Privacy Policy

Effective Date: May 27, 2026

Welcome to Olive Tree Talking Therapy. We are dedicated to providing a stable, safe, and professional environment that facilitates personal growth and promotes psychological well-being. When you access our website (https://olivetreetalkingtherapy.co.uk/) and utilize our therapeutic services, we process your personal information.

We take your privacy and confidentiality with the utmost seriousness. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, protect, and share your personal data in strict compliance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

1.Important Information and Who We Are

Data Controller

Olive Tree Talking Therapy is the “Data Controller” (referred to in this policy as “we”, “us”, or “our”). This means we are responsible for deciding how and why your personal data is processed.

Contact Details

If you have any questions regarding this Privacy Policy, your data rights, or how we handle your confidential information, please contact us using the details below:

  • Legal Entity Name: Olive Tree Talking Therapy

  • Email Address: olivetreetalkingtherapy@gmail.com

  • Telephone Number: 07724276176

2.The Data We Collect About You

“Personal data” refers to any information about an individual from which that person can be identified. Due to the nature of our professional counselling and addiction rehabilitation programs, we process two tiers of data:

A. Standard Personal Data

This is the information you provide when making an inquiry, booking an appointment, or submitting a referral through our website:

  • Identity Data: First name, last name, date of birth, and gender.

  • Contact Data: Email address, telephone number, and home address.

  • Financial Data: Payment card details, billing information, and records of payments for individual, block, or couple/family sessions.

  • Technical & Usage Data: Your IP address, browser type, operating system, and details regarding how you interact with our website.

B. Special Category Data (Sensitive Health Data)

Therapeutic relationships often involve the disclosure of highly sensitive personal information. This includes:

  • Clinical History: Details regarding your psychological, mental, and emotional health.

  • Presenting Issues: Information concerning depression, anxiety, panic attacks, stress, relationship challenges, childhood trauma, attachment issues, and eating disorders.

  • Addiction Data:Information regarding alcohol dependency, substance abuse, and rehabilitation history (e.g., relating to heroin, cocaine, MDMA, prescription drugs, or detox support).

  • Contextual Data:Information regarding your lifestyle, family dynamics, cultural background, and spiritual dimensions.

3.How and Why We Use Your Personal Data

We only process your personal data when permitted by law. We primarily rely on the following legal bases defined by the UK GDPR:

  1. Performance of a Contract: To fulfill our agreement to provide therapeutic, counselling, ecotherapy, or crisis rehabilitation services.

  2. Legitimate Interests: To manage our practice, respond to inquiries, improve website performance, and maintain accurate accounting records.

  3. Legal Obligation: Where we are required by law to retain records or report specific safety or criminal risks.

Legal Basis for Special Category (Health) Data

When processing sensitive mental health or addiction data, we rely on the following additional conditions under Article 9 of the UK GDPR:

  • Provision of Health or Social Care (Article 9(2)(h)): Processing is necessary for professional counselling and treatment under strict confidentiality agreements.

  • Explicit Consent (Article 9(2)(a)): In certain online assessment or referral scenarios, you provide explicit consent for us to process this data to evaluate how best to support you.

4.How We Collect Your Data

We employ the following collection methods:

  • Direct Interaction: Information provided via our website forms (“BOOK AN APPOINTMENT”), during your free 15-minute phone consultation, or through email correspondence.

  • Referrals: Data submitted by parents, guardians, or professionals regarding young people and teenage crisis services.

  • Automated Technologies: As you interact with our website, we may automatically collect technical data about your equipment and browsing patterns via cookies.

5.Confidentiality, Safety, and Data Sharing

The Cornerstone of Therapy

Your therapeutic journey is held in strict confidence. Our therapists are registered with credible professional bodies (such as the BACP) and adhere to rigorous ethical frameworks regarding client confidentiality.

Exceptions to Confidentiality

We will never sell your data or share it with third parties for marketing purposes. We will only disclose your personal or health data in the following rare, legally permitted circumstances:

  1. Safeguarding & Duty of Care: If we have a reasonable belief that you or another person (particularly a child or vulnerable adult) is at serious risk of harm, abuse, or danger to life.

  2. Legal and Statutory Obligations: If required by a court of law, statutory regulations, or to prevent serious criminal acts.

  3. Professional Supervision: As required by the BACP or relevant registration bodies, counsellors may discuss casework with a qualified clinical supervisor to ensure safe practice. This is performed anonymously, without disclosing identifying details.

  4. Trusted Service Providers: We share necessary operational data with GDPR-compliant technical processors, such as secure clinical booking software, payment gateways, and encrypted email hosting services.

6.International Data Transfers

Our practice is based in West Yorkshire, UK. If any of our technical service providers store data outside the UK, we ensure they implement standard contractual clauses or data protection frameworks approved by the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) to maintain equivalent security standards.

7.Data Security

We have implemented robust, enterprise-grade security measures to prevent your personal data from being accidentally lost, altered, disclosed, or accessed without authorization. Access to your therapeutic records is strictly limited to your assigned professional counsellor and authorized staff, all of whom are bound by legal duties of absolute confidentiality.

8.Data Retention

We retain your personal and health data only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, including legal, accounting, clinical safety, or reporting requirements.

Typically, clinical and therapeutic session notes are stored for 7 years following the termination of therapy, in accordance with UK insurance requirements and professional best practices. For children and teenagers, records are generally kept for 7 years after they reach the age of 18. After this period, your data is securely and permanently destroyed.

9.Your Legal Rights

Under the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018, you have the following rights:

  • Request Access (Subject Access Request): You may request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.

  • Request Correction: You may request that we correct incomplete or inaccurate information.

  • Request Erasure (“Right to be Forgotten”):You may ask us to delete personal data, though this is subject to legal and clinical retention requirements.

  • Object to or Restrict Processing: You may ask us to pause or object to the processing of your data.

  • Withdraw Consent: Where we rely on your consent, you may withdraw it at any time.

To exercise these rights, please email us at olivetreetalkingtherapy@gmail.com. We aim to respond to all legitimate requests within one calendar month.

Right to Complain

You have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) (www.ico.org.uk). We would, however, appreciate the opportunity to address your concerns directly before you contact the ICO.

10.Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites, plug-ins, or social media applications. Clicking those links may allow third parties to collect or share data about you. We do not control these third-party websites and are not responsible for their privacy statements. We encourage you to read the privacy policy of every website you visit.

11.Changes to This Privacy Policy

We keep our Privacy Policy under regular review to ensure compliance with data protection laws and clinical standards. Any updates will be posted on this page.