Privacy Notice

Sinéad Keeley Therapy

Last updated: 2 August 2026

This privacy notice explains how Sinéad Keeley Therapy collects, uses, stores and protects your personal information when you contact me, use my website, or receive counselling or coaching from me.

Who I am - Sinéad Keeley Therapy is the data controller responsible for your personal information.

If you have any questions about how your information is handled, or wish to exercise your data protection rights, please contact:

Email: sinead_keeley@me.com

What information I collect

The information I collect depends on how you interact with me.

When you contact me

This may include your name, contact details, information you provide about why you are seeking counselling or coaching, and details of your enquiry.

When you receive counselling or coaching

I may collect information including:

• your name and contact details

• relevant personal and background information

• information about your mental and physical health

• information about relationships, identity, sexuality or other sensitive matters that you choose to discuss

• appointment and session information

• emergency contact details where appropriate

• payment and financial information

• correspondence relating to your counselling or coaching

Some of this information may be special category data under UK data protection law, particularly information concerning health, sexuality and other sensitive personal matters. I only collect and use information that is relevant and necessary for providing my services and managing my professional responsibilities.

How I use your information

I use your information to:

• provide counselling and coaching

• arrange and manage appointments

• communicate with you about your sessions

• maintain appropriate professional records

• protect your welfare and respond appropriately to serious safeguarding or safety concerns

• process payments and maintain financial records

• respond to enquiries, complaints or legal matters

• meet relevant legal, professional and insurance requirements

• maintain the security and operation of my website and services

I will not use your therapy information for marketing purposes.

Lawful basis for processing

UK data protection law requires me to have a lawful basis for processing personal information. Depending on the purpose, this may include processing necessary to provide my services, comply with legal obligations, protect someone's vital interests, or pursue legitimate interests.

Because counselling involves sensitive information, I also need an additional legal condition for processing special category data under Article 9 of the UK GDPR. I use the conditions that are applicable to the provision of counselling and the circumstances in which the information is processed.

Confidentiality and sharing information

Your counselling and coaching information is treated as confidential.

I will not normally share your personal information with anyone without your knowledge and, where appropriate, your consent.

There are limited circumstances where information may need to be shared, for example:

• where there is a serious and immediate concern about your safety or someone else's safety

• where there are safeguarding concerns

• where I am legally required to disclose information

• where disclosure is necessary for legal, professional or insurance purposes

Where possible and appropriate, I will discuss this with you before information is shared.

Information may also be processed by service providers who support the operation of my practice, such as secure email, online meeting, payment, booking, website hosting or accounting services. These providers may process personal information on my behalf and are required to handle it appropriately.

Online counselling

If you have online sessions, your personal information may be processed by the online meeting platform I use.

I will take reasonable steps to use appropriate privacy and security settings. Please note that no method of transmitting information over the internet can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

I will not record online counselling sessions unless this has been specifically discussed with you and appropriate consent has been obtained.

Emails and messages

I may communicate with you by email, telephone, SMS or messaging services where appropriate.

Please avoid sending detailed or highly sensitive therapeutic information by ordinary email or text message unless necessary. These methods of communication may not provide the same level of security as the systems used to maintain your formal client records.

How long I keep your information

I keep counselling and coaching records for the period required by my professional, legal and insurance obligations. Your records are stored securely and kept for 7 years after the final counselling session. This timeframe meets the guidelines of UKCP and insurance providers. Once this time has passed, your data will be safely and permanently destroyed.

Financial records and other information may need to be retained for different periods where required by law.

Your rights

Under UK data protection law, you may have rights including:

• the right to access your personal information

• the right to request correction of inaccurate information

• the right to request erasure in certain circumstances

• the right to restrict processing in certain circumstances

• the right to object to certain processing

• the right to data portability where applicable

Some rights are subject to exemptions, particularly where information is held as part of confidential professional records or where there is a legal requirement to retain it.

To exercise your rights, please contact me using the details above.

I will normally respond to a valid request within one month, subject to any applicable legal exemptions.

Website and cookies

My website may use cookies and similar technologies to operate the website, understand how it is used and improve its functionality.

Where required, I will ask for your consent before using non-essential cookies.

Where information comes from

I normally collect personal information directly from you.

In limited circumstances, information may be received from another person or organisation where this is necessary and lawful, for example in relation to an emergency, safeguarding concern or professional/legal requirement.

How your information is protected

I take appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal information against unauthorised access, loss, misuse, alteration or disclosure.

Access to client information is limited to what is necessary for the operation of my practice.

Complaints

If you have concerns about how I have handled your personal information, please contact me first:

Email: sinead_keeley@me.com
Post: 2 The Quadrant, St Albans, Herts, AL4 9RA

If you remain dissatisfied after raising your concern with me, you can complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), the UK's independent supervisory authority for data protection.

ICO: Information Commissioner's Office
Telephone: 0303 123 1113

You can find information about making a complaint on the ICO's website.

Changes to this privacy notice

I may update this privacy notice from time to time to reflect changes to my services, technology or legal obligations. The date at the top of this notice shows when it was last updated.