Privacy Notice
Last updated: 13 July 2026
This notice explains how Hear4U Counselling ("we", "us") collects and uses your personal information when you visit our website, get in touch, book a session, or download our free resources. Oliver Pool is the data controller, and we are registered with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).
If you go on to become a client, you will also be given a separate GDPR consent form covering the counselling relationship in full before any sessions begin.
Who we are
Hear4U Counselling Ltd — Oliver Pool, MBACP registered counsellor and psychotherapist. Warrington, WA4, UK. Email: oliver@hear4ucounselling.com · Phone: 07767 268180.
The information we collect
When you enquire — by email, phone or the chat: your name, contact details, and anything you choose to tell us about what you're looking for.
When you book a session — the booking details you provide through our website's booking system.
When you download the Free ADHD Toolkit — your email address, so we can send you the toolkit.
Automatically — limited technical information (such as cookies and basic analytics) collected by our website platform to keep the site working and secure.
When you become a client — registration details and confidential session notes. This is covered by the separate GDPR consent form you sign at the start of counselling.
How and why we use it
To respond to your enquiry and arrange a free assessment.
To provide counselling and psychotherapy, and to keep brief weekly therapeutic notes to ensure best clinical practice.
To send you the Free ADHD Toolkit and, where you've asked, occasional related resources — you can unsubscribe at any time.
To run and secure the website.
Where we process health-related information as part of counselling, we do so with your explicit consent and for the provision of health care. You can withdraw consent at any time without detriment.
Confidentiality and when we might share information
Your notes will not be shared with anyone without your permission. There are limited exceptions where we may need to share information without consent: where there is a risk of substantial harm to you or others, or where we are under a legal requirement (such as terrorism or money-laundering law, or a court order or subpoena). Where a disclosure is needed for reasons of safety we will hope to gain your permission first, but your permission is not required where immediate risk is present. Disclosures are usually made to the relevant authority — normally a GP, the police, or social services.
How we store your information
Personal data is stored securely on an encrypted, password-protected work computer kept in a locked office. Contact details are held separately behind an additional password. Our website and its booking, email and chat features are provided by Wix, which processes data on our behalf under its own security and privacy safeguards.
How long we keep it
Enquiry information is kept only as long as needed to respond and, where relevant, to arrange counselling. Once your counselling ends, your personal data and notes are stored for 5 years — in case you wish to return — and are then securely deleted or destroyed. Toolkit subscribers' details are kept until you unsubscribe.
Your rights
Under UK data protection law you have the right to:
withdraw consent at any time, without detriment;
access a copy and explanation of your personal data;
ask us to correct or erase your data, in certain circumstances;
ask us to limit or stop processing your data, where applicable;
seek compensation for substantial damage or distress caused by unlawful processing, where applicable.
To exercise any of these, please email oliver@hear4ucounselling.com.
Cookies
Our website uses essential cookies to function and a limited number of analytics cookies to understand how the site is used. You can control cookies through your browser settings and any cookie banner shown on the site.
Changes to this notice
We may update this notice from time to time. The date at the top shows when it was last revised.
How to contact us or complain
For any question about your data, contact Oliver Pool at oliver@hear4ucounselling.com or 07767 268180. If you are unhappy with how we have handled your information, you have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) at ico.org.uk.