How I look after your information

I want you to feel safe, informed, and in control of your personal information. This page gives you a clear, simple overview of how your data is used when you work with me. If you’d like the full, detailed version, you can read my Privacy Notice 2026.

What information I collect

When you get in touch or begin therapy, I collect only the information I need to offer you a safe and effective service. This usually includes:

  • your contact details
  • information you choose to share about what you’re looking for
  • brief factual notes from our sessions

I do not collect unnecessary information, and I do not use your data for marketing.

Why I collect it

I use your information so I can:

  • respond to your enquiry
  • provide therapy
  • keep accurate clinical records
  • meet legal and professional requirements

I process health‑related information under UK GDPR rules for providing health and social care.

How your information is stored

Your information is stored securely using encrypted systems:

  • Bacpac for clinical notes
  • ProtonMail for email
  • password‑protected devices

Only I can access your notes. If I become unexpectedly unable to work, a trusted therapist named in my clinical will can access your contact details only to let you know what has happened.

Confidentiality

Everything you share with me is confidential. I will only break confidentiality if:

  • you ask me to
  • I believe there is a serious risk of harm
  • there are child protection concerns
  • I am required by law to share information

I will always try to talk with you first unless safeguarding prevents this.

Supervision

I receive clinical supervision to support safe practice. Anything I discuss in supervision is anonymised or pseudonymised. Supervisors do not receive identifiable personal information.

How long I keep your information

If you enquire but don’t start therapy, your information is deleted within 6 months

If you have therapy with me, your records are kept for 7 years and then securely deleted. This is a legal and professional requirement.

Your rights

You have the right to:

  • see the information I hold about you
  • ask for corrections
  • request deletion (where legally possible)
  • ask me to limit how your data is used
  • object to certain types of processing

You can contact me at any time to exercise these rights.

Concerns or complaints

If you’re worried about how your personal data is handled, you’re welcome to speak with me so I can try to resolve it.

You also have the right to contact the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) at any time. You do not need to speak with me first, and raising a concern will not affect your therapy.

The ICO can look at concerns about how your personal data is collected, recorded, used, stored, or shared. They cannot intervene in clinical decisions or therapeutic processes.

Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO)  

Website: ico.org.uk Telephone: 0303 123 1113 

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

Website visitors

My website uses Site123, which collects anonymised visitor information to help me understand how the site is used. Cookies may be used to help the site function. You can turn cookies off in your browser settings.

If you fill in an enquiry form, your details are stored briefly by the web host before being emailed to me.

Contact

If you have any questions about how your data is handled, you can contact me:

Sarah Read  Navigating Life Therapy 

Email: navigatinglifetherapy@pm.me 

Phone: 07551 153165