Privacy Policy for Akhtar Counselling

Last Updated: 31 August 2026

 

Akhtar Counselling is committed to protecting your privacy and handling your personal information responsibly and confidentially.

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This Privacy Policy explains what information may be collected when you contact Akhtar Counselling, use this website or access counselling services, how that information may be used, and your rights regarding your personal data.

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1. Information We May Collect

Depending on how you interact with the practice, information may include:

• Your name and contact details

• Information submitted through enquiry or contact forms

• Appointment and booking information

• Information you choose to provide before or during therapy

• Relevant correspondence relating to your counselling

• Payment and transaction information

• Technical website information, such as device, browser and website usage data

• Cookie and analytics information where applicable

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Because counselling involves discussing personal experiences, some information provided during therapy may constitute special category personal data, including information relating to physical or mental health.

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2. How Your Information Is Used

Personal information may be used to:

• Respond to enquiries

• Arrange and manage appointments

• Provide counselling and therapeutic services

• Maintain appropriate professional and clinical records

• Process and confirm payments

• Communicate with you regarding your appointments or therapy

• Maintain the security and operation of the website

• Meet professional, ethical and legal responsibilities

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Your personal information will not be sold to third parties.

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3. Legal Basis for Processing

Personal information is processed only where there is an appropriate lawful basis.

Depending on the circumstances, this may include:

• Contract — where processing is necessary to provide a service you have requested

• Legitimate interests — where information is reasonably required to operate and protect the practice

• Legal obligation — where information must be retained or disclosed to comply with the law

• Consent — where consent is the appropriate basis and has been provided

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Where special category information is processed, an appropriate additional condition for processing will also be relied upon where required.

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4. Confidentiality

Information shared during counselling is treated as confidential and handled in accordance with professional and ethical responsibilities.

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There may be limited circumstances where confidentiality cannot be maintained, including where disclosure is required by law or where serious safeguarding concerns arise.

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Where appropriate and possible, these circumstances would normally be discussed with you.

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Further information about therapeutic confidentiality can also be found within the practice Terms & Conditions.

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5. Sharing Your Information

Personal information is not routinely shared with other organisations.

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Limited information may be processed by trusted service providers used to operate the practice, such as:

• Website and hosting providers

• Appointment and booking systems

• Payment providers

• Communication or administrative services

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Only information reasonably necessary for providing those services is shared.

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Information may also be disclosed where required by law, safeguarding responsibilities or another applicable legal obligation.

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6. Payments

Payments may be made using the payment methods offered by Akhtar Counselling.

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Where an external payment provider is used, payment information is processed according to that provider's own privacy and security arrangements.

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Akhtar Counselling does not need to retain your complete payment-card information when payments are processed by an external payment provider.

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7. Website, Cookies & Analytics

This website may use essential cookies and other technologies required for the website to function.

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Additional cookies or analytics technologies may be used to understand website performance and how visitors interact with the site, subject to applicable consent requirements.

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Please see the separate Cookie Policy for further information.

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8. Data Security

Reasonable technical and organisational measures are used to protect personal information against unauthorised access, alteration, disclosure or loss.

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However, no internet or electronic storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

 

Clients are also encouraged to consider their own privacy when communicating electronically or attending online therapy.

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9. Data Retention

Personal information is retained only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected and to meet applicable professional, insurance, safeguarding and legal requirements.

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Different types of information may therefore be retained for different periods.

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When information is no longer required, it will be securely deleted, destroyed or anonymised where appropriate.

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10. Your Data Protection Rights

Depending on the circumstances and applicable 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

• The right to withdraw consent where processing relies upon consent

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These rights are not absolute and may be subject to legal or professional requirements.

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If you would like to exercise a data protection right, please contact Akhtar Counselling.

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11. Third-Party Services & Links

This website may contain links to external websites or use third-party services.

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Akhtar Counselling is not responsible for the privacy practices of independent third-party websites. You should review their privacy information before providing personal information.

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12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy may be updated periodically to reflect changes to the practice, website, technology or legal requirements.

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The latest version will be published on this page together with the updated date.

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13. Contact

For questions about this Privacy Policy, the handling of your personal information or a data protection request, please contact:

Akhtar Counselling
Website: Contact page
Telephone/WhatsApp: 07719 271779

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You also have the right to raise concerns about the handling of your personal information with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).

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