Privacy Policy & GDPR

Last updated: January 2025

Introduction

At Blossoms Counselling & Therapeutic Services, we are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the security of your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your data in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and UK data protection laws.

Who We Are

Blossoms Counselling & Therapeutic Services is operated by Teresa Lewis, a qualified counsellor and therapist based in Market Harborough, Leicestershire.

Contact: [email protected] | 07951 862205

We are committed to processing your data in accordance with GDPR requirements. This means:

Your data is processed lawfully, fairly, and transparently
We only collect data for specific, explicit, and legitimate purposes
We collect the minimum data necessary for our purposes
Your data is kept accurate and up to date
We don't keep your data longer than necessary
Your data is kept secure and confidential

What Information We Collect

Contact and Administrative Information

Name and contact details (email, phone number, address)
Appointment dates and session notes
Payment and billing information
Emergency contact details (where provided)

Therapeutic Information

Information you share during therapy sessions
Clinical notes and assessments
Information relevant to your treatment and wellbeing

Website Information

Information submitted through contact forms
Basic website analytics (if applicable)

How We Use Your Information

We use your personal information for the following purposes:

Providing therapy services: To deliver counselling and therapeutic services tailored to your needs
Administration: To manage appointments, maintain records, and handle billing
Professional obligations: To fulfill legal and professional requirements, including clinical supervision
Communication: To contact you regarding appointments and service-related matters
Safety: To ensure your wellbeing and the safety of others where there is a risk of harm

Legal Basis for Processing

We process your personal data based on the following legal grounds:

Consent: You have given explicit consent for us to process your personal information for therapy purposes
Contract: Processing is necessary for the performance of our therapeutic services contract with you
Legal obligation: In rare cases where we are legally required to share information (e.g., safeguarding concerns)
Vital interests: To protect your life or someone else's life in emergency situations

Confidentiality

Everything you share in therapy is confidential and will not be disclosed to anyone without your explicit written consent, except in the following circumstances:

Where there is a serious risk of harm to yourself or others
Where there are safeguarding concerns regarding a child or vulnerable adult
Where disclosure is required by law or court order
Where disclosure is made in the context of clinical supervision (see below)

Clinical Supervision

As a qualified therapist, I receive regular clinical supervision to ensure the highest quality of care. During supervision, I may discuss your case with my supervisor in a confidential setting. Where possible, I use anonymised information or minimal identifying details. Supervisors are also bound by strict confidentiality requirements.

How We Protect Your Data

We take the security of your personal information seriously and implement appropriate measures including:

Secure storage of paper records in locked cabinets
Password-protected and encrypted digital records
Secure email communication where appropriate
Regular review of security measures
Limited access to your information (only I have access to your therapeutic records)

Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to provide services and fulfill our professional obligations:

Adult records: Kept for 7 years after the end of therapy
Child/adolescent records: Kept until the individual reaches age 25, or for 7 years after therapy ends, whichever is longer
Administrative records: Retained in accordance with HMRC and professional requirements

After these periods, records are securely destroyed.

Your Rights

Under GDPR, you have the following rights:

Right to access: You can request a copy of the personal information we hold about you
Right to rectification: You can ask us to correct inaccurate or incomplete information
Right to erasure: In certain circumstances, you can request deletion of your data
Right to restrict processing: You can ask us to limit how we use your data
Right to data portability: You can request your data in a commonly used format
Right to object: You can object to certain types of processing
Right to withdraw consent: You can withdraw consent for data processing at any time

Please note that some rights may be limited due to professional and legal obligations (e.g., safeguarding requirements, retention periods for professional records).

Sharing Your Information

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. We only share information in the limited circumstances outlined in the Confidentiality section above, or with your explicit written consent (e.g., communicating with your GP or other healthcare providers at your request).

Website and Cookies

Our website may use basic analytics to understand how visitors use the site. We do not use tracking cookies for marketing purposes. If you submit a contact form, the information is sent securely and used only to respond to your enquiry.

Children's Privacy

When working with children and young people under 16, we obtain consent from a parent or guardian for therapy and data processing. We balance the child's right to privacy with parental rights and professional safeguarding duties.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated revision date. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.

Contact and Complaints

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, wish to exercise your rights, or have concerns about how your data is handled, please contact:

Teresa Lewis
Blossoms Counselling & Therapeutic Services
Email: enquiries@blossomscounsellingco.co.uk
Phone: 07951 862205

If you are not satisfied with our response, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO):

Information Commissioner's Office
Website: www.ico.org.uk
Helpline: 0303 123 1113