Depending on how you contact me and the service you receive, I may collect information including your name and contact details, date of birth or age where relevant, emergency contact information, GP or other healthcare-professional details where appropriate, information provided during enquiries or assessment, appointment information and information relevant to counselling, hypnotherapy or wellbeing work.

This may include information relating to your physical or mental health and other sensitive personal information.

When working with children and young people, I may also collect relevant parent or guardian contact and consent information.

I aim to collect only the information reasonably necessary to provide my services safely and professionally.

If you contact me through this website, I may collect your name, email address, telephone number and a short message.

I use this information to respond to your enquiry, provide information about my services and, where appropriate, arrange a free consultation or appointment.

Making an enquiry does not commit you to becoming a client.

If you decide to begin counselling or hypnotherapy, you will normally be asked to complete an intake form.

This may initially be completed electronically, including through Google Forms. Relevant information is then retained securely as part of your client record.

Paper information containing identifying details is stored in a locked cabinet.

Therapeutic notes are recorded using a client reference code rather than your name or other directly identifying information. Information connecting that reference code with you is stored separately.

Electronic records are protected using appropriate password and device security and may be securely stored or synchronised using services such as iCloud.

This updates the storage wording in your existing contract while retaining its established approach of securing paper and electronic records. 

When I work with a child or young person, I may also hold relevant information relating to their parent or guardian.

Where appropriate, the young person and their parent or guardian will be provided with information about the counselling arrangement, confidentiality and how personal information is handled.

A young person’s privacy within counselling is important. Information disclosed during sessions will normally remain confidential. However, information may need to be shared where there is a safeguarding concern, serious risk to the young person or another person, or where disclosure is required by law.

Where it is safe and appropriate to do so, I will aim to discuss this with the young person before information is shared.

This reflects the safeguarding and confidentiality principles already contained in my Under-18 counselling agreement. 

I may use personal information to provide counselling, hypnotherapy and related services; respond to enquiries; communicate with you; arrange and manage appointments; maintain appropriate professional records; receive and record payments; meet safeguarding responsibilities; comply with professional, insurance and legal obligations; and establish, exercise or defend legal claims where necessary.

UK data-protection law requires me to have an appropriate lawful basis for using personal information.

Depending on the purpose and circumstances, the lawful bases applicable to my practice may include processing necessary to provide a service or fulfil our therapeutic agreement, compliance with legal obligations, and legitimate interests in operating a safe, ethical and professional counselling practice.

Counselling may involve special-category personal information, including information concerning physical or mental health. Such information receives additional protection under UK data-protection legislation and is processed only where an appropriate additional legal condition applies.

Information shared with me as part of counselling or hypnotherapy is treated confidentially.

There may be circumstances in which relevant information needs to be shared, including where there is a serious concern about your safety or another person’s safety; there is a safeguarding concern involving a child or adult at risk; disclosure is required by law or court order; disclosure is necessary in connection with a legal claim; or you have agreed that information may be shared.

Wherever it is safe and appropriate, I will aim to discuss this with you before information is shared.

I undertake regular professional clinical supervision as part of safe and ethical practice.

Client work may be discussed within supervision where appropriate. Information is limited to what is necessary and identifying details are not routinely disclosed. Professional supervisors are also bound by confidentiality.

I may use email, telephone, text messaging, Google Meet and, where appropriate, WhatsApp to communicate with clients and provide online sessions.

Reasonable steps are taken to protect confidentiality and security, although electronic communication and online services can involve risks outside my direct control.

Clients attending online sessions are encouraged to use a private environment and secure device wherever possible.

I may use digital or AI-assisted tools to support general administrative and professional tasks. I remain professionally responsible for all clinical decisions and therapeutic work.

Client information is not entered into generative AI systems, including where that information has been anonymised or pseudonymised.

AI is not used to replace professional judgement, clinical supervision or the therapeutic relationship. Any use of AI within my professional practice is considered in relation to confidentiality, data protection, client welfare and my professional and ethical responsibilities.

Payment for sessions is normally made by bank transfer.

Payments are not processed through this website. Financial transaction information may be retained where necessary for accounting, taxation or legal purposes.

I retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary, taking account of professional, legal, safeguarding and insurance requirements.

My current client agreements provide for counselling records to be retained for up to six years. 

When records are no longer required, they are securely destroyed or deleted.

We’ll review the precise retention wording when we update your contracts so the same rule appears everywhere.

Depending on the circumstances, you may have rights under UK data-protection law including the right to request access to your personal information; request correction of inaccurate information; request deletion in certain circumstances; request restriction of processing in certain circumstances; object to certain processing; and withdraw consent where processing is based on consent.

These rights are not absolute, and whether a particular right applies depends upon the circumstances and the lawful basis for processing.

If you have any questions, concerns or complaints about how your personal information is handled, please contact me in the first instance:

Genine Harrison
Genine Harrison Counselling
Email: genineharrisoncounselling@gmail.com
Telephone: 07971 016027

I will take data-protection concerns seriously and respond in accordance with applicable data-protection requirements.

You also have the right to raise a concern with the UK’s independent data-protection regulator, the Information Commissioner’s Office.

Information Commissioner’s Officehttps://ico.org.uk/

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