​​​​​​​Effective Date: 28th September 2024
 
At Akhtar Counselling ("we", "our", "us"), we are committed to safeguarding and preserving the privacy of our clients and visitors. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your personal data when you visit our website, www.akhtarcounselling.co.uk (the "Website"), or use our services. By accessing and using our Website, you agree to the terms of this Privacy Policy.
 
1. Information We Collect
We may collect and process the following personal data about you:

• Personal Information You Provide: This includes information that you provide to us by filling in forms on our Website, subscribing to newsletters, or contacting us via email. This may include your name, email address, phone number, and other details you provide.

• Automatically Collected Data: We automatically collect certain information when you visit our Website, such as your IP address, browser type, pages you visit, and the time spent on each page. This helps us improve our Website and understand user preferences.

• Cookies and Tracking Technologies: Our Website uses cookies to enhance your experience and gather data regarding Website traffic. For more information, please refer to our Cookie Policy.

 
2. How We Use Your Information
We use the personal data you provide us for the following purposes:

• To Provide Counselling Services: To manage your appointments, process enquiries, and deliver the services you have requested.

• To Communicate with You: We may contact you with relevant information or updates about our services or reply to your queries.

• Improvement of Services: To improve our Website and services by analysing how you interact with our Website.

• Legal Compliance: To comply with legal obligations or requests from regulatory bodies.

 
3. Legal Basis for Processing Your Data
We process your personal data based on the following legal grounds:

• Consent: By voluntarily providing us with your information, you consent to its use for the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy.

• Contractual Necessity: To provide you with the counselling services that you have requested.

• Legitimate Interests: To improve our Website, offer better services, and communicate effectively with you.

 
4. Sharing Your Information
We respect your privacy and will not sell or disclose your personal data to third parties, except as follows:

• Service Providers: We may share your data with trusted third-party service providers (such as Wix, our hosting provider) who assist us in operating our Website or delivering our services.

• Legal Obligations: We may disclose your information if required by law or in response to lawful requests by regulatory bodies.

 
5. Data Security
We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal information. While we strive to keep your data secure, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is entirely secure, and we cannot guarantee its absolute security.
 
6. Data Retention
We retain your personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy or as required by law. Once your data is no longer needed, we will securely delete or anonymise it.
 
7. Your Rights
You have the following rights regarding your personal data:

• Right of Access: You can request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.

• Right to Rectification: You have the right to request corrections to any inaccurate or incomplete data.

• Right to Erasure: You can ask us to delete your personal data in certain circumstances.

• Right to Restrict Processing: You can ask us to limit the processing of your data under specific conditions.

• Right to Object: You have the right to object to the processing of your data for direct marketing or other legitimate interests.

• Right to Data Portability: You can request your personal data in a structured, commonly used format to transfer to another organisation.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us.
 
8. Third-Party Links
Our Website may contain links to third-party websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these websites and encourage you to read their privacy policies before providing any personal data.
 
9. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page with the updated effective date. Your continued use of the Website after changes have been made constitutes your acceptance of the revised Privacy Policy.
 
10. Contact Us
If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your personal data, please contact us at Akhtar Counselling, using the homepage query option. 
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By using our Website and services, you agree to the collection and use of your personal data as described in this Privacy Policy.​​