Privacy Policy

At Kate Rushbrooke Counselling & Mentoring, your privacy is important. I am committed to protecting your personal information and handling it securely, respectfully, and in accordance with UK data protection law.

As a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), I work within its Ethical Framework, which includes maintaining client confidentiality and keeping appropriate records. [bacp.co.uk], [bacp.co.uk]

Data Controller

For the purposes of data protection law, Kate Rushbrooke Counselling & Mentoring is the Data Controller responsible for the personal information collected and processed within the practice.

ICO Registration Number: ZB856949

I am registered with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) and process personal information in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR), the Data Protection Act 2018, and the ethical requirements of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).

Information I Collect

I may collect personal information including:

Your name, address, telephone number and email address
Date of birth
Emergency contact details
GP details
Information relevant to your counselling or wellbeing
Appointment and payment information

How Your Information Is Used

Your information is used to:

Respond to enquiries
Arrange and manage appointments
Provide counselling and mentoring services
Maintain professional records
Meet legal, ethical and insurance requirements

Lawful Basis for Processing

Personal information is processed under the following lawful bases:

Performance of a contract for the provision of counselling and mentoring services.
Legitimate interests in managing and operating the practice.
Compliance with legal and professional obligations.
Provision of health and counselling services where special category data relating to health and wellbeing is processed.

Counselling records may contain special category personal data. This information is processed only where necessary and in accordance with UK data protection legislation. [ico.org.uk], [bacp.co.uk]

Online Booking Form

I use the Wix Bookings platform to manage appointment requests and bookings. When you submit information through the online booking system, your personal data is collected and processed through Wix.com Ltd. for the purpose of arranging, confirming and managing appointments.

Wix acts as a data processor and stores information securely in accordance with its own privacy and security policies. I only access the information necessary to provide counselling and mentoring services.

Information submitted through the website contact form or booking system will be used solely to respond to enquiries, arrange appointments, and provide services. It will not be shared with third parties except where required by law, safeguarding obligations, or as otherwise outlined in this Privacy Policy.

Confidentiality

Children and Young People

I provide counselling services to adults, children and young people.

Where appropriate, information may be received from parents, carers, schools, healthcare professionals, or other referring agencies.

I have safeguarding responsibilities towards children and young people. If I believe that a child or young person is at risk of harm, confidentiality may need to be limited in accordance with safeguarding legislation, professional guidance, and my duty of care. [bacp.co.uk], [bacp.co.uk]

When working with children and young people, personal information may be obtained from parents, carers or referrers where appropriate. Decisions regarding confidentiality and information sharing will be considered in line with the child's age, understanding, best interests and relevant safeguarding legislation.

Everything discussed during counselling sessions is treated as confidential.

Confidentiality may only be broken where:

There is a serious risk of harm to yourself or others
There are safeguarding concerns involving a child or vulnerable adult
Disclosure is required by law

As part of professional practice, I attend regular clinical supervision. Client work may be discussed anonymously with my supervisor to ensure safe and effective practice. Supervisors are bound by the same standards of confidentiality. [bacp.co.uk]

Clinical Supervision

As required by the BACP Ethical Framework, I attend regular supervision sessions with a qualified clinical supervisor.

During supervision, aspects of client work may be discussed to support safe, ethical and effective practice. Client identities are protected wherever possible, and supervisors are bound by professional confidentiality requirements. [bacp.co.uk]

Online Counselling

I offer counselling sessions online using Zoom and other appropriate communication methods.

Reasonable steps are taken to ensure sessions are conducted securely and confidentially. However, no electronic communication system can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

Online sessions are not recorded unless agreed in advance by all parties.

Clients are encouraged to access online sessions from a private location where they can speak freely and confidentially.

Sharing Information

Personal information is not sold or shared for marketing purposes.

Information may be shared where necessary with:

Clinical supervisors (anonymised where possible)
Professional indemnity insurers
Legal or regulatory authorities where required by law
Safeguarding agencies where there is a risk of harm
Service providers that support the operation of the practice (such as Wix.com, secure email providers, online booking systems, payment providers, or video conferencing platforms)

Storage and Retention

I make hand written notes where appropriate and these are stored in a locked cabinet. Any online information is kept to a minimum and personal reports are stored securely using password-protected systems and appropriate security measures.

Client records are retained only for as long as necessary to meet professional, legal and insurance obligations and are then securely deleted or destroyed. [bacp.co.uk] Counselling records are typically retained for seven years after the end of therapy in accordance with professional and insurance requirements. Records relating to children and young people may be retained until the client reaches age 25 (or 26 if therapy ended at age 17), in line with professional safeguarding guidance. Records are then securely destroyed.

Counselling information constitutes special category personal data. This is processed under Article 9(2)(h) UK GDPR (health and social care provision) and, where relevant, Article 9(2)(f) (establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims).

Information submitted through my website may be stored on secure Wix systems and servers as part of the operation of my website and online booking service.

Your Rights

Under UK data protection law, you have the right to:

Request access to the personal information I hold about you
Request correction of inaccurate information
Request deletion of information where appropriate
Object to or restrict how your information is processed

Requests to access personal information (Subject Access Requests) can be made in writing by email. Responses will normally be provided within one month in accordance with UK GDPR requirements.

Cookie Policy

Last Updated: October 2026

This website uses cookies to help provide a safe and effective user experience. Cookies are small text files stored on your device when you visit a website.

What Cookies I Use

Essential Cookies These cookies are necessary for the website to function properly, including website security and basic functionality. They do not require consent. [ico.org.uk], [ico.org.uk]
Analytics Cookies If enabled, analytics cookies help me understand how visitors use the website, such as which pages are visited most often. This information is collected in an aggregated and anonymised form where possible. [ico.org.uk], [ico.org.uk]

Third-Party Services

This website is hosted on the Wix platform and uses Wix Bookings to facilitate appointment scheduling. Wix and other third-party services used on this website may place cookies on your device to enable website functionality, security, booking services and analytics in accordance with their own privacy and cookie policies.

Managing Cookies

You can control or delete cookies through your browser settings. You may also choose to reject non-essential cookies when visiting the website. Please note that disabling some cookies may affect website functionality. [ico.org.uk], [ico.org.uk]

Contact

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or how your information is handled, please contact:

Kate Rushbrooke Counselling & Mentoring
📧 info@katerushbrooke.co.uk
📞 07595 071227

Professional Membership: British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)