Key details

UPDATED PRIVACY POLICY — Explore Counselling Ltd

Completed 26/11/2023 | Last updated 19/06/2026 | Next due for review 19/06/2027

Our contact details

Name: Terence Bond

Address: The Grosvenor, Basing View, Basingstoke RG21 4HG

Phone: 07920 487345

Email: terry@therapyoutdoors.co.uk

Website: www.therapyoutdoors.co.uk

I am committed to keeping your data safe and using it only in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018, as amended by the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 (DUAA).

Explore Counselling Ltd is registered with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).

Whenever you visit my website, you agree to the use of cookies. Depending on your computer settings, cookies may be stored on your computer to remember your preferences. Some cookies are necessary for normal operation. You can clear cookies from your computer by following your device manufacturer's instructions.

The type of personal information we collect

We currently collect and process the following information, which may be collected by phone, via my website, by email, or when we meet in person:

Personal identifiers, contact details and characteristics (for example, name, address and phone number)

Date of birth

Email address

GP details

Next of kin information

Relevant medical information to enable me to work with you ethically, effectively and safely

Data exchanged over the internet or via email

During our work together, information deemed by the UK GDPR to be special category data may be disclosed. This may include information about your sexuality, religion, health and other sensitive matters. I use this information solely to provide you with counselling services. It is not, and will not be, shared with third parties except as set out in this policy.

How we get your personal information and why we hold it

Most of the personal information we process is provided to us directly by you for one of the following reasons:

Enquiry about our services

To enable us to provide you with our counselling service

To provide you with details of other services we may offer

We may also receive personal information indirectly from your GP, a social prescriber, a charity or other referral sources.

Information exchanged during counselling is shared on a confidential basis. However, as set out in our working contract, there are limits to confidentiality. For example, we may share information with your GP should you be in crisis, or with the police or other agencies that have issued a court order requiring us to disclose data. We may share your contact information with other service providers in order to refer you to services we are unable to offer. Whenever you make payment to our bank you will be identifiable by name. Our company accountant has access to our bank in order to prepare and submit financial information to HMRC and Companies House.

Under the UK GDPR, the lawful bases we rely on for processing your information are:

(a) Your consent. You may withdraw your consent at any time by contacting Terence Bond at the address above.

(b) We have a contractual obligation.

(c) We have a legal obligation.

How we store your personal information

Clients are allocated a unique reference. We keep limited session notes using this identifier only. Counsellors in the UK are required to attend clinical supervision; however, your identity will not be disclosed and your details will not be shared. We use Google and Halaxy calendar booking systems to manage client appointments.

Your contact information is stored securely with password protection. We will retain this information for 7 years after our last contact, after which it will be permanently deleted.

Our IT equipment is kept up to date with recommended operating system updates. Laptops are password-locked whenever not in use. Whenever we exchange or store data, we take all reasonable steps to protect it. Please be aware that no method of data exchange or storage is guaranteed to be 100% secure.

Your data protection rights

Under data protection law, you have the following rights:

Right of access — You may request copies of your personal information.

Right to rectification — You may ask us to correct inaccurate information or complete information you believe is incomplete.

Right to erasure — You may ask us to erase your personal information in certain circumstances.

Right to restriction of processing — You may ask us to restrict how we process your information in certain circumstances.

Right to object to processing — You may object to our processing of your personal information in certain circumstances.

Right to data portability — You may ask us to transfer your personal information to another organisation or to you directly, in certain circumstances.

There is no charge for exercising any of these rights. We have one month to respond to any request you make.

To make a request, please contact us using the details at the top of this policy.

How to complain about our use of your data

Complaining to us directly

Under the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 (Section 103), you have a statutory right to complain directly to us if you believe we have mishandled your personal data or breached data protection law in connection with your information.

To make a data protection complaint, please contact us by:

Email: terry@therapyoutdoors.co.uk

Phone: 07920 487345

Post: Explore Counselling Ltd, The Grosvenor, Basing View, Basingstoke RG21 4HG

We will acknowledge your complaint within 30 calendar days of receiving it. We will then investigate your complaint without undue delay, keep you informed of progress, and provide you with a clear written explanation of our conclusion and how we reached it.

Complaining to the ICO

If you remain unhappy after we have responded, or if you prefer to raise your concern with the regulator directly, you may complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO):

Information Commissioner's Office

Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF

Helpline: 0303 123 1113

Website: https://www.ico.org.uk