Privacy Policy

Last updated: 20.01.26

Who we are

This website is owned and operated by James McCarthy of James McCarthy Counselling, a UK-based BACP registered counsellor.

Website address: www.jamesmccarthycounselling.com

Purpose of this Privacy Policy

Your privacy and confidentiality are central to ethical therapeutic practice and to the standards of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).

This Privacy Policy explains how personal information is collected, used, stored, and protected when you visit this website or make contact, and outlines your rights under UK data protection law.

I am committed to processing personal data fairly, lawfully, and transparently in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR), the Data Protection Act 2018, and the BACP Ethical Framework.

Data Controller

For the purposes of UK data protection law, James McCarthy is the Data Controller responsible for any personal data collected through this website.

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or how your information is handled, you can contact me at: james@jamesmccarthycounselling.com

What personal data is collected and why

Contact forms and enquiries

If you contact me via any form on this website, or by email, the following information may be collected:

Your name
Your email address
Any information you choose to include in your message

This information is used solely for the purpose of:

Responding to your enquiry
Providing information about counselling services
Arranging appointments or consultations

Legal basis:
The lawful basis for processing this information is legitimate interest and, where relevant, contractual necessity in order to respond to your request for services.

Information submitted via the website will not be shared with third parties without your consent, unless I am legally required to do so.

Cookies

This website uses cookies to help it function effectively and to improve user experience. For further information, please visit the Cookie Policy page.

Confidentiality and therapeutic data

This website is primarily an information and contact platform.

Any personal information shared during counselling sessions (whether online, by phone, or in person) is not stored on this website.

Therapeutic records are kept separately and securely in line with:

UK GDPR
The BACP Ethical Framework
Professional indemnity insurance requirements

All therapeutic information is treated as strictly confidential and is only shared in exceptional circumstances, such as:

Where there is a legal obligation
Where there are serious safeguarding concerns

These limits to confidentiality are explained fully in the counselling agreement provided before therapy begins.

Who your data may be shared with

Personal data collected via this website is not shared with third parties, except:

Where required by law
With trusted service providers essential to website operation (e.g., hosting provider, email provider), who are required to comply with UK GDPR standards

No personal data is sold or used for marketing purposes.

How long your data is kept

Website enquiries are kept only as long as necessary to respond and manage any ongoing communication
If you become a client, relevant counselling records are retained for a minimum of 7 years after the end of therapy, in line with professional, ethical, and insurance requirements
In the case of work with children and young people, records are retained until 7 years after the client reaches the age of 18
Website analytics data is retained only in anonymised form

How your data is protected

Appropriate technical and organisational measures are in place to protect your personal data, including:

Secure website hosting
Encrypted connections (HTTPS/SSL)
Password-protected systems
Limited access to personal information

While every effort is made to protect your data, no online system can be guaranteed to be completely secure. For this reason, you are encouraged not to share highly sensitive personal information via general website contact forms.

Your rights

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

Request access to the personal data held about you
Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data
Request deletion of your data (where applicable)
Restrict or object to the processing of your data
Withdraw consent, where consent was the lawful basis
Lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO)

To exercise any of these rights, please contact: james@jamesmccarthycounselling.com

You also have the right to complain to the ICO: www.ico.org.uk

Where your data is processed

Website hosting and email services may involve data being processed by reputable third-party providers. Some providers may store data outside the UK. Where this occurs, appropriate safeguards are in place to ensure compliance with UK GDPR, such as adequacy regulations or standard contractual clauses.

Changes to this policy

This Privacy Policy may be updated from time to time to reflect legal, ethical or technical changes. The latest version will always be available on this website.

Important note

This Privacy Policy relates solely to the use of this website and initial contact. A separate, more detailed privacy and confidentiality agreement is provided to all counselling clients before therapy begins, in line with BACP ethical standards.