Privacy policy

Your privacy matters to me, both as a counsellor and under the law. This page explains, in plain English, what information I collect through this website, why I collect it, and what your rights are. If anything is unclear, just ask.

Who I am

I am Angus Watson, a person-centred counsellor and registered member of the BACP (membership 408896), trading as Angus Watson Therapy. For the purposes of UK data protection law, I am the data controller for the information described on this page. You can contact me about anything here at [email protected] or on 07587 016313.

What I collect through this website

If you use the contact form or email me, I collect what you choose to share:

• Your name
• Your email address
• Your phone number, if you give it
• How you would like to be contacted
• Anything you write in your message

This website does not require an account and does not collect anything about you in the background beyond the basic technical logs every website host keeps, such as anonymous visit counts.

Why I collect it, and the legal basis

I use your contact details for one thing: to reply to you and, if we go ahead, to arrange sessions. The legal basis is legitimate interest, you have asked me to get in touch, and, once we begin working together, the performance of our counselling agreement. I will never add you to a marketing list or send you anything you did not ask for.

Counselling records

If you become a client, I keep brief session records, as required by my professional body and my insurance. These are stored securely, kept separate from anything that could easily identify you, and covered in detail in the counselling agreement we go through together before our first session. What we talk about in sessions is confidential, with the specific legal exceptions around serious harm that I explain in that agreement.

Who I share your information with

No one, in the ordinary course of things. I do not sell, trade or pass on your details. The limited exceptions are the secure services that make my practice run, such as my email provider and website host, my clinical supervisor (who hears about my work without identifying details, as is standard practice in counselling), and any disclosure I am required to make by law.

How long I keep it

If you enquire but we do not end up working together, I delete your details within six months. If you become a client, I keep records for the period required by my insurance and professional guidance, and then they are securely destroyed.

Cookies

This site uses cookies to manage the cookie consent banner (CookieYes) and for analytics (Google Analytics via Site Kit). You can control your preferences at any time via the cookie settings link in the footer. The site does not use advertising cookies or pass your data to third-party advertisers.

Your rights

Under UK GDPR you have the right to ask for a copy of the information I hold about you, to have it corrected, and in many cases to have it deleted. Just email me and I will respond within a month. If you are unhappy with how I have handled your information, you can complain to the Information Commissioner's Office at ico.org.uk or on 0303 123 1113.