information is that it is for provision of health treatment (in this case counselling) and necessary for a contract with a health professional (in this case, a contract between me and you). 

How I use your information: 

Initial contact

When you contact me with an enquiry about my counselling services, I will collect information to help me satisfy your enquiry. This will include your name, contact details and information about what it is you would like help with. Alternatively, your GP or other health professional may send me your details when making a referral or a parent (or trusted individual) when making an enquiry on your behalf. 

If you decide not to proceed, I will ensure all your personal data is deleted.

While you are accessing counselling

Counselling is a confidential service.  That means that everything we discuss remains private between us.  However, there are limitations to this which I will explain in more detail when we start to work together. During the course of the sessions, I will keep a record of your personal details and session notes securely and confidentially, unless there are legal requirements to share or any safeguarding concerns.  

I will only share your personal data with:

• other professionals (as needed for your care), 
• service providers (eg data storage services)
• legal authorities (if required by law)

After counselling has ended

Once counselling has ended your records will be kept for 7 years and will then be securely destroyed. 

You can request access to your personal data but this has to be made in writing to my email jane@janeadamscounselling.co.uk and I will need reasonable to time to respond to that request (14 – 28 days).