Privacy policy
Therapy Barn
Last updated: February 2026
Introduction
Therapy Barn ("I", "me", "my") is committed to protecting your privacy. This policy explains how I collect, use, store, and protect your personal information when you use this website or engage with my counselling services. Therapy Barn is operated by Verity Lyndon-Stanford, an integrative counsellor based in Suffolk, UK. I am the data controller for the purposes of UK data protection law.
What information I collect
When you use this website:
Information you provide through the contact form (name, email address, phone number, message content, preferred contact method)
Technical data such as your IP address, browser type, and pages visited (collected automatically via cookies — see Cookies section below)
When you become a client
Your name, contact details, and emergency contact information
Notes relating to your therapy sessions
Any relevant medical or mental health history you choose to share
Payment information and records of sessions attended
Consent forms and your therapeutic contract
Why I collect this information
I use your personal information for the following purposes:
To respond to your enquiry and arrange an initial consultation
To provide counselling services and maintain appropriate clinical records
To manage appointments and communicate with you about your sessions
To comply with my legal and professional obligations
To process payments
The legal bases for processing your data are:
Consent — when you submit the contact form or agree to begin therapy
Contract — to deliver the counselling services we have agreed
Legitimate interest — to respond to enquiries and manage my practice
Legal obligation — to comply with regulatory and safeguarding requirements
Special category data
Therapy inherently involves the processing of special category data, including information about your mental and physical health. I process this data on the basis of your explicit consent, which is obtained before therapy begins. You may withdraw consent at any time, though this may affect my ability to continue providing services.
How I store and protect your information
Session notes and client records are stored securely, either in encrypted digital format or in locked physical storage
Electronic data is protected by passwords and encryption
I do not share your information with third parties unless required by law or with your explicit consent
Access to your data is limited to me and, where relevant, my clinical supervisor (in anonymised form unless otherwise agreed)
How long I keep your information
Contact form enquiries: Deleted within 12 months if you do not become a client
Client records: Retained for a minimum of 7 years after the end of therapy, in line with professional guidance from the BACP and insurance requirements
Financial records: Retained for 6 years in line with HMRC requirements
Sharing your informationI will not share your personal information with anyone except in the following circumstances:
Where there is a serious risk of harm to you or another person
Where I am required to do so by law (for example, by court order)
With your explicit written consentIn anonymised form during clinical supervision, to ensure safe and ethical practice
Your rights
Under UK data protection law, you have the right to:
Access the personal data I hold about you
Correct any inaccurate information
Delete your data (subject to legal and professional retention requirements)
Restrict how I process your data
Object to processing based on legitimate interest
Withdraw consent at any time
Complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) if you believe your rights have been breached
To exercise any of these rights, please contact me at verity@therapy-barn.co.uk.
Cookies
This website uses cookies to help me understand how visitors use the site. I use:
Essential cookies — required for the website to function
Analytics cookies — to understand how visitors interact with the site (e.g. Google Analytics, if enabled)
You can manage your cookie preferences through your browser settings.
Third-party services
This website is hosted by Webflow. Webflow may collect certain technical data in accordance with their own privacy policy.
Online sessions are conducted via Zoom, which has its own privacy policy and data processing terms.
Changes to this policyI may update this policy from time to time.
Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated revision date.
Contact
If you have any questions about this privacy policy or how I handle your data, please contact me:
Email: verity@therapy-barn.co.uk