Information
Privacy Policy
Last updated: 13 October 2026
Introduction
Talking Therapy with Mark is committed to respecting your privacy and handling your personal information in accordance with applicable data protection legislation, including the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.
This Privacy Policy explains how I collect, use, store and share personal information when you visit my website or contact me about counselling and psychotherapy services.
Who I Am
Talking Therapy with Mark is operated by Mark Hardy, a self-employed psychosynthesis counsellor based in London, offering services in the United Kingdom and internationally, where appropriate and subject to relevant professional and legal requirements.
I am the data controller for personal information processed in connection with my practice.
Contact Details
Email: info@talkingtherapywithmark.co.uk
Website: www.talkingtherapywithmark.co.uk
I am a Registered Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (MBACP) and work in accordance with its Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions.
Information I Collect
I may collect and process the following information.
Information you provide directly
- Your name
- Email address
- Telephone number
- Information you provide through contact forms, emails or telephone enquiries
- Information relating to your interest in therapy services
Information collected through the website
Depending on how the website is configured, certain technical information may also be collected, including:
- IP address
- Browser and device information
- Pages visited
- Date and time of visits
- Website usage information, where analytics are used
The information collected will depend on the website’s actual functionality and the services used to operate it.
How I Use Your Information
I may use personal information to:
- Respond to enquiries about counselling and psychotherapy
- Arrange and manage introductory consultations and appointments
- Communicate with you about my services
- Administer my counselling practice
- Maintain the operation and security of my website
- Understand website usage, where applicable
- Meet applicable legal and professional obligations
Lawful Basis for Processing
Under UK GDPR, the lawful basis for processing personal information depends on the purpose for which it is collected and used.
Legitimate Interests
To respond to enquiries, administer my practice and maintain the operation of my website, where these interests are not overridden by your rights and freedoms.
Contract
Where processing is necessary to take steps at your request before entering into a therapy agreement, or to provide services under an existing agreement.
Legal Obligation
Where processing is necessary to comply with applicable legal requirements, including tax and accounting obligations.
Consent
Where consent is required for a particular activity, such as the use of certain non-essential cookies.
Sensitive Personal Information
Enquiries about therapy may include information concerning physical or mental health or other sensitive matters.
Where I process special category personal data, I will do so only where an appropriate condition under Article 9 of UK GDPR applies, in addition to an Article 6 lawful basis.
Further information about the handling of personal information and therapy records will be provided to clients through a separate Client Privacy Notice.
Contact Form Enquiries
If you contact me through my website, email or telephone, I will use the information you provide to respond to your enquiry and discuss whether my services may be appropriate for your needs.
You are encouraged not to include detailed or sensitive personal information in an initial website enquiry.
Submitting an enquiry does not establish a therapeutic relationship.
Confidentiality
I recognise that information shared when seeking therapy may be personal and sensitive.
I handle enquiries with discretion and respect for confidentiality, subject to applicable legal and professional obligations.
If you become a client, confidentiality, its limits and the handling of therapy records will be explained as part of our therapeutic agreement and separate Client Privacy Notice.
Data Sharing
I do not sell or trade your personal information.
Personal information may be shared where necessary and appropriate, including:
- With providers supporting my website, email or other practice administration services
- Where disclosure is required by law or a court order
- Where disclosure is necessary and legally justified in connection with a serious risk of harm
- Where otherwise permitted or required by applicable law
Where third-party providers process personal information on my behalf, appropriate data protection arrangements will be used where required.
Data Security
I take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect personal information against unauthorised access, loss, misuse or disclosure.
These may include password protection, access controls, device security and appropriate communication and storage arrangements.
No method of electronic communication or storage can be guaranteed to be completely secure.
Data Retention
I retain personal information only for as long as necessary for the purposes for which it was collected, taking account of applicable legal, professional and administrative requirements.
Enquiries that do not lead to therapy will ordinarily be retained only for as long as necessary to respond to the enquiry and for a reasonable period afterwards, taking account of applicable legal, professional and administrative requirements.
If you become a client, the retention arrangements for your therapy records will be explained in a separate Client Privacy Notice.
Your Rights
Under UK GDPR, you may have the right to:
- Request access to your personal information
- Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
- Request erasure of your personal information in certain circumstances
- Request restriction of processing
- Object to certain types of processing
- Request data portability where applicable
- Withdraw consent where processing relies on consent
- Raise a concern or complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO)
These rights are subject to applicable legal conditions and exemptions.
To exercise your rights, please contact me using the details provided in this policy.
Cookies
This website may use cookies and similar technologies to support its operation and, where applicable, understand how visitors use the website.
This website does not use advertising or tracking cookies, so a cookie consent banner is not required.
Where consent is legally required, the relevant cookies or technologies will not be used unless you have provided that consent.
You can also manage certain cookies through your browser settings.
Links to Other Websites
This website may contain links to external websites. Those websites operate under their own privacy policies, which I encourage you to review.
International Services and Data Transfers
I may offer online counselling to clients outside the United Kingdom, subject to relevant professional, legal and insurance requirements.
Where personal information is transferred internationally, I will consider applicable data protection requirements and use appropriate safeguards where required.
Changes to This Privacy Policy
I may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in my practice, website or applicable requirements.
The date at the top of this page will indicate when the policy was last updated.
Contact
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or how your personal information is handled, please contact:
Mark Hardy
Talking Therapy with Mark
Email: info@talkingtherapywithmark.co.uk
You also have the right to raise a concern with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).
Website: www.ico.org.uk