Privacy Policy

GDPR Compliance

We comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR, 2018). Your personal data is kept private, secure, and only used with your consent or for legitimate interest in providing you with professional hypnotherapy services.

Information We Collect

If you book a hypnotherapy session or other service with Margareta Howson, we may collect:

Contact Information:

Your name, email address, and phone number
Billing address (if different from correspondence address)

Session-Related Information:

Background, lifestyle, and health information relevant to your treatment
Session notes and progress records (for professional record-keeping and continuity of care)
Any medical clearance documentation provided by your GP or specialist (where required for conditions such as pain management or IBS)

Payment Information:

Payment details are processed securely through third-party payment providers
We do not store your full payment card details on our systems

Communication Records:

Correspondence between sessions (emails, messages) relevant to your treatment
Booking confirmations and appointment reminders

This information allows us to provide the best possible care, maintain accurate professional records, and ensure appropriate treatment.

How We Use Your Information

We use your personal data to:

Provide hypnotherapy and related services
Keep accurate session notes and treatment records
Communicate with you about appointments and treatment
Process payments for services
Send you resources, recordings, or materials relevant to your sessions (PDFs, audio recordings, worksheets)
Comply with professional standards and legal requirements

Confidentiality

All sessions and information shared are strictly confidential. Your information will never be shared with anyone without your explicit written consent, except where required by law.

Legal exceptions include:

Where there is a risk of serious harm to yourself or others
Where required by court order
Where required under safeguarding legislation

Legitimate Interest

We may contact you to:

Confirm or reschedule appointments
Provide appointment reminders
Send session-related materials (recordings, worksheets, resources)
Update you on treatment details or session notes
Address billing or payment queries

We will only contact you for purposes directly connected to your sessions and professional care.

Materials Provided

During or after sessions, I may provide you with:

Relaxation recordings or guided hypnotherapy audio files
Worksheets, exercises, or informational PDFs
Self-hypnosis guidance materials

These materials are for your personal use only in connection with your treatment. They remain my intellectual property and may not be shared, distributed, or used commercially without written permission.

Session Recording Policy

Sessions are NOT recorded by Margareta Howson unless explicitly agreed in writing for specific therapeutic purposes.

You may NOT record sessions (audio or video) without prior written consent. This protects the confidentiality and therapeutic nature of our work together.

Clients-Only Login Area

The login area of our website is for existing clients only and provides access to exclusive content and resources. Your login details are private and secure.

Important: We will never request your password by email, text, or unsolicited message. If you receive such a request, do not respond and contact us immediately.

Data Retention

Your records are stored securely for a minimum of five years from your last session, in line with professional standards and insurance requirements.

Digital records (session notes, correspondence) are stored securely on password-protected systems with encrypted backup.

Handwritten notes (if any) are securely destroyed after the retention period.

After the retention period, your data will be securely deleted unless you are still an active client or there is a legal requirement to retain it longer.

Your Rights Under GDPR

You have the right to:

Access - Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you
Rectification - Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data
Erasure - Request deletion of your data (subject to legal/professional retention requirements)
Restriction - Request limitation of how we process your data
Portability - Receive your data in a portable format
Object - Object to processing based on legitimate interest
Withdraw Consent - Withdraw consent for email communications at any time

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at: [email protected]

Please note: Some requests may not be possible where we have a legal or professional obligation to retain records (e.g., professional indemnity insurance requirements).

Email Consent & Marketing

The Living Well Journal & Updates:
If you subscribe to The Living Well Journal or register for free events, you consent to receive occasional newsletters, updates, and information about services that may interest you.

You can unsubscribe at any time via the link in our emails or by contacting us directly.

Existing Clients:
If you are a current or past client, we may occasionally send you information about services or resources that may benefit you, based on our legitimate interest in your ongoing wellbeing. You may opt out at any time.

Data Security

We take appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal data, including:

Password-protected systems and encrypted storage
Secure communication channels
Limited access to personal data (only accessible by Margareta Howson)
Regular security reviews and updates
Secure disposal of data when retention period expires

However, please note that no method of electronic transmission or storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your data, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

Third-Party Services

We use trusted third-party services to support our business:

Zoom - for online video sessions (subject to Zoom's privacy policy)
Payment Processors - for secure payment processing (card details not stored by us)
Google Analytics - for website usage statistics (anonymised data)
Email Service Provider - for newsletters and communications (you can unsubscribe anytime)

These providers have their own privacy policies and we encourage you to review them.

Data Sharing

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal data to third parties.

We only share your information:

With your explicit consent
With third-party service providers necessary for delivering services (e.g., payment processors)
Where required by law

Children's Privacy

Our services are intended for adults (18+) only. We do not knowingly collect personal data from individuals under 18 without parental consent. If you believe we have inadvertently collected data from a minor, please contact us immediately.

International Data Transfers

Your data is stored and processed within the UK/EEA. If we ever need to transfer data outside these regions, we will ensure appropriate safeguards are in place.

Updates to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. Any updates will be published on this page with a new effective date.

We encourage you to review this policy periodically. Continued use of our services after changes indicates acceptance of the updated policy.

Complaints & Data Protection Authority

If you believe your data is being misused or have concerns about how we handle your personal information, please contact us first:

📧 [email protected]

If you remain unsatisfied, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the UK's ICO, data protection authority:

Contact Information

For any questions about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your personal data:

Email: [email protected]
Website: www.margaretahowson.com

Margareta Howson Hypnotherapy
Providing professional solution-focused hypnotherapy and spiritual mindset coaching.