Privacy policy.
Effective Date: April 2025
At Soul Somatic Therapy ("we", "us", or "our"), we are committed to protecting and respecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, and protect any personal information that you provide when using our website https://www.soulsomatictherapy.com, or when engaging with our online therapy services.
This policy is in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018, and is designed to give you clear information about your rights and how we use your personal data.
1. Who We Are
Soul Somatic Therapy is a sole trader offering confidential online therapy services. Our business is based in London, United Kingdom. As the data controller, we are responsible for the handling of your personal data.
Contact Information:
Name: Verinder Sharma
2. What Personal Information We Collect
We may collect and process the following categories of personal data:
a) Information You Provide Voluntarily
This includes information you provide when you:
Complete the contact form on our website
Send us an email or message
Book or inquire about a therapy session
Engage with us in therapy sessions (subject to client-therapist confidentiality)
The personal data may include:
Full name
Email address
Phone number
Basic background details (only if voluntarily provided)
Any other information you choose to submit
b) Information Collected Automatically
Our website uses cookies or analytics tools, we may collect:
IP address
Browser type and version
Device type and operating system
Pages visited and time spent on the site
Referral source
3. How We Use Your Information
We use your personal data for the following purposes:
To respond to your inquiries and messages
To schedule, provide, and manage online therapy sessions
To maintain necessary records in accordance with professional and legal obligations
To improve our services and communication
For internal administrative and compliance purposes
We do not use your personal data for marketing purposes and we do not share it with third parties for promotional use.
4. Lawful Basis for Processing
Under the UK GDPR, we rely on the following legal grounds to process your data:
Consent: You have given clear consent for us to process your personal data for a specific purpose.
Contract: Processing is necessary to deliver the services you request.
Legal obligation: We may be required to retain certain data for legal or regulatory reasons.
Legitimate interests: For limited administrative purposes that do not override your rights and freedoms.
5. Data Retention
We retain personal data only as long as necessary to:
Deliver our services
Comply with professional, legal, and ethical obligations
Resolve disputes or enforce agreements
For therapy-related records, retention periods will follow guidance from relevant professional bodies and may typically range from 5 to 7 years after the end of therapy.
6. Data Storage and Security
We are committed to ensuring your personal data is secure. We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect against unauthorised access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction.
All data is stored securely on encrypted systems. Email correspondence is also protected through secure platforms, and video therapy sessions are conducted through reputable, GDPR-compliant providers.
7. Your Data Protection Rights
You have the following rights under the UK GDPR:
Right to access – Request access to the personal data we hold about you
Right to rectification – Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data
Right to erasure – Ask for your data to be deleted (where legally permissible)
Right to restrict processing – Request limits on how we use your data
Right to data portability – Request to receive your data in a commonly used format
Right to object – Object to the processing of your data in certain circumstances
Right to withdraw consent – You may withdraw your consent at any time where we rely on consent to process your data
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details provided in section 1.
8. Confidentiality in Therapy
As a therapist, confidentiality is a fundamental aspect of the service provided. Any information you share during therapy sessions is treated with strict confidentiality, except where there is a legal or ethical duty to disclose (e.g., risk of serious harm to self or others, safeguarding concerns, or a legal requirement).
9. Sharing of Information
We do not share your personal data with third parties unless:
We are legally required to do so
There is a risk of serious harm and disclosure is necessary
You provide explicit consent to share information (e.g., with a GP or another professional)
Our IT or administrative service providers require limited access (only under strict confidentiality agreements)
10. Website Links
Our website may contain links to external websites or resources. Please note we are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of those third-party websites. We encourage you to read their privacy policies if you follow any external links.
11. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page, and where appropriate, you will be notified by email or website notice.
12. Contact Us
If you have any questions or concerns about how your data is handled, or if you wish to exercise your rights, please get in touch:
Soul Somatic Therapy
Email: verinder@soulsomatictherapy.com
If you are not satisfied with our response, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the UK’s data protection authority:
Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO)
Website: https://ico.org.uk
Helpline: 0303 123 1113