Privacy Policy

2026 Privacy Policy P5.1
Updated 26/8/26
This policy is governed by and construed in accordance with the laws or England and Wales

Introduction

This policy describes how privacy of data is handled by Richard Cooling trading as Being in Therapy.

Richard Cooling is a professional counsellor and registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP, www.bacp.co.uk) who offers a counselling service through his private practice in York and Wetherby.

If you have any questions about this policy, please contact us using the following details:

Name: Richard Cooling
Email Address: info@beingintherapy.co.uk
Phone Number: 07799 495140
Website Address: www.beingintherapy.co.uk

What information we collect and how we share it

Relating to your visit of the website

When you visit our website, we collect and process the following information from your visit:

  • Date, time and duration of your visit
  • IP Address & your location
  • How you were referred to our website
  • Details about the device, operating system and web browser you use
  • The different pages you view on our website

This is to help us protect against cyber security breaches and for analysing the effectiveness of our website and marketing. We do not use cookies but instead use the following analytic tools:

Relating to an enquiry by you and during your initial appointment

When you enquire on our website (or other platforms) and/or attend an initial appointment with us, we collect and process the following information:

  • Full name
  • Email address
  • Telephone number
  • Description of enquiry
  • Date of enquiry
  • Email communication between us

Optionally

  • Date of birth
  • Method of communication you consent to receiving
  • Information you discuss with us at your initial appointment

The personal information we process is provided directly by you, so we can offer you information about our services and assess your suitability for further support we can provide.

We keep your information confidential except where there may be safeguarding concerns or are required by courts to provide certain information. If you decide to provide us with consent, we can also share your information with other mental health related organisations so they can offer you additional services.

Relating to ongoing therapy work

If you decide to start ongoing therapy work with us, an agreement will be made between both parties that is more specific and clearly defines the confidentiality (and other aspects) of our work together.

How we handle the information you provide

How we store your personal information

Your information is stored on secure online servers and encrypted devices. We may keep it for up to 7 years due to professional, legal and financial reasons. We will then dispose of your information by deleting the data from all online servers and encrypted devices.

Why we have your personal information and can process it

Under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the lawful bases we rely on for processing this information is through your own consent. You are able to remove your consent by contacting Richard Cooling at the details above.

Your data protection rights

Under data protection law, you have the following rights:

Your right of access: You have the right to ask us for copies of your personal information.
Your right to rectification: You have the right to ask us to rectify personal information you think is inaccurate. You also have the right to ask us to complete information you think is incomplete.
Your right to erasure: You have the right to ask us to erase your personal information in certain circumstances.
Your right to restriction of processing: You have the right to ask us to restrict the processing of your personal information in certain circumstances.
Your right to object to processing: You have the right to object to the processing of your personal information in certain circumstances.
Your right to data portability: You have the right to ask that we transfer the personal information you gave us to another organisation, or to you, in certain circumstances.

You are not required to pay any charge for exercising your rights. If you make a request, we have one month to respond to you. Please contact Richard Cooling using the details above if you wish to make a request.

How to complain

If you have any concerns about our use of your personal information, you can make a complaint to Richard Cooling using the details above. You can also complain to the ICO if you are unhappy with how we have used your data.

The ICO’s address:

Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF

Helpline number: 0303 123 1113

ICO website: www.ico.org.uk