Privacy Policy

Who I am

Groundings Counselling is a private counselling practice run by Kimaathi, a counsellor registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), based in Levenshulme, Manchester (M19). For any privacy or data questions, contact me at kimaathi@groundingscounselling.co.uk.

What this policy covers

This policy covers personal data you share with me through this website – primarily through the contact form. The handling of clinical information shared once you become a client (session content, clinical notes, supervision) is governed by a separate, more detailed privacy notice that I provide to you at the start of our therapeutic work.

What information I collect

When you submit the contact form on this site, I collect:

• your name
• your email address
• your phone number (optional)
• the content of the message you choose to send

I do not knowingly collect any other personal data through this website. The site does not currently use analytics or advertising cookies.

Why I collect it (lawful basis)

I use the information you provide solely to respond to your enquiry, to arrange an introductory call, and – if we go on to work together – to set up sessions. The lawful basis for this processing under UK GDPR is legitimate interest (responding to an enquiry you have initiated) and, once therapeutic work begins, contract and explicit consent as set out in your client agreement.

Who I share it with

I do not sell your data, and I do not share it with third parties for marketing. To run this site and receive your enquiries I rely on the following processors:

• A web hosting platform – serves this website and may process limited request data (such as IP addresses) as part of normal web traffic and security logging.
• An email delivery service – delivers contact form submissions to my inbox, processing the form contents in transit so I can receive your message.

Both providers are bound by their own privacy and security obligations. I may also share information where I am legally required to (for example a court order), or in the rare safeguarding circumstances described in my therapy client agreement.

How long I keep it

If you contact me but we do not go on to work together, I will keep your enquiry only for as long as is reasonably needed to respond, and will delete it within 6 months. If we do begin therapy, clinical records are retained in line with BACP guidance and my professional indemnity insurance – typically for 7 years from the end of our work together, unless a longer period is required by law.

Cookies and analytics

This site does not use marketing cookies, third-party analytics or tracking pixels. The only data stored by your browser is what is strictly necessary for the site to load correctly. If this changes in the future, this policy will be updated and a cookie banner will be added.

How I keep your information secure

Submissions are sent over an encrypted (HTTPS) connection. Email is stored in a password-protected, multi-factor authenticated inbox. Any clinical records are kept in a secure, password-protected system in line with BACP and ICO guidance.

Your rights

Under UK GDPR you have the right to:

• request a copy of the personal data I hold about you
• ask me to correct information that is inaccurate
• ask me to delete your data, where there is no overriding legal or professional obligation to retain it
• ask me to restrict or object to my use of your data
• request a portable copy of data you have provided
• withdraw consent at any time, where consent is the basis

To exercise any of these rights, email me at the address above. If you are unhappy with how I have handled your personal information, you also have the right to complain to the UK Information Commissioner's Office (ico.org.uk).

Children

This service is intended for adults (18+). If you are under 18 and would like to enquire, please ask a parent or guardian to contact me on your behalf.

Changes to this policy

I may update this policy from time to time. The date at the top of this page will reflect the most recent revision. For anything material, I will note what has changed.