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At May 2026

Welcome to Pontes Psychology (“we”, “our”, or “us”). We are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring that your personal information is handled safely, confidentially, and transparently.

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your information when you visit our website or use our counselling and psychological therapy services.

1. Who We Are

Pontes Psychology provides counselling, psychotherapy, and psychological support services.

Contact Details
Pontes Psychology
Email: livia@pontespsychology.com

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or how your data is handled, please contact us using the details above.

2. Information We Collect

We may collect and process the following information:

Information You Provide Directly

  • Name

  • Email address

  • Telephone number

  • Date of birth

  • Emergency contact details

  • Information submitted through contact forms or appointment requests

  • Health and personal information relevant to therapy services

Information Collected Automatically

When you visit our website, we may automatically collect:

  • IP address

  • Browser type and version

  • Device information

  • Pages visited

  • Time spent on pages

  • Cookies and website usage data

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your information to:

  • Respond to enquiries

  • Arrange and manage appointments

  • Provide counselling and therapy services

  • Maintain clinical records

  • Improve our website and services

  • Meet legal, ethical, and professional obligations

  • Send service-related communications

We will only use your information where we have a lawful basis to do so.

4. Confidentiality

All therapy sessions and personal information are treated confidentially and in accordance with professional ethical standards.

Confidentiality may only be broken where:

  • There is a serious risk of harm to yourself or others

  • Disclosure is required by law

  • There are safeguarding concerns involving children or vulnerable adults

Where possible, this will be discussed with you first.

5. Legal Basis for Processing Data

Under the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR), we rely on:

  • Your consent

  • Performance of a contract

  • Legal obligations

  • Legitimate interests

  • Provision of health or therapeutic care

Any sensitive personal information shared during therapy is treated as “special category data” and handled with additional safeguards.

6. Data Storage and Security

We take appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal data against:

  • Unauthorised access

  • Loss or theft

  • Misuse

  • Disclosure or alteration

Your information may be stored securely:

  • Electronically using password-protected systems

  • In secure physical files where applicable

7. How Long We Keep Your Information

We retain client records only for as long as necessary to meet legal, ethical, and professional obligations.

Typically:

  • Adult records may be retained for up to 7 years after therapy ends

  • Children’s records may be retained until the individual reaches age 25, where required

After this period, records are securely deleted or destroyed.

8. Sharing Your Information

We do not sell your personal information.

We may share information with:

  • Clinical supervisors (where appropriate and anonymised whenever possible)

  • Legal or regulatory authorities where required by law

  • Trusted IT or website service providers supporting our business operations

All third parties are expected to keep your information secure and confidential.

9. Cookies

Our website may use cookies to improve user experience and analyse website traffic.

You can manage or disable cookies through your browser settings.

10. Your Rights

Under data protection law, you may have the right to:

  • Access your personal information

  • Correct inaccurate information

  • Request deletion of your data

  • Restrict or object to processing

  • Withdraw consent

  • Lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO)

For more information, visit the ICO website.

11. Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to external websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of other websites.

12. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any updates will be posted on this page with a revised “Last updated” date.

13. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or your personal data, please contact:

Pontes Psychology
Email: livia@pontespsychology.com

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