Privacy Policy
Last updated: June 2026
Your privacy matters deeply to me. I want you to feel completely safe knowing that any information you share with me is handled with the same care and confidentiality that I bring to every aspect of my work.
1. Who I Am
I am Sharon Horwood, a BACP accredited Person-Centred Counsellor running my private practice, Sharon Horwood Counselling.
I am registered with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) as a data controller. My ICO registration number is: ZB582128.
Sharon Horwood Counselling
Prittlewell House, 30 East Street, Southend-on-Sea
Email: sharonhorwoodcounselling@gmail.com
Telephone: 07942 388 887
Website: www.horwoodcounselling.co.uk
2. What This Policy Covers
This Privacy Policy explains how I collect, use, store and protect your personal information when you:
- Visit my website at www.horwoodcounselling.co.uk
- Enquire about or use my counselling services
- Communicate with me by phone, email, text or WhatsApp
I encourage you to read this in full. If anything is unclear or you have any questions, please do get in touch.
3. The Information I Collect
Personal Information
When you contact me or begin working with me, I may collect:
- Your name, email address and phone number
- Your date of birth
- Your full home address
- Emergency contact details
Health and Sensitive Information
Because of the nature of counselling work, I may also hold:
- Information about your mental health and emotional wellbeing
- Relevant medical history that you choose to share with me
- Session notes and any other information you share during our work together
This type of information is classified as special category data under UK GDPR, and I treat it with the utmost care and discretion.
Website Information
When you visit my website, some basic technical data may be collected automatically, such as your IP address, browser type and the pages you visit. This is explained further in my Cookie Policy.
4. Why I Hold Your Information
I use your information only for the purposes it was shared with me, which include:
- Providing you with counselling services and managing our therapeutic relationship
- Communicating with you about appointments, fees and any relevant updates
- Keeping accurate records as required by my professional body, BACP
- Ensuring your safety and the safety of others where necessary
- Understanding how people find and use my website so I can make it as helpful as possible
- Meeting my legal obligations as a data controller
The legal basis I rely on for processing your information is primarily the performance of our contract (our counselling agreement), your consent where explicitly given, and legitimate interests in running a safe and professional practice.
5. Confidentiality
Confidentiality is one of the cornerstones of the counselling relationship. Almost everything you share with me stays between us.
There are a small number of situations where I may need to share information without your consent. These are rare and only occur when:
- I am legally required to do so, for example by a court order
- There is a serious and immediate risk of harm to you or to someone else
- There are safeguarding concerns relating to a child or vulnerable adult
Where possible, I will always discuss any need to share information with you first.
I also receive regular clinical supervision as part of my professional practice. Your information may be discussed in supervision, but I will always protect your identity. My supervisor is bound by the same confidentiality obligations as I am.
6. How Long I Keep Your Information
I retain client records for seven years following the end of our work together, in line with BACP guidance and professional best practice. After this period, your records are securely destroyed.
If you enquire about my services but we do not go on to work together, I will hold your contact details only for as long as is necessary and then delete them.
7. Keeping Your Information Safe
I take the security of your personal information seriously. The steps I take include:
- Storing paper records securely in a locked location
- Using password-protected devices and encrypted storage for digital records
- Using secure, confidential channels for any sensitive communication
- Regularly reviewing my data handling practices
In the unlikely event of a data breach that could affect your rights or freedoms, I am legally required to notify the ICO within 72 hours and to inform you directly if necessary.
8. Your Rights
Under UK GDPR, you have a number of important rights in relation to your personal data. You have the right to:
- Access the personal information I hold about you
- Ask me to correct any inaccurate or incomplete information
- Ask me to delete your information, subject to my legal and professional obligations
- Object to or restrict how I use your information in certain circumstances
- Withdraw your consent at any time, where consent is the basis for processing
- Raise a complaint with me, and if you are not satisfied with my response, escalate it to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO)
To exercise any of these rights, simply get in touch with me directly. I will always respond as promptly as I can, and within one month at the latest.
9. How to Make a Complaint
If you have any concerns about how I have handled your personal data, I would always encourage you to come to me directly in the first instance. I take any concern seriously and I will do my very best to resolve things promptly and fairly.
You can make a complaint by contacting me at:
Sharon Horwood Counselling
Prittlewell House, 30 East Street, Southend-on-Sea
Email: sharonhorwoodcounselling@gmail.com
Telephone: 07942 388 887
Website: www.horwoodcounselling.co.uk
I will acknowledge your complaint within 30 days and investigate it without undue delay. This is my commitment to you, and it is also a requirement under the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025.
If you are not satisfied with my response, you can then escalate your complaint to the ICO at www.ico.org.uk or by calling 0303 123 1113.
10. Third Parties
I do not sell, rent or share your personal information with third parties for marketing purposes.
I may use trusted third party services to help me run my practice, such as secure email providers or scheduling tools. Where I do, I ensure they meet the same data protection standards that I hold myself to.
My website may contain links to other websites. I am not responsible for the privacy practices of those sites and encourage you to read their policies separately.
11. Changes to This Policy
I may update this Privacy Policy from time to time, for example to reflect changes in the law or in how I work. Any updates will be posted on my website and the date at the top of this page will be revised. If there are any significant changes, I will let you know.
12. Get in Touch
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or how I handle your information, please do not hesitate to reach out. I would much rather you asked than worried.
Sharon Horwood Counselling
Prittlewell House, 30 East Street, Southend-on-Sea
Email: sharonhorwoodcounselling@gmail.com
Telephone: 07942 388 887
Website: www.horwoodcounselling.co.uk
Cookie Policy
Last updated: June 2026
I know cookie policies can feel a bit dry, so I have tried to keep this as clear and straightforward as possible. If you have any questions, please just get in touch.
1. What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files that are placed on your device when you visit a website. They help the website remember information about your visit, which can make your next visit easier and the site more useful to you.
Cookies are very common and used by almost every website. They are not harmful and do not give anyone access to your device.
2. How My Website Uses Cookies
My website at www.horwoodcounselling.co.uk may use cookies for the following purposes:
Essential Cookies
These are necessary for the website to function properly. Without them, parts of the site may not work as expected. They do not collect any personally identifiable information.
Analytics Cookies
My website may use Google Analytics, a service provided by Google LLC, to help me understand how visitors use my site. This might include information such as which pages are visited most, how long visitors stay, and how they found the site. Under the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025, low-risk analytics cookies of this kind are no longer subject to the same consent requirements as other cookies.
Google Analytics uses cookies to collect this data. The information generated is typically transferred to and stored on Google's servers. I use this information only to improve the website experience. It does not identify you personally.
You can opt out of Google Analytics across all websites by installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on, available at: tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout
Functional Cookies
These cookies allow the website to remember your preferences and provide a more personalised experience. For example, they may remember your cookie consent choice.
3. Managing Your Cookie Preferences
You are in control of cookies. You can:
- Accept or decline cookies when you first visit my website, if a consent banner is shown
- Change your cookie preferences at any time through your browser settings
- Delete cookies that have already been placed on your device
Please be aware that disabling certain cookies may affect the way my website works for you.
For guidance on managing cookies in different browsers, visit www.allaboutcookies.org
4. Third Party Cookies
Some cookies on my website may be set by third party services rather than by me directly. Where this is the case, those third parties have their own privacy and cookie policies, which I would encourage you to read.
5. Updates to This Policy
I may update this Cookie Policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page with a revised date.
6. Questions?
If you have any questions about how I use cookies, please get in touch.
Sharon Horwood Counselling
Prittlewell House, 30 East Street, Southend-on-Sea
Email: sharonhorwoodcounselling@gmail.com
Telephone: 07942 388 887
Website: www.horwoodcounselling.co.uk
Terms and Conditions
Last updated: June 2026
These terms exist to make sure we both understand how our work together is arranged, and to protect us both. Please read them carefully before we begin. If anything feels unclear, I am very happy to talk it through with you.
1. About Me
I am Sharon Horwood, a BACP accredited Person-Centred Counsellor operating as a sole trader under the name Sharon Horwood Counselling.
Sharon Horwood Counselling
Prittlewell House, 30 East Street, Southend-on-Sea
Email: sharonhorwoodcounselling@gmail.com
Telephone: 07942 388 887
Website: www.horwoodcounselling.co.uk
2. The Counselling Agreement
Before we begin working together, I will ask you to read and sign a counselling agreement. This sets out the specific terms of our therapeutic relationship, including session frequency, fees, and how we will communicate outside of sessions.
These Terms and Conditions sit alongside that agreement and apply to your use of my website and to any contact you make with me through it.
3. Sessions
Sessions are typically 50 minutes in length unless otherwise agreed. I offer both in-person sessions at Prittlewell House, 30 East Street, Southend-on-Sea, and online sessions via video call.
Session times are agreed in advance. I ask that you arrive or connect promptly, as late arrival will reduce the time available within your session.
4. Fees and Payment
My current fee structure is outlined on my website and communicated to you at the start of our work together. Fees are subject to review, and I will always give you reasonable notice of any changes.
Payment is due as agreed in your counselling contract. If you have any concerns about fees, please do speak with me. I would always rather have that conversation openly.
5. Cancellations and Missed Sessions
I understand that life does not always go to plan. If you need to cancel or reschedule a session, please let me know as soon as you possibly can.
My cancellation policy is set out in your individual counselling agreement. In general, sessions cancelled with less than 48 hours notice may be charged at the full session rate. This allows me to manage my practice fairly for all clients.
If I need to cancel a session, I will give you as much notice as possible and offer an alternative appointment.
6. Confidentiality
Everything you share in sessions is treated with complete confidentiality. The only exceptions to this are explained in full in my Privacy Policy and in your counselling agreement, and relate to situations involving risk of serious harm or a legal obligation.
7. Professional Standards
I am a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and work within their Ethical Framework at all times. I engage in regular clinical supervision and continued professional development.
If you have any concerns about the service I provide, please speak with me directly in the first instance. If you feel a formal complaint is necessary, you can contact the BACP at www.bacp.co.uk
8. Website Use
The content on my website is provided for general information purposes only. Nothing on my website constitutes professional counselling advice or creates a therapeutic relationship.
I take reasonable care to ensure the information on my website is accurate and up to date, but I cannot guarantee it is always complete or free from error.
My website may contain links to third party websites. I am not responsible for the content or practices of those sites.
9. Intellectual Property
All content on my website, including text, images and any downloadable materials, is my own work or used with appropriate permission. You are welcome to share content for personal use, but please do not reproduce or use it commercially without my written consent.
10. Limitation of Liability
As a sole trader providing counselling services, I carry full professional indemnity insurance. However, to the extent permitted by law, I am not liable for any indirect or consequential loss arising from your use of my website or from information contained within it.
Nothing in these terms limits your statutory rights as a consumer.
11. Governing Law
These Terms and Conditions are governed by the laws of England and Wales. Any disputes will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.
12. Changes to These Terms
I may update these Terms and Conditions from time to time. The most current version will always be available on my website. Continuing to use my website or services after changes are posted means you accept the updated terms.
13. Questions
If you have any questions about these terms, please do get in touch. I am always happy to chat.
Sharon Horwood Counselling
Prittlewell House, 30 East Street, Southend-on-Sea
Email: sharonhorwoodcounselling@gmail.com
Telephone: 07942 388 887
Website: www.horwoodcounselling.co.uk
Disclaimer
Last updated: June 2026
I want my website to be a helpful and supportive space for anyone who visits. This disclaimer sets out a few important things to be aware of when you are here.
1. For Information Only
The content on this website is intended for general information and educational purposes only. While I have done my best to make sure everything here is thoughtful, accurate and helpful, nothing on this site should be taken as professional counselling advice.
Reading content on this website does not create a therapeutic relationship between us. If you are looking for personal support, I would encourage you to get in touch to arrange a proper introduction.
2. Not a Substitute for Professional Support
If you are experiencing a mental health crisis or are in immediate distress, please do not rely on this website. Instead:
- Contact your GP
- Call the Samaritans on 116 123 (free, 24 hours a day)
- Call NHS 111
- In an emergency, call 999
I care deeply about the wellbeing of everyone who finds their way to my website, and I want to make sure you get the right support at the right time.
3. Accuracy of Information
I make every effort to keep the content on this website accurate and up to date. However, the field of counselling and psychotherapy continues to evolve, and I cannot guarantee that everything here reflects the very latest research or guidance at all times.
If you notice anything that appears to be out of date or inaccurate, I would be grateful if you could let me know.
4. External Links
My website may include links to other websites that I think might be useful to you. These links are provided in good faith, but I am not responsible for the content, accuracy or practices of any external website. Including a link does not mean I endorse or have any connection with that site.
5. Limitation of Liability
To the fullest extent permitted by law, I accept no liability for any loss or damage arising from your use of this website or from reliance on any information contained within it.
This does not affect any legal rights you may have as a consumer.
6. Questions
If you have any questions about this disclaimer or about anything you have read on my website, please feel free to get in touch.
Sharon Horwood Counselling
Prittlewell House, 30 East Street, Southend-on-Sea
Email: sharonhorwoodcounselling@gmail.com
Telephone: 07942 388 887
Website: www.horwoodcounselling.co.uk