This privacy policy explains how I collect, use, store and protect your personal information when you use this website or contact me about my services. It has been updated to reflect the requirements of the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025.
Who I AmI am Dr Gisele Fernandes, a Clinical Psychologist with over 20 years of experience in mental health, offering online psychological therapy to individuals, couples, and groups, as well as organisational mental health support services.
I am the data controller for personal information collected through this website and in the course of providing psychological services. I am registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) as a data controller. My ICO registration details are available on request.
If you have any questions about this privacy policy, please contact me at:
What Information I CollectContact and identity information:
- Name, email address, and telephone number
- Any information you choose to share in a contact form or enquiry
- GP and emergency contact details (if you become a client)
Clinical and health information (clients only):
- Information about your mental health, history, and personal circumstances shared during sessions or intake
- Session notes and clinical records
- Outcome measures and assessment information
Website and technical data:
- IP address, browser type, operating system, and pages visited
- Collected automatically via cookies when you visit this site
- If you leave a comment on the site, your name, email address, and browser user agent string are collected to help with spam detection
Embedded content:
Articles on this site may include embedded content such as videos or images from third-party websites. Embedded content behaves as though you have visited that third-party site directly. Those sites may collect data about you, use cookies, and monitor your interaction with the content. I recommend reviewing the privacy policies of any third-party sites whose content appears here.
Lawful Basis for ProcessingUnder Article 6 of the UK GDPR, I rely on the following lawful bases:
- Contract: Where processing is necessary to arrange and deliver your sessions
- Legitimate Interests: To manage my practice safely, respond to enquiries, and maintain records for insurance purposes
- Legal Obligation: Where I am required by law, court order, or professional regulatory obligation to process or retain information
- Consent: Where you have given clear consent to a specific use of your data
For special category health and mental health data, I additionally rely on Article 9(2)(h) of the UK GDPR, which permits processing necessary for the provision of health care or treatment, carried out by a health professional subject to professional confidentiality obligations.
How I Use Your Information- To provide psychological therapy, assessment, and organisational support services
- To arrange and manage appointments
- To process payment for services
- To communicate with you about your care or enquiry
- To discuss your care in clinical supervision, using first name only and minimising identifying information
- To comply with my professional and legal obligations
- To understand how visitors use this website and improve it
I hold information about each client in strict confidence and will not normally share your personal information with anyone else. Limited sharing may be necessary in the following circumstances:
- Safeguarding: If I believe there is a serious and immediate risk of harm to you or another person, I may need to contact your GP or the emergency services without your prior consent. I will only share what is necessary and will inform you afterwards where possible
- Legal proceedings: Where required by a court order, coroner’s office, or professional regulatory body
- Spam detection: Visitor comments may be checked through an automated spam detection service
- IT and website providers: Who process data on my behalf under data processing agreements
I will never share your personal information with third parties for marketing purposes.
How I Store Your Data- Clinical notes and records are stored securely on password-protected devices
- Online sessions are conducted via secure, encrypted video platforms
- This website is hosted on secure servers using SSL/TLS encryption
- Comment data and metadata are retained in the WordPress database on secure hosting
- Clinical records: Retained for 7 years after our last session, in line with professional insurance and regulatory requirements, then securely deleted
- Enquiry data (non-clients): Deleted as soon as no longer needed
- Comments: Retained indefinitely to allow recognition and approval of follow-up comments. You can request deletion at any time
- Contact details: Deleted within one month of our work ending
Under UK data protection law, you have the right to:
- Access: Request a copy of the personal data I hold about you, free of charge, within one month. You can also request an exported file of personal data held about you on this site
- Rectification: Ask me to correct inaccurate or incomplete information
- Erasure: Request deletion of your data, except where I am legally or professionally required to retain it
- Restriction: Ask me to limit how I process your data in certain circumstances
- Portability: Receive your data in a portable format
- Object: Object to certain types of processing
- Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent at any time where consent is the basis for processing
To exercise any of these rights, please contact me at .
Data Protection Concerns and ComplaintsIf you have a concern or are unhappy with how I have handled your personal information, you have the right to raise a complaint directly with me first.
Please email with your name, the nature of your concern, and what you would like me to look into. I will:
- Acknowledge your complaint within 30 days of receipt.
- Investigate your concern and communicate the outcome to you without undue delay.
If you remain unsatisfied with my response, you can escalate your complaint to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO):
- Website: www.ico.org.uk
- Telephone: 0303 123 1113
I may update this privacy policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated date. Please check this page periodically.
Legal Cookie Policy Last updated: 19 June 2026
This cookie policy explains how Psychology with Gisele uses cookies on psychologywithgisele.com. It should be read alongside the Privacy Policy above.
What Are Cookies?Cookies are small text files placed on your device when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work efficiently and to provide information to the website owner. They do not give access to your computer or any personal information beyond what you choose to share.
There are two main types:
- Session cookies: Exist only for the duration of your visit and are deleted when you close your browser
- Persistent cookies: Remain after you close your browser, allowing the site to remember your preferences on future visits
- Essential cookies: Necessary for the website to function. These cannot be switched off.
- Statistics cookies: Help me understand how visitors use the site so I can improve it. Only set with your consent.
- Functional cookies: Remember your preferences to improve your experience. Only set with your consent.
| Cookie name | Provider | Purpose | Expiry |
|---|---|---|---|
| cmplz_* | Complianz | Stores your cookie consent preferences | 1 year |
| wordpress_*, wordpress_logged_in_*, wordpress_test_cookie | WordPress | Essential cookies for site functionality and logged-in users | Session / 2 weeks |
| wp-settings-* | WordPress | Stores display preferences for the WordPress interface | 1 year |
| comment_author_* | WordPress | Remembers your name, email and website when leaving comments (only set if you opt in) | 1 year |
Once Complianz is active on this site, it will scan for and list all cookies automatically, keeping this table up to date.
Managing Your Cookie PreferencesWhen you first visit this site, a cookie consent banner will give you the option to accept or decline non-essential cookies. You can change your preferences at any time using the cookie settings link in the footer. You can also manage cookies through your browser settings, though disabling cookies may affect some site features.
A Note on PrivacyIf you are concerned about anyone knowing you have visited this site, you can delete your browser history and cookies after your visit. Guidance is available through your browser’s help section.
ContactIf you have any questions about this cookie policy, please contact me at .