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Privacy Policy

Last updated: September 2026

Who I am

Owen Shiels Therapy is the private counselling practice of Owen Shiels, BACP-registered psychotherapeutic counsellor.

For data protection purposes, I am the data controller for the personal information I collect and use in connection with my practice.

You can contact me at:

Owen Shiels Therapy

Email: info@owenshielstherapy.com

Telephone: 07871 846874

The information I may collect

The information I collect depends on how you contact me and whether we go on to work together.

It may include:

  • your name and contact details;

  • information you provide through my website or when making an enquiry;

  • availability and appointment information;

  • accessibility or communication needs;

  • information gathered during an introductory call;

  • information provided during an initial assessment and therapy sessions;

  • relevant information about your physical and emotional health;

  • information about relationships, family, work and significant life experiences;

  • details relevant to risk, safeguarding or your wellbeing;

  • emergency contact details where appropriate;

  • correspondence between us;

  • payment and invoicing information;

  • brief clinical or administrative records relating to our work together.

Some of this may be special-category personal data, for example information concerning your physical or mental health, sexuality, religious or philosophical beliefs or other particularly sensitive aspects of your life.

I only collect information that is relevant to providing and managing the service I offer.

How I collect your information

I may receive information directly from you when you:

  • complete a form on my website;

  • email, telephone or message me;

  • arrange an introductory call or therapy session;

  • complete an assessment;

  • attend therapy;

  • make a payment.

Occasionally information may come from another person or organisation, for example where you have asked someone to contact me on your behalf or where information is shared for safeguarding purposes.

Why I use your information

I use personal information so that I can:

  • respond to enquiries;

  • arrange and manage introductory calls and therapy sessions;

  • assess whether I am able to work safely and appropriately with you;

  • provide counselling and psychotherapy;

  • maintain appropriate records of our work;

  • communicate with you about appointments;

  • manage fees, payments and business records;

  • meet professional, ethical, safeguarding and legal responsibilities;

  • respond appropriately where there is a serious concern about your safety or somebody else’s safety.

My lawful bases under UK data protection law will depend on the purpose for which the information is being used. These may include taking steps at your request before entering into a therapy agreement, fulfilling our therapy agreement, complying with legal obligations, protecting vital interests and my legitimate interests in operating a safe and professional counselling practice.

Where I process sensitive or special-category information, I do so only where an appropriate additional legal condition applies, for example where this is necessary for the provision of counselling or health-related support, safeguarding, or where explicit consent is appropriate.

I do not use information disclosed in therapy for advertising or marketing.

Confidentiality

Confidentiality is an important part of therapy.

Information you share with me will normally remain confidential. There are, however, circumstances in which I may need to disclose information, for example where:

  • I believe there is a serious risk of harm to you or another person;

  • there is a safeguarding concern;

  • I am legally required to disclose information;

  • disclosure is necessary in connection with a serious crime or other legal requirement.

Wherever possible and appropriate, I would aim to discuss this with you before sharing information.

The limits of confidentiality are also explained in my therapy agreement.

Clinical supervision

As a practising therapist, I attend regular clinical supervision as part of maintaining safe and ethical practice.

I may discuss aspects of my therapeutic work in supervision. I minimise identifying information wherever possible, and my supervisor is also bound by professional confidentiality.

Who I may share information with

I do not sell or trade your personal information.

I may use trusted organisations and technology providers to help me operate my practice, including services used for:

  • website hosting and website forms;

  • practice administration and record keeping;

  • email and communications;

  • video calls for online therapy;

  • payment and financial administration;

  • secure data storage.

My current services may include Wix, Therasee and Zoom, where relevant to the way you contact me or receive therapy.

These organisations may process limited information on my behalf and have their own security and data-protection arrangements.

In exceptional circumstances, information may also be shared with appropriate healthcare professionals, emergency services, safeguarding services, legal authorities or others where this is necessary and lawful.

Information processed outside the UK

Some technology providers may process or store information outside the UK.

Where personal information is transferred internationally, I take reasonable steps to use providers that have appropriate legal safeguards in place for those transfers.

How I protect your information

I take reasonable steps to keep personal information secure and to limit access to it.

This includes using password-protected systems, appropriate security measures and services intended for professional use. I aim to collect and retain only the information I reasonably need for my work.

How long I keep information

I do not keep personal information indefinitely.

Different types of information may need to be kept for different periods. I consider the purpose for which the information was collected, professional and ethical requirements, insurance requirements, financial and legal obligations, and whether the information may still reasonably be needed.

Information is securely deleted or destroyed when there is no longer a reasonable need to retain it.

Your data protection rights

Depending on the circumstances and the lawful basis being used, you may have rights to:

  • ask what personal information I hold about you;

  • request a copy of your personal information;

  • ask me to correct inaccurate information;

  • ask for information to be erased in certain circumstances;

  • ask me to restrict how information is used;

  • object to certain uses of your information;

  • request transfer of information in certain circumstances;

  • withdraw consent where consent is the basis on which information is being processed.

Some rights are not absolute, and there may be circumstances where I am legally or professionally required to retain information.

You can contact me at info@owenshielstherapy.com if you would like to exercise one of these rights.

Website and cookies

My website may use cookies and similar technologies that are necessary for the website to function.

It may also use optional cookies or analytics tools to help understand how visitors use the site. Where consent is required, optional cookies should not be set until you have chosen to accept them.

You can change or withdraw your cookie choices through the website’s cookie controls where available.

The precise wording of this section should reflect the cookies, analytics and tracking technologies that are actually enabled on the finished website.

Automated decision-making

I do not use automated decision-making or profiling to decide whether you can access therapy or how I work with you.

Complaints

If you have concerns about how I have handled your personal information, please contact me first at:

info@owenshielstherapy.com

You also have the right to raise a concern with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), the UK’s data protection regulator.

Changes to this privacy policy

I may update this privacy policy if the way I work, the services I use or data protection requirements change.

The latest version will be available on this website.

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