Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy explains how Rukira Counselling & Clinical Supervision ("we", "us", "our"), operated by Jenna Nix, collects, uses, and protects your personal data when you visit www.rukiracounselling.com or contact us. We are committed to protecting your privacy and complying with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

1. Who we are

Data Controller: Jenna Nix, trading as Rukira Counselling & Clinical Supervision
Address: Newquay, Cornwall, UK
Email: info@rukiracounselling.com
Phone: 07957 327958

As a data controller, we are responsible for deciding how and why your personal data is processed. We are not required to register with the ICO as a sole trader counsellor processing client data for the purposes of providing therapy, however we take our data protection obligations seriously.

2. What personal data we collect

When you contact us

When you fill in our contact form, email us, or call us, we may collect:

• Your name
• Your email address
• Your phone number
• Any information you choose to share about yourself or your situation

When you use our website

If you accept cookies, we collect anonymous data about how you use our website through Google Analytics 4, including:

• Pages visited and time spent on each page
• How you arrived at our site (e.g. search engine, direct link)
• Your approximate location (country/city level only)
• Device type and browser

We do not collect any personally identifiable information through Google Analytics. No analytics cookies are set unless you explicitly consent via our cookie banner.

As a client

If you engage our counselling or supervision services, we will process additional personal data as required for the provision of those services. This includes session notes and relevant personal history. This data is kept strictly confidential and held in accordance with BACP ethical guidelines and UK GDPR. A separate client agreement and privacy notice will be provided at the start of any therapeutic relationship.

3. How we use your data

We use your personal data for the following purposes and on the following legal bases:

• To respond to your enquiries — legal basis: legitimate interests (responding to a request you have made)
• To provide counselling or supervision services — legal basis: contract (to fulfil our agreement with you) and, where special category health data is involved, explicit consent
• To improve our website — legal basis: consent (only where you have accepted analytics cookies)
• To comply with our legal and professional obligations — legal basis: legal obligation

4. Cookies

Our website uses cookies. A cookie is a small text file stored on your device when you visit a website.

Strictly necessary cookies

These are essential for the website to function and are set automatically. They do not require your consent. We use one strictly necessary cookie to remember your cookie consent choice (cookie-consent, stored in your browser's localStorage).

Analytics cookies (optional)

We use Google Analytics 4 to understand how visitors use our site. These cookies are only set if you click "Accept cookies" on our cookie banner. You can withdraw your consent at any time by clearing your browser cookies, which will cause the cookie banner to reappear on your next visit.

Google Analytics data is processed by Google LLC. For more information, see Google's Privacy Policy.

Managing cookies

You can control and delete cookies through your browser settings. Declining analytics cookies will not affect your ability to use this website.

5. Third parties we share data with

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal data. We may share data with the following third parties only where necessary:

• Google Analytics — anonymous website usage data (only with your consent)
• Email and hosting providers — solely for the purpose of delivering communications and hosting this website
• Our clinical supervisor — anonymised client information may be discussed in clinical supervision as required by BACP ethical guidelines. No identifying details are shared without your consent
• Statutory authorities — we may be required to disclose information to comply with a legal obligation, or where there is a serious risk of harm to you or others

6. How long we keep your data

• Enquiry data (emails, contact form submissions where no therapeutic relationship begins): deleted after 12 months
• Client records: retained for 7 years after the end of the therapeutic relationship, in line with BACP guidelines and professional indemnity insurance requirements. Records relating to clients who were under 18 are retained until the client's 25th birthday, or 8 years after the last contact, whichever is longer
• Google Analytics data: retained for 14 months within Google Analytics, in line with our account settings

7. Your rights under UK GDPR

You have the following rights regarding your personal data:

• Right of access — you can request a copy of the personal data we hold about you
• Right to rectification — you can ask us to correct inaccurate data
• Right to erasure — you can ask us to delete your data in certain circumstances
• Right to restrict processing — you can ask us to limit how we use your data
• Right to data portability — you can ask for your data in a structured, machine-readable format
• Right to object — you can object to processing based on legitimate interests
• Right to withdraw consent — where processing is based on consent, you can withdraw it at any time

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at info@rukiracounselling.com. We will respond within one month.

8. How we keep your data secure

We take appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal data against unauthorised access, loss, or disclosure. Client records are stored securely and access is restricted to Jenna Nix only. Electronic data is password protected and encrypted where possible.

9. International transfers

Google Analytics data may be transferred to and processed in the United States by Google LLC. Google participates in the EU-US Data Privacy Framework and provides appropriate safeguards for such transfers. You can find more information in Google's Privacy Policy.

10. Complaints

If you have concerns about how we handle your personal data, please contact us first at info@rukiracounselling.com and we will do our best to resolve the matter.

You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), the UK supervisory authority for data protection:

• Website: ico.org.uk
• Helpline: 0303 123 1113

11. Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated date at the top. We encourage you to review this page periodically.