1. Introduction

At Lemonade Counselling, your privacy is of utmost importance to us. This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, store, and protect your personal information. We are committed to ensuring that your privacy is protected and that any personal data you provide us is handled in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and other relevant data protection laws in the United Kingdom.

2. Information We Collect

We may collect and process the following information:

  • Personal Information: Name, date of birth, address, email address, telephone number, and any other personal details you provide during your sessions or through forms on our website.
  • Sensitive Personal Data: Health information, mental health records, and any other sensitive information you share during your counselling sessions.
  • Technical Information: IP address, browser type, and information regarding your visit to our website, collected through cookies and similar technologies. Lemonade.org.uk is hosted by 1&1 IONOS.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your personal information to:

  • Provide you with counselling services.
  • Maintain accurate and up-to-date records.
  • Communicate with you regarding appointments, services, and any relevant updates.
  • Improve our services and tailor our support to your needs.
  • Comply with legal obligations, including safeguarding requirements and responding to requests from regulatory bodies.

4. Legal Basis for Processing

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

  • Consent: By providing your information, you consent to its processing for the purposes outlined in this policy.
  • Contractual Necessity: Processing your data is necessary for us to fulfil our contractual obligations in providing you with counselling services.
  • Legal Obligations: We may be required to process your data to comply with legal requirements, such as safeguarding laws and regulations.

5. Data Storage and Security

We take the security of your personal data very seriously. Your information is stored securely, whether electronically on encrypted systems or physically in locked cabinets. We take appropriate measures to protect your data from unauthorised access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction.

6. Data Retention

We retain your personal data only for as long as is necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected, including satisfying any legal, accounting, or reporting requirements. Typically, counselling records are kept for a period of seven years after the end of therapy. After this period, your data will be securely deleted or destroyed.

7. Sharing Your Information

We do not share your personal data with third parties except in the following circumstances:

  • With your explicit consent: If you agree to share your information with a third party, such as a GP or another healthcare provider.
  • Legal Requirements: If required by law, we may need to share your data with legal authorities, regulatory bodies, or in response to court orders.
  • Safeguarding: If there is a risk of harm to yourself or others, we may need to share your information with appropriate safeguarding bodies.

8. Your Rights

Under the GDPR, you have the following rights regarding your personal data:

  • Access: You have the right to request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
  • Rectification: You can request that any inaccurate or incomplete data be corrected.
  • Erasure: You have the right to request the deletion of your personal data, subject to certain conditions.
  • Restriction of Processing: You can request that we limit the processing of your personal data.
  • Data Portability: You have the right to request the transfer of your data to another service provider.
  • Objection: You have the right to object to the processing of your data in certain circumstances.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details provided below.

9. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. Any changes will be posted on our website, and where appropriate, notified to you by email.

10. Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your personal data, please contact:

Robyn Gargas
Lemonade Counselling
Email: robyn@lemonade.org.uk