Last updated: October 2026
 

Catherine Murdoch Therapy respects your privacy and is committed to keeping your personal information safe and confidential. This Privacy Notice explains how I collect, use, store and protect your personal information when you contact me or use my counselling services.

Who I am

Catherine Murdoch Therapy is a private counselling practice operated by Catherine Murdoch.

I am responsible for the personal information I hold about you and act as the data controller for this information.

If you have any questions about how your information is handled, you can contact me:

Email: hello@catherinemurdochtherapy.com
Telephone: 07727 283730

What information I collect

Depending on how you interact with me, I may collect:
 

• Your name and contact details
• Your preferred method of contact
• Information you provide when making an enquiry
• Information needed to arrange and provide counselling
• Relevant personal, wellbeing or mental health information that you choose to share during counselling
• Counselling records and session notes
• Information relating to appointments and payments

You do not need to provide detailed or sensitive information when making an initial enquiry through my website.

How I use your information

I use your personal information to:
 

• Respond to enquiries and communicate with you
• Arrange and provide counselling sessions
• Maintain appropriate counselling records
• Provide safe and appropriate professional support
• Communicate with you about appointments
• Meet my professional, legal and insurance requirements
• Respond to safeguarding concerns or legal obligations where necessary
 

I only collect and use information that is relevant and necessary for these purposes.

Sensitive information

Information about your physical or mental health is considered special category data and has additional protection under UK data protection law.

Where you choose to share this information as part of counselling, I will only use it where necessary to provide and manage your counselling and in accordance with applicable data protection law.
 

Confidentiality and supervision

Counselling is confidential, and I take your privacy seriously.

As part of my professional practice, I attend regular supervision. Client work may be discussed with my supervisor to support safe and ethical practice. I do not normally use your full name when discussing client work and will avoid sharing identifying information wherever possible. Confidentiality is maintained within supervision.

There are some circumstances where confidentiality may need to be limited, for example where there is a serious concern about someone's safety, safeguarding concerns, or where I am legally required to disclose information.

Where possible, I would discuss this with you beforehand.
 

How your information is stored

Counselling records are stored digitally using Google Drive through my Google Workspace account. Access to these records is restricted to me.

My laptop and accounts are password protected, and I take appropriate steps to protect your information from unauthorised access, loss or misuse.

My business email address is provided through Google Workspace and is used for communication with clients. Emails and any attachments may contain personal information and are stored within my Google Workspace account. I take appropriate steps to protect access to my account and information from unauthorised access.

My website is provided through Wix, which processes information submitted through the website on my behalf. Information may also be processed by other service providers where this is necessary to provide my services or operate my website.
 

Online counselling

Online counselling may be provided using FaceTime or WhatsApp video, depending on what has been agreed with you.

These services have their own privacy policies and terms, which I recommend you read before using them.
 

How long I keep your information

I retain counselling records for five years, in accordance with the requirements of my professional insurance.

After this period, records will be securely deleted unless there is a legitimate reason why they need to be retained for longer.

I will also review other personal information regularly and will not keep it for longer than is necessary for the purpose for which it was collected.
 

Who I share your information with

I do not sell or share your personal information for marketing purposes.
 

Your information will only be shared where this is necessary, lawful and appropriate. This may include:
 

• My professional supervisor, with identifying information minimised wherever possible
• Service providers who process information on my behalf, such as Wix and Google
• Relevant professionals or authorities where there is a legal or safeguarding requirement
• My insurer or their representatives where this is necessary in relation to an insurance matter or claim
 

Where information is shared, I will only provide information that is necessary and appropriate.

Your rights

Under UK data protection law, you have rights relating to your personal information. Depending on the circumstances, these may include the right to:
 

• Ask for a copy of the personal information I hold about you
• Ask me to correct inaccurate information
• Ask me to delete information where there is no longer a lawful reason for me to keep it
• Ask me to restrict how your information is used
• Object to certain types of processing
• Make a complaint about how your information has been handled

Some rights are subject to legal or professional requirements, including my obligation to retain certain counselling records.

If you would like to exercise any of these rights, please contact me using the details above.

Cookies and my website

My website is hosted through Wix. Like most websites, it may use cookies and similar technologies to make the website function and to understand how visitors use it.
 

The use of cookies is subject to the settings and information provided through my website.

Complaints

If you have any concerns about how I have handled your personal information, please contact me in the first instance so that I can try to resolve your concerns.
 

You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) if you believe your personal information has not been handled appropriately.
 

Changes to this Privacy Notice

I may update this Privacy Notice from time to time to reflect changes to my practice, the services I use or data protection requirements. The latest version will always be available on this website.