Privacy Policy

1. Who I Am

I am Funmi Deinde, Consultant Psychiatrist & Psychotherapist. Although I am medically qualified, I provide psychotherapy only in this private practice. I do not offer medical diagnosis, prescribing, or medical reports in this context.

I am the data controller for all personal information collected through this website, through email, or during the initial enquiry process.

  • Practice address: 18 Tranquil Vale, Blackheath, SE3 0AX

  • Email: hello@drfunmideinde.co.uk

This Privacy Policy explains how I collect, use, store, and protect your personal information when you visit my website, contact me, or enquire about psychotherapy.

2. Information I Collect

I may collect and process the following information:

  • Your name

  • Email address

  • Telephone number

  • Information you choose to provide when contacting me

  • Information submitted through website enquiry forms

  • Information contained in emails, telephone calls, or messages sent to me

Please avoid including highly sensitive personal information in your initial enquiry unless necessary to help me understand your request for support.

3. How I Use Your Information

I use personal information to:

  • Respond to enquiries

  • Arrange initial consultations

  • Communicate about psychotherapy

  • Maintain administrative records

  • Meet legal, regulatory, and professional obligations

I will only use personal information where I have a lawful basis to do so under UK data protection legislation.

4. Lawful Basis for Processing

Depending on the stage of contact, I process personal information under:

  • Contract – responding to your enquiry and providing psychotherapy

  • Legitimate interests – maintaining records after therapy ends

  • Legal obligation – where required by law

  • Consent – where consent is specifically required

Special category data

Information relating to mental health is processed under:

  • Provision of psychotherapy

  • Contract with a health professional (Article 9(2)(h) UK GDPR)

5. Confidentiality

Everything you share with me is confidential. Confidentiality may be broken only if:

  • There is a risk of serious harm to you or someone else

  • There is a safeguarding concern

  • I am required by law to disclose information

I will always try to discuss this with you first unless there are safeguarding reasons not to.

6. How I Store Information

Information submitted through my website contact form may be stored temporarily within Squarespace and then transmitted to me by email.

Enquiry information may also be stored within my email system for the purpose of responding to enquiries.

I store psychotherapy records securely using encrypted and password‑protected systems. I do not share clinical notes with any third party.

I take reasonable steps to protect personal information from unauthorised access, misuse, loss, or disclosure.

7. Third‑Party Services

I use third‑party service providers to operate my website and communication systems. These may include:

  • Squarespace (website hosting and contact‑form processing)

  • Email service provider

  • Secure digital storage systems

These providers may process personal information on my behalf solely for the purpose of delivering their services.

8. Retention of Information

  • Initial enquiries: retained for up to one month unless you request earlier deletion.

  • Emails and messages: retained for up to five months unless clinically relevant.

  • Psychotherapy records: retained for seven years in line with professional guidance.

After the retention period, records are securely destroyed.

9. Marketing Communications

I do not use personal information submitted through website enquiries for marketing purposes. I do not send newsletters, promotional emails, or marketing communications.

10. Cookies and Website Tracking

My website is hosted by Squarespace, which uses cookies and similar technologies to ensure the site functions properly. Cookies are small text files stored on your device when you visit a website.

Types of cookies used

1. Essential / Functional cookies These are required for the website to operate securely and correctly. They may include:

  • session cookies

  • security cookies

  • cookies that support navigation and basic site features

These cannot be disabled because the website will not function without them.

2. Analytics cookies Squarespace uses limited analytics cookies to understand how visitors interact with the website. This information is anonymised and does not identify individual users.

I do not use:

  • advertising cookies

  • marketing cookies

  • tracking cookies for profiling

  • third‑party advertising technologies

Managing cookies

You can control or disable cookies through your browser settings. Please note that disabling essential cookies may affect how the website functions.

For more information about Squarespace’s use of cookies, please see: Squarespace Privacy & Cookie Policy (squarespace.com/privacy)

11. Your Rights

Under UK data protection law, you have the right to:

  • Request access to the personal information I hold

  • Request correction of inaccurate information

  • Request deletion of personal information where appropriate

  • Request restriction of certain processing

  • Object to certain processing

  • Request a copy of information you have provided

These rights are subject to legal, professional, and regulatory requirements.

12. Complaints

If you have concerns about how I handle your personal information, please contact me and I will do my best to resolve the matter.

If you remain dissatisfied, you may lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

13. Information Commissioner’s Office

The ICO is the UK’s independent authority for data protection.

Website: https://ico.org.uk

14. Changes to This Privacy Policy

I may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in my services, legal obligations, or data protection practices. Any updates will be published on this page.