Privacy Policy

The “Plain English” Summary

I value your privacy as much as I value your time. The standard legal terms are below, but the short version is this: I do not sell your data. I use basic, anonymised analytics to see how this website performs, which you can easily opt out of. In my coaching practice, my focus is entirely on you, which means I don’t take notes during our sessions, and I never record calls without your explicit permission. I only keep the basic administrative and financial records legally required to run my business.

1. Who I Am and How to Contact Me

For the purposes of UK data protection law (UK GDPR), I am the Data Controller for this website and coaching practice. I am registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) in the UK under registration number: ZC098154.

If you have any questions about how your data is handled, you can contact me directly.

2. Website Data, Google Analytics, and Cookies

When you visit this website, I use Google Analytics to understand basic, high-level browsing behaviour (for example, which neuroscience articles are being read the most).

  • Strictly Anonymous: This data is anonymised. I cannot see who you are, what your IP address is, or link your browsing habits to your personal identity.
  • Your Right to Opt-Out: I use a consent management tool (CookieYes) on this site. When you first visit, you are given the clear choice to accept or decline tracking cookies. If you decline, Google Analytics will not track your visit.

3. Client Data, Storage, and Confidentiality

If we work together in a coaching or mentoring capacity, your confidentiality is my priority. Here is exactly how your data is handled:

Complete Presence and Minimal Note-Taking My coaching style relies on deep processing and complete presence. To ensure you have my undivided attention, I do not take notes, record, or transcribe during our sessions. I do not hold a database of your deep personal narratives, sensitive history, or the specific contents of your thoughts.

Professional Record Keeping To maintain professional standards, comply with my professional indemnity insurance, and adhere to the ethical and safeguarding frameworks of the International Coaching Federation (ICF) and the Association for Coaching (AC), I write brief “process notes” strictly after our session concludes. These are high-level, administrative records (e.g., date, duration, broad themes discussed, and confirmation that no safeguarding risks were present).

Call Recordings I do not record coaching sessions or introductory calls by default. If you feel a session recording would be useful for your own personal reference, we will agree to this explicitly beforehand, and you will be provided with the recording. Otherwise, nothing is recorded.

Administrative and Financial Data I only collect the data necessary to provide my services and run my business legally:

  • Contact Data: Your name, email address, and phone number, used exclusively for scheduling and communication.
  • Financial Data: Invoices, billing details, and payment records. These are processed and stored securely within my accounting software (Xero).

4. Data Retention (How long I keep your info)

I do not hold onto your information any longer than is legally or professionally necessary.

  • Financial Records: By UK tax law, I am required to retain financial data, invoices, and accounting records for a minimum of 7 years.
  • Process Notes: Your brief post-session process notes are kept securely and confidentially for the duration required by my professional indemnity insurance, after which they are safely and permanently destroyed.

5. Sharing Your Data

I do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to third parties. I only share your data in the following highly restricted circumstances:

  • Service Providers: With secure third-party platforms that run my business operations (like Xero for accounting or my email/calendar provider), all of which are GDPR compliant.
  • Legal or Safeguarding Obligations: As mandated by the ICF and AC ethical guidelines, the only time your confidentiality would be breached is if there is a legal requirement to do so, or if I have reasonable cause to believe that you or someone else is at immediate risk of serious harm. This is discussed and agreed upon in our initial working contract.

6. Your Legal Rights

Under the UK GDPR, you have rights regarding your personal data. You have the right to:

  • Ask for a copy of the personal data I hold about you.
  • Ask me to correct any inaccurate information.
  • Ask me to delete your personal data (note: this is not absolute, as I may be legally required to retain financial records for 7 years or process notes for insurance purposes).
  • Withdraw your consent for website cookies at any time via the cookie widget on the site.

If you wish to exercise any of these rights, please email me. If you are ever unhappy with how I have handled your data, you have the right to complain to the ICO, though I would welcome the opportunity to resolve any concerns with you directly first.