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The Sage Therapist Privacy Policy

Introduction

The Sage Therapist is committed to keeping your personal information safe. Your privacy is very important, and your data is handled responsibly and in line with current data protection laws.


Within this policy, “I”, “we”, “us” and “our” refer to The Sage Therapist.


This privacy policy explains how your personal information is collected, used, stored and protected when you use this website or access counselling services.


The Sage Therapist is registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and complies with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.


The Sage Therapist is the data controller responsible for your personal data.

How we collect your information

We may collect personal information from you when you:


  • Contact us via email, telephone or website form 
  • Make an enquiry about counselling services 
  • Begin counselling sessions 
  • Communicate with us during or after therapy 


This may include:

  • Name 
  • Contact details (email, phone number, address) 
  • Availability and session preferences 
  • Information you choose to share about your circumstances

Special category data

As part of providing counselling services, we may process sensitive personal data (known as “special category data”), including information about your mental and emotional health.


This information is processed with your explicit consent and is handled with a high level of confidentiality and care.

Legal basis for processing your data

We process your personal data under the following legal bases:


  • Contract – to provide counselling services to you 
  • Legitimate interests – to manage and operate the practice effectively 
  • Explicit consent – for processing special category data such as health information

How your information is used

Your information is used to:


  • Respond to enquiries 
  • Provide counselling services 
  • Manage appointments and communication 
  • Maintain appropriate records 
  • Meet legal, ethical and professional obligations 

Confidentiality

As a registered member of the BACP, I adhere to their ethical framework, including maintaining client confidentiality.


Confidentiality will only be broken in the following circumstances:


  • Where there is a legal obligation (e.g. court order) 
  • Where there is a risk of serious harm to yourself or others 


Where possible, this would be discussed with you first.

Storage and security of your data

Your data is stored securely using appropriate safeguards.


  • Electronic records are stored using secure, encrypted systems 
  • I use WriteUpp to manage client records, appointments and notes 
  • Email communication is managed via ProtonMail 
  • Paper records are stored in a locked cabinet 
  • Devices are password protected and use secure authentication methods 


Session notes are anonymised and stored separately from identifying information.


As part of professional requirements, anonymised information may be discussed in supervision.

Data retention

Your data will be retained as follows:


  • Enquiry data: up to 30 days after the enquiry has ended 
  • Client records: up to 7 years after therapy ends 


This is in line with professional, ethical and insurance requirements.

Your rights

Under UK GDPR, you have the right to:


  • Request access to your personal data (Subject Access Request) 
  • Request correction of inaccurate data 
  • Request erasure of your data (where applicable) 
  • Withdraw consent (where consent is the legal basis) 


If you have any concerns about how your data is handled, you are encouraged to contact me in the first instance so I can try to resolve this.


To make a request, please contact:

📧 thesagetherapist@protonmail.com


If you have concerns about how your data is handled, you can contact the ICO:
https://www.ico.org.uk

Payments

Payments for counselling sessions are arranged directly between therapist and client.


Payment details may be processed through secure banking systems and are used solely for payment and record-keeping purposes.

Cookies, third-party services and your rights

A cookie is a small file stored on your device when you visit a website. Where applicable, you will be asked to consent to non-essential cookies. These may be used for basic analytics to help improve the website. You can manage or disable cookies through your browser settings.


Your data may be processed using trusted third-party services, including GoDaddy (website hosting), WriteUpp (client management), and ProtonMail (email communication). Some providers may store data outside the UK; where this occurs, appropriate safeguards are in place, such as UK-approved international data transfer agreements.


This website may include links to external websites. While care is taken to ensure these are appropriate, The Sage Therapist is not responsible for the content or privacy practices of external sites.


If you have concerns about how your data is handled, you can contact the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) at www.ico.org.uk.

Contact and updates

You can contact The Sage Therapist via the website contact form, by telephone on 07940 705 292, or by email at thesagetherapist@protonmail.com.


This privacy policy may be updated periodically to reflect changes in legal requirements or practice. You are encouraged to review it occasionally.


Last updated: April 2026

Copyright © 2023 TheSageTherapist - All Rights Reserved.

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