Privacy Policy

 

Demi Shakespeare Therapy
Last updated: June 2026

Your privacy is very important to us. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and safeguard your personal data when you use our website and services. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect personal information in accordance with applicable UK data protection legislation

1. Who We Are

Demi Shakespeare Therapy is a counselling and therapy service based in Brierley Hill, West Midlands. We support those who want to feel better about themselves, improve self-esteem, help them navigate low self-confidence and trust themselves again. Our mission is to provide a safe, confidential space for clients.

2. What Information We Collect

We collect personal information that you voluntarily provide when you:

  • Contact us via phone, email, or text

  • Complete contact forms on our website or directory websites

  • Use our services

The types of personal information we collect include:

  • Personal Identification Data: Name, email address, phone number, address, date of birth

  • Health Information: Information related to your mental and physical health relevant to our counselling services

  • Payment Data: Payment details for booking and paying for sessions

  • Technical Data: IP address, browser type, and website usage data through cookies

Information collected automatically: When you use our website, certain information about you and your device will be collected, including your IP address, operating system type, browser type, referring website, pages you viewed, and the dates/times when you accessed the website. Information about the actions you take, such as links clicked, may also be logged.

We do not collect more information than necessary to provide our services, and we ensure that all sensitive data is handled with the utmost care.

3. How We Use This Information

We use your information to:

  • Provide you with professional counselling services

  • Manage bookings and appointments

  • Communicate with you, including responding to queries and providing service updates

  • Process payments

  • Comply with legal obligations and regulations

  • Improve the functionality and experience of our website

We will only use your data where we have a legal basis, such as your consent, contract performance, compliance with legal obligations, or legitimate interests in managing our services.

4. Legal Basis for Processing Data

The legal bases for processing your personal data under UK GDPR are:

  • Consent: You have given clear consent for us to process your personal data for specific purposes

  • Contract: Processing is necessary for the performance of a contract (e.g., to provide counselling services)

  • Legal Obligation: Processing is necessary for compliance with legal obligations and professional requirements

  • Legitimate Interests: Processing is necessary for our legitimate interests, such as improving our services, except where your interests or fundamental rights override these

  • Vital Interests: In emergency situations concerning your safety

5. How We Store and Protect Your Data

We are committed to ensuring your information is secure. To prevent unauthorised access or disclosure, we have put in place suitable physical, electronic, and managerial procedures to safeguard the information we collect.

  • Electronic Data: All personal data is stored on secure, password-protected systems

  • Physical Data: Any personal data held in physical form is kept securely in locked cabinets and accessible only to authorised personnel

We retain your data for as long as necessary to provide our services and meet legal and regulatory requirements. After this period, we will securely delete or anonymise your data.

6. Sharing Your Information

We respect the confidentiality of your data and will not share your personal information with third parties unless:

  • You provide explicit consent

  • We are required to by law or regulatory authorities

  • It is necessary for the performance of services (e.g., payment processors)

  • There is a legal or safeguarding obligation to protect your health, safety, or the safety of others

  • For clinical supervision (anonymised where possible)

  • For professional body requirements or investigations

  • For insurance purposes (with your consent)

Where necessary, we ensure that any third-party service providers comply with UK GDPR regulations.

7. Your Data Protection Rights

Under UK data protection law, you have the following rights:

  • Right to Access: Request copies of the personal data we hold about you

  • Right to Rectification: Request that we correct inaccurate or incomplete data

  • Right to Erasure: Request that we erase your personal data, subject to legal requirements

  • Right to Restrict Processing: Ask us to restrict the processing of your personal data under certain circumstances

  • Right to Data Portability: Request that we transfer your data to another organisation or provide it in a structured format

  • Right to Object: Object to the processing of your data in certain circumstances

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at Demi@dstherapy.co.uk. We will respond to your request within one month.

Important Note: Some rights may be limited by professional and legal obligations for therapy records.

8. Data Protection Complaints

If you have a concern about how your personal information has been collected, used, stored, shared, or otherwise handled, you can raise a complaint by email at demi@dstherapy.co.uk.

To help us understand and investigate your concerns, please include as much of the following information as possible:

• Your name and contact details

• Details of what has happened and/or what your concerns are

• Any relevant dates, times, or correspondence

• Copies of any relevant documents or communications, where available

• The outcome you are hoping for, if you have one

You do not need to provide all of this information or make a formal complaint. However, providing as much detail as possible will help us understand your concerns and respond appropriately.

We will acknowledge receipt of your complaint within 30 days and investigate it without undue delay. We will keep you informed where appropriate and let you know the outcome of our investigation as soon as reasonably possible.

We encourage you to raise any concerns with us first so that we have the opportunity to investigate and respond.

If you remain dissatisfied, you have the right to make a complaint to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).

Website: ico.org.uk

Telephone: 0303 123 1113

9. Data Retention

Data is retained only for as long as necessary to provide services and meet legal, professional, insurance, and regulatory requirements.

Where therapy services are provided, records may be retained for the periods outlined within the relevant Privacy Notice and Therapy Agreement.

Once records are no longer required, they will be securely deleted or destroyed.

10. Data Security

We take reasonable measures to protect your data. However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. We use the best available technology and practices to ensure the security of your data.

11. Cookies and Website Data

Our website may use cookies and similar tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience. Cookies are small text files placed on your computer to collect standard internet information and visitor behaviour data. You can set your browser to refuse cookies or alert you when cookies are being used. However, this may affect the functionality of our website.

We may use third-party analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Google Console) to collect anonymised data about website usage, helping us understand how visitors engage with our site. This data does not personally identify you.

12. External Links

Our website may contain links to external websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of other sites. Please review their privacy policies independently.

13. Terms of Use and Copyright

By accessing this website, you agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions of Use, all applicable laws and regulations, and accept responsibility for compliance with any applicable local laws.

The design, text, and graphics are the copyright of Demi Shakespeare. Any unauthorised reproduction of the contents of this site without prior written permission is strictly prohibited.

You must not:

  • Republish material from our website without prior written consent

  • Sell or rent material from our website

  • Reproduce, duplicate, create derivative works, copy or otherwise exploit material on our website for any purpose

  • Redistribute any content from our website, including onto another website

14. Changes to This Policy

We reserve the right to amend this privacy policy at any time to reflect our practices or legal requirements. Updated versions will be posted on our website with the revision date.

15. Contact Us

If you have any questions regarding this policy or your dealings with our website, please contact us:

Email:Demi@dstherapy.co.uk
Address: Brierley Hill, West Midlands