Website Privacy Policy

Website Privacy & Cookies

Privacy Policy of www.southkentcounselling.co.uk

Owner and Data Controller:

Erna Evans – 105 Bouverie Road West, Folkestone, Kent CT20 2LD

Owner contact email – erna.aagaard.evans@gmail.com

On the South Kent Counselling & Psychotherapy website, the Owner is committed to protecting the privacy of online users. This Website Privacy Policy explains how the Owner collects and processes the data that visitors to the website share when accessing the website (www.southkentcounselling.co.uk), how this information is used, and what the options are if you wish to cease sharing this information.

General

South Kent Counselling & Psychotherapy (SKCP) is the name under which the Owner operates a therapeutic service. The Owner is registered as a Data Controller with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). This website is a representation of the Owner’s therapeutic service and a means of advertising therapeutic services for third-party practitioners.

The SKCP website is intended as an informational tool and directory of therapeutic services, and any information collected via the website is purely for the purposes of carrying out this function. Any personal information collected through the website by the Owner or any third-party apps will only be used to monitor and improve the website and its associated services.

By using this site, you are accepting the terms of this Privacy Policy. Your continued use of this site following any amendments or changes signifies your continued acceptance of the terms.

If you have any queries regarding this Privacy Policy, contact the Owner.

This Privacy Policy will be routinely updated to ensure that it continues to comply with government regulations. This Privacy Policy was updated on 27/10/2021.

Information collected and what it is used for:

1. Advertising

1.1. Google Ads

Google Ads is an advertising system used in order to display ads to users in relevant search results. The system works through cookies that Google collects from users’ devices and browsers, and the keywords selected by the Owner in order to provide people with the most relevant ads.

Google Ads display advertisements based on the following data that Google collects:

·      Age

·      Gender

·      Household income

·      Location

·      IP address

·      Cookies

While the Owner may utilise this information in order to show the right ads to the right people, the above information is collected and stored by Google, not by the Owner. As such, the Owner operates under and complies with Google’s own terms and policies.

Google collects data from their user’s devices, such as location, searches, websites and apps used, videos and ads seen, and personal information given through Google Account (e.g. age range, gender, topics of interest). As an advertiser, the Owner only pays Google for ads that people have seen or clicked on. Google does not sell user data or personal information to the Owner, and the Owner does not sell personal information to any third parties.

Google provides advertisers with data about ad performance, without revealing personal information. The data that the Owner has access to in relation to ad performance is limited to age range, location, household income, and the type of device used to access this website (PC, tablet, phone, etc). However, it is the Owner’s policy not to utilise this information.

For more information on how Google collects and uses personal data, see their Privacy Policy and GDPR page. For more detailed information on how Google controls and processes personal data in agreement with the website Controller, the revelvant terms can be found here: Google Ads Data Processing Terms, Google Ads Controller-Controller Data Protection Terms, Google Measurement Controller-Controller Data Protection Terms. Users can also view Google’s advertising terms here.

The owner does not target ads based on any direct identifiers, such as the user’s name, email, medical information, religion, or political views.

1.2. Opt-out

Users can control the information that Google uses to show ads. By default, Google utilises ad personalisation (which includes information and activity from Google Account), user topics of interest, and Google services (e.g. Google Search) to show the most appropriate ads. You can opt out of Google’s ads personalisation by visiting Google’s Ads Settings.

2. Cookies

Cookies are small pieces of data that a website stores on a user’s device, including PCs, tablets, and mobile phones. Cookies help websites remember user preferences across the site in order to improve the overall user experience. The Owner does not explicitly collect or store cookies themselves. Below are the cookie services that the website makes use of:

2.1. Google

Google uses cookies to personalise ads to its users and make their internet experience more valuable. As a result, these cookies can be useful to advertisers, allowing Google to present relevant ads to the people that want to see them.

Significant applications of cookies that Google makes use of include: selecting appropriate advertising based on what is relevant to a user; improving reporting on ad campaign performance; to avoid showing ads that the user has already seen. Google also uses cookies to personalise ads on their services, such as Google Search, by remembering your most recent searches and your activity on websites.

For more information on how Google uses cookies, see their policy on cookies.

2.2. Squarespace

This site is hosted by Squarespace, which means that some of your data may be stored by Squarespace in the form of cookies. Squarespace states the necessary cookies that they make use of to allow users to navigate and use key features on the site. For more information and to view a full list of all of the cookies that Squarespace makes use of, see their article on cookie use for Squarespace-hosted websites.

This website utilises a Squarespace-hosted cookie bar that links back to Squarespace’s cookie policy. When a user accepts this use of cookies by clicking ‘OK’, the bar will disappear. If a user wishes to not allow the use of cookies on this website, they may opt-out by clicking ‘Decline’.

For more information on the cookies that Squarespace uses, users can refer to their Privacy Policy, Cookie Policy, and Data Processing Addendum.

2.3. Opt-out

You have the ability to disable cookies by changing the settings in your browser, though this may render some features of the site unusable. For more information about cookies and how to manage them, visit www.allaboutcookies.org.

3. Analytics

3.1. Google Analytics

Based on the legitimate interests of the Owner (i.e., interest in the analysis, optimisation, and economic operation of our online offer within the meaning of Art. 6 (1) lit. DSGVO), Google Analytics, a web analytics service provided by Google LLC ("Google"), is utilised. Google uses cookies. The information generated by the cookie about the use of the online offer by the users are usually transmitted to a Google server in the USA and stored there.

Google is certified under the Privacy Shield Agreement, which provides a guarantee to comply with European privacy legislation.

Google will use this information on behalf of the Owner to evaluate the use of this website by users to compile reports on site activity and to provide the Owner with services and information to improve and enhance the website. In this case, pseudonymous usage profiles of the users can be created from the processed data.

The Owner only uses Google Analytics with activated IP anonymisation. This means that the IP address of the users will be shortened by Google within member states of the European Union or in other contracting states of the Agreement on the European Economic Area. Only in exceptional cases will the full IP address be sent to a Google server in the USA and shortened there.

The IP address submitted by the user's browser will not be merged with other data provided by Google. Users can prevent the storage of cookies by setting their browser software accordingly; users may also prevent the collection by Google of the data generated by the cookie and related to their use of this website as well as the processing of this data by Google by downloading and installing the browser plug-in available under the following link: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=en.

For more information about Google's data usage, settings, and opt-out options, please refer to the following Google resources:

·     How Google uses information from sites or apps that use our services 

·      Data collection and use for advertising

·      Managing information Google uses to show you ads

Incidentally, the personal data will be anonymised or deleted after a lapse of 26 months.

3.2. Opt-out for Google Analytics

The user has the option to opt-out of Google Analytics.

3.3 Squarespace Analytics

Squarespace collects analytic data on this website by default, such as visitor IP addresses and browser information, some of which is collected via the use of cookies. The collection of this information is intended to make the site run more effectively for users and the Creator.

This website has elected to disable or restrict some of these features by:

  • Disabling the Activity Log, so that user IP addresses and personal data is not collected by the Owner.

  • Giving users the option to opt-in or opt-out of the use of cookies via a banner at the bottom of the site, so that the user may decide whether or not Squarespace’s non-essential cookies, including analytic cookies, are placed on their browser.

For more information on the analytic information that Squarespace may collect, users can view their Cookie Policy, Privacy Policy, and Data Processing Addendum.

Advertising disclaimer

The South Kent Counselling & Psychotherapy website allows independent private therapists to advertise their therapeutic services online via a personal profile page. While these therapists are represented on the adjoining SKCP website, they are not engaged in a corporate partnership. SKCP is therefore not a company, business, partnership, or corporation. The title of “South Kent Counselling & Psychotherapy” and its associated website are the property of sole trader Erna Evans.

By using this website, you acknowledge that the SKCP website is only a directory of advertising practitioners. The details of individual practitioners are provided to the Owner and consent is given to publish. The Owner does not certify, recommend, or endorse any of these services, nor does the Owner refer the user to any advertiser featured on the website.

The accuracy of information pertaining to any advertiser featured on the website is the responsibility of the advertiser in question. The Owner does not accept responsibility for any loss or damage resulting from the information provided by any of the advertisers. You are responsible for checking the advertiser information prior to use.

Each individual practitioner is responsible for their own methods of practice and patient security and agree to abide by the various policies set out by the Owner while their advertisement is displayed on the website. The Owner is not responsible for any engagement the User has with a therapist advertised on the SKCP website.

The individual practitioners advertising their therapeutic services on the SKCP website retain their own rights as data subjects.

Email Disclaimer

Each therapist advertising on the SKCP website utilises a personal, independent Gmail account for their email services. When you contact a therapist via the email address posted on their respective profile page, you agree to Google’s terms of use and give consent for that therapist to contact you in response.

In order to advertise on this website, all therapists agree to apply the appropriate security measures on their email accounts (e.g. strong passwords) to ensure that user email addresses and messages are kept private and secure. The Owner is not responsible or liable for any interaction with or taken by any advertising therapist other than themselves.

To find out more about how Google operates as a data processor in this instance, see their Privacy Policy and Data Processing Addendum.

Miscellaneous

By using this website, you acknowledge that the site is for personal and informational usage only. You agree not to promote goods or services via the contact information published on the website pertaining to either the Owner or any of the advertisers.

The information displayed on this website is purely informational and should not replace the direct advice of a healthcare professional.