Privacy Policy
Last updated: 15 October 2025
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Marisa Walker-Finch Counselling is committed to protecting and respecting your privacy. This privacy policy explains how your personal information is collected, used, and stored when you visit this website or engage in counselling or psychotherapy services.
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Who I Am
I am Marisa Walker-Finch, an independent counsellor and psychotherapist offering one-to-one therapy services online and in person. I am registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and adhere to their ethical guidelines, including confidentiality and data protection.
What Information I Collect
I may collect and process the following types of personal information:
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Name and contact details (e.g., phone number, email address)
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Basic personal details (e.g., age, gender, preferred pronouns)
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Information you provide during our initial contact or sessions
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Medical history or GP details (if relevant and with your consent)
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Session notes (confidential and securely stored)
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Website usage data (e.g., IP address, browser type) through cookies
How Your Information Is Collected
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Directly from you: When you contact me via email, website form, phone or during sessions.
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Via my website: Basic anonymised analytics and usage data are collected to improve user experience.
How Your Information Is Used
Your personal information is used:
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To arrange and deliver counselling or EMDR therapy sessions
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To communicate with you between sessions (e.g., scheduling or check-ins)
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To ensure safety and compliance with ethical or legal obligations
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To improve this website and ensure its security
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I will never sell or share your personal data with third parties for marketing or commercial purposes.
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Legal Basis for Processing
Under the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR), the lawful basis I rely on to process your personal data includes:
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Contract – for arranging and delivering therapy
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Consent – where explicit permission is required
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Legal obligation – in rare cases where I must share data to safeguard life or prevent serious harm
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Legitimate interests – e.g., for running and improving my business
How Your Data Is Stored
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Paper notes (if any) are kept in a locked cabinet
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Digital records are stored securely on a password-protected, encrypted device
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Emails and calendar appointments are stored via secure services (e.g., encrypted email provider or calendar)
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Website form submissions are sent directly to a secure inbox and are not stored online
All data is retained for a period in line with BACP guidelines, after which it is securely destroyed.
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Your Rights
Under data protection law, you have the right to:
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Access the information I hold about you
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Correct or update your personal information
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Request deletion of your data (where applicable)
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Object to or restrict the processing of your data
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Withdraw consent at any time (where consent is the basis for processing)
To exercise any of these rights, please contact me at [insert your professional email address].
Confidentiality & Exceptions
Everything shared during therapy is confidential. The only exceptions are:
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If I believe you or someone else is at serious risk of harm
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If I am legally required to disclose information (e.g., court order, terrorism or money laundering laws)
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In professional supervision (where your identity is protected)
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Cookies
This website may use cookies or similar technologies to track basic site usage. These do not identify individual users and are used to improve website performance. You can disable cookies in your browser settings.
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Third-Party Links
This website may contain links to external sites. I am not responsible for the content or privacy practices of these sites.
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Changes to This Policy
I may update this policy occasionally to reflect changes in regulation or my services. The updated policy will be posted on this page.
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Contact
If you have any questions about this policy or your data, please contact:
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Marisa Walker-Finch
If you're not satisfied with how your data is handled, you can also contact the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO): www.ico.org.uk