Privacy Policy & Data Complaints

1. Introduction & Who We Are

Welcome to branchcounselling.co.uk.

We are committed to protecting your privacy and handling your personal data securely.

Branch Counselling operates as the Data Controller for your information.

If you have any questions about this policy, please contact us at helen@branchcounselling.co.uk.

2. The Data We Collect & Why

To provide counselling services, we collect personal and sensitive information to support your care safely. This includes:

  • Contact Data: Your name, email, and phone number when you fill out our contact or enquiry forms.

  • Clinical Data: Brief session notes relevant to your therapy.

We use this data strictly to communicate with you and to provide professional counselling services. We store this information securely using encrypted, password-protected systems.

3. Your Rights

You have the right to request access to the data we hold about you, request corrections, or ask us to delete your information (subject to professional insurance retention rules).

4. Data Protection Complaints Procedure

If you believe we have mishandled your personal information, you have a statutory right to lodge a complaint directly with us. Under the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025, we operate the following clear procedure:

  • How to complain: Please email your concerns to Helen Gifford helen@branchcounselling.co.uk. Please include your name and a description of your data concern.

  • Acknowledgement: We will formally acknowledge receipt of your complaint within 30 calendar days.

  • Investigation: We will investigate your concerns thoroughly and without undue delay. We will keep you updated and provide a formal written outcome as soon as it is resolved.

If you remain unsatisfied with our final response, you have the right to escalate your complaint to the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) at ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint.