Privacy Policy

1. About Us

Manchester Counselling is a therapy-matching service that connects individuals with accredited, independent therapists across the United Kingdom. We are committed to helping you find the right professional to support your emotional health and wellbeing.

We respect your privacy and are dedicated to protecting your personal information in accordance with applicable data protection laws, including the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

2. Who Controls Your Data

Manchester Counselling is the Data Controller for the information you provide when using our matching service. This means we are responsible for how your data is collected, used, and stored. Each therapist we connect you with is a separate data controller responsible for the personal data they collect directly from you during the course of your therapeutic relationship.

3. What This Policy Covers

This Privacy Policy explains:

  • What personal data we collect

  • How and why we use your data

  • The legal bases we rely on

  • How we keep your data secure

  • Who we share your data with

  • Your data protection rights

  • How to contact us or make a complaint

4. The Personal Data We Collect

We may collect the following types of personal information:

  • Contact details (name, email address, phone number)

  • Therapy preferences (e.g., therapy goals, availability)

  • Service use data (appointment history, service requests)

  • Billing and payment details

  • Communications (emails, messages, or feedback you send)

  • Website usage data, including cookies and analytics

You may provide this data directly through our website, by email, or during conversations with us. We may also collect technical information via cookies when you visit our website.

5. Lawful Basis for Processing Your Data

We only collect and use your personal data when we have a legal basis to do so. These may include:

  • Consent – Where you have given explicit permission (e.g., to receive email updates)

  • Contractual necessity – To provide a service or match you with a therapist

  • Legal obligation – Where required to comply with the law

  • Legitimate interests – To operate and improve our services, provided your rights don’t override these interests

  • Vital interests – In rare cases, such as to protect your life or wellbeing

6. How We Use Your Personal Data

We may use your data to:

  • Match you with a suitable therapist

  • Provide and manage appointments or referrals

  • Respond to enquiries and support requests

  • Manage billing and payment

  • Maintain internal records and reporting

  • Send service updates or resources (with your consent)

  • Ensure compliance with legal and regulatory obligations

  • Prevent fraud or protect against harm

We do not use your information for automated decision-making or profiling.

7. Data Security

We take your data security seriously. We use industry-standard safeguards to protect your personal information from unauthorised access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction.

  • We do not store personal data offline

  • All digital systems are secured with encryption and access controls

  • Therapists are responsible for the security of any client records they create or manage, in line with BACP and UK GDPR guidance

8. How Long We Keep Your Data

We only keep your data for as long as necessary for the purposes outlined in this policy, and in accordance with legal or regulatory requirements.

For example:

  • Enquiry or matching data: typically retained for up to 12 months

  • Financial records: retained for 6 years (as required by law)

  • Consent preferences: maintained until withdrawn

When data is no longer needed, we securely delete or anonymise it.

9. Cookies and Website Analytics

Our website uses cookies to improve your browsing experience and collect anonymous data about website usage.

Cookies help us:

  • Recognise you when you return to our site

  • Store your preferences

  • Measure site performance

We do not use cookies to collect sensitive personal data.

You can manage cookie preferences via your browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect the functionality of the website.

10. Who We Share Your Data With

We may share your personal information with:

  • Therapists – who will receive only the information necessary to initiate a therapy match

  • Service providers – e.g., IT, hosting, or email platforms

  • Professional advisers – e.g., legal or compliance consultants

  • Regulatory or legal bodies – if required by law (e.g., courts, law enforcement)

We will never sell your data or share it for marketing without your explicit consent.

Where third-party providers are based outside the UK or EEA, we ensure your data is protected with appropriate safeguards (such as Standard Contractual Clauses or adequacy decisions).

11. Your Rights

Under data protection law, you have the following rights:

  • Access – Request a copy of your personal data

  • Rectification – Ask us to correct inaccurate or incomplete data

  • Erasure – Request we delete your data (where legally allowed)

  • Restriction – Ask us to pause use of your data in certain cases

  • Portability – Request data you provided in a structured format

  • Objection – Object to processing under legitimate interest

  • Withdraw consent – Where processing is based on your consent

You can exercise these rights by contacting us (see Section 13).

12. Children’s Privacy

Our services are intended for adults aged 18 and over. If we become aware that we have inadvertently collected data from a minor without appropriate consent, we will delete it promptly.

13. Contact Us

If you have questions, requests, or complaints, contact us at:

Manchester Counselling
Email: hello@manchestercounselling.uk

You also have the right to raise concerns with the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO):
https://ico.org.uk
0303 123 1113

14. Data Breaches

In the unlikely event of a data breach, we will notify affected individuals and the Information Commissioner’s Office within 72 hours, in line with UK GDPR requirements.

15. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in law, regulation, or our services. Any changes will be published on this page, and where appropriate, we will notify you via email or other contact methods.

We encourage you to check this policy periodically.