Privacy

Privacy notice

Last updated: 21 October 2026

This notice explains how I look after the personal information you share with me through this website. I’ve tried to keep it short and clear. If anything doesn’t make sense, please ask me.

Who I am

Elmwood Counselling Services is run by me, Michelle Roberts, a counsellor based in Bridgwater, Somerset. I’m responsible for any personal information you share through this website. You can contact me at michelle@elmwoodcounsellingservices.com.

What the contact form collects

When you send me a message through the contact form, I receive:

  • your name

  • your email address

  • your phone number, if you choose to give it

  • how you’d prefer me to contact you, if you choose to say

  • your message

  • confirmation that you’re happy for me to use these details to reply to you

There’s no need to share details about your health or personal circumstances in the form. A line or two about what you’d like help with is plenty.

Why I use it

I use your details only to reply to your enquiry and, if you’d like, to arrange a first session. I won’t use them for marketing or add you to a mailing list.

I rely on your consent, which you give by ticking the box on the form. If your message includes anything about your physical or mental health, that is special category data under UK data protection law, and I rely on your explicit consent to use it. You can withdraw your consent at any time by emailing me.

Who sees it

Only I read your enquiry. The form is provided by Framer, the company that hosts this website. Framer processes your message on my behalf and sends it to my email inbox. I don’t sell your information or share it with anyone else.

How long I keep it

I keep your enquiry only for as long as I need it to respond to you. If we don’t go on to work together, I delete it. If we do, I’ll explain at our first session how I keep and look after client records.

Confidentiality

If we go on to work together, what we talk about is confidential, in line with the BACP Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions. I’ll explain how confidentiality works, including its limits, when we first meet.

Your rights

Under UK data protection law (UK GDPR), you have the right to:

  • ask for a copy of the information I hold about you

  • ask me to correct anything that’s wrong

  • ask me to delete your information

  • withdraw your consent at any time

To do any of these, just email me.

If you’re unhappy with how I’ve handled your information, please tell me so I can try to put it right. You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) at ico.org.uk.

Cookies and analytics

This website doesn’t use advertising or tracking cookies. It uses Framer’s built-in analytics to count visits and see which pages are viewed. Framer says this doesn’t use cookies and doesn’t collect information that identifies you.

Changes to this notice

If I change how I use your information, I’ll update this page and the date at the top.