Effective Date: 1st January 2026
Website: francoiseelvin.com
Counsellor & Psychotherapist: Françoise Elvin (NCPS Accredited)
Welcome to this website and thank you for visiting. These Terms of Service explain how you may use this website and the counselling services offered here by Françoise Elvin, a licensed counsellor and psychotherapist accredited by the National Counselling & Psychotherapy Society (NCPS). By accessing this site, booking a session, submitting personal information, or engaging in any service — whether in person or online — you agree to abide by these Terms.
1. Professional Services
The counselling services offered through this website are provided by Françoise Elvin, a professional counsellor and psychotherapist accredited by the National Counselling & Psychotherapy Society (NCPS). Accreditation means that Françoise meets the professional standards required by NCPS, adheres to its ethical framework, and maintains ongoing professional development and supervision. You can read more about the NCPS Code of Ethics here: https://ncps.com/about-us/code-of-ethics
In providing counselling, Françoise is committed to working ethically, respectfully, and safely. This includes maintaining professional boundaries, safeguarding client confidentiality (within legal and ethical limits), practising competently and honestly, and placing your well-being at the centre of all therapeutic work. Counselling can support personal insight, emotional regulation, and mental well-being, but it is not a substitute for medical or psychiatric care, crisis intervention, or emergency services.
2. Booking Sessions and Payments
You may book individual or group counselling sessions by sending a request through the website, via email, or by telephoning (email and phone number can be found in website footer). Sessions may be delivered in person at an agreed practice location, by secure online video platform, or by telephone, depending on what you select at the time of booking.
Fees for sessions are clearly stated on the website but are subject to change. When fees are updated, the new pricing will apply to future bookings but will not affect any sessions that have already been booked and confirmed. Payment for sessions must be made in advance at the time of booking or immediately prior to the session, as specified at the point of booking.
Accepted payment methods will be listed during the booking process. If payment is not received in accordance with these Terms, the Practitioner may cancel or refuse to conduct the session until fees are paid in full.
3. Cancellation and No-Show Policy
The Practitioner recognises that unexpected circumstances arise, so cancellations are accepted without penalty if made with at least 24 hours’ notice. This allows the Practitioner the opportunity to offer the time slot to another client.
If you cancel with less notice than required, or if you fail to attend your session (a “no-show”), you may be charged the full or partial session fee at the Practitioner’s discretion. Group session policies may differ and, where appropriate, will be clearly outlined at the point of booking.
4. Online Counselling
Counselling delivered via online platforms can be a flexible and effective way to work together when in-person meetings are difficult or not possible. However, online sessions rely on technology outside the Practitioner’s control (e.g., internet speed, device issues, software updates). While all reasonable efforts are made to ensure a secure and stable connection, no online system is completely fail-safe. By choosing online counselling, you acknowledge that technical problems may arise and agree to work with the Practitioner to find alternative arrangements when necessary.
You are responsible for ensuring that you access online sessions from a private, safe, and confidential space. The Practitioner will also make every reasonable effort to maintain confidentiality during online work, but confidentiality cannot be absolutely guaranteed when using internet-based technology.
5. Confidentiality
Confidentiality is a central ethical principle and is treated with the utmost importance. Information you share in counselling is confidential and will not be disclosed to any third party except in very limited circumstances. These may include:
- Where there is a serious risk of harm to you or others;
- Where there is reasonable cause to suspect abuse of a child or vulnerable adult;
- Where a court of law orders disclosure;
- Where disclosure is required to prevent or investigate a serious criminal offence.
Should any such situation arise, the Practitioner will always seek to discuss this with you first unless doing so would increase risk.
6. Group Counselling Dignity and Safety Principles
Group counselling offers shared experience and mutual support. Each participant agrees to respect the confidentiality of other members and to conduct themselves in a way that promotes safety, respect, and dignity. While the Practitioner will model and encourage confidential behaviour, the Practitioner cannot guarantee that other group members will maintain confidentiality.
If any participant’s behaviour is harmful, abusive, or disruptive, the Practitioner reserves the right to exclude that person from the group in order to protect the well-being of others.
7. Website Content Disclaimer
While every effort is made to ensure that the information on this website is accurate and up-to-date, content may nonetheless contain errors, omissions, or be subject to change without notice. Material on this website is provided for general information and understanding only and does not constitute medical or psychological advice.
Using this website and its content is at your own risk. The Practitioner cannot accept responsibility for actions you take based on information found on this website.
8. Limitation of Liability
To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Practitioner will not be liable for indirect or consequential loss arising from the use of this website or counselling services. Liability for any claim relating to services provided is limited to the value of the fees paid for those services.
Nothing in these Terms affects your statutory rights as a consumer under UK law, including rights relating to services that are not provided with reasonable care and skill.
9. Changes to Terms
The Practitioner reserves the right to update or amend these Terms from time to time. Updated Terms will be published on the website. Continued use of the website or booking of services after changes constitutes your acceptance of those revised Terms.
10. Governing Law
These Terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales (or the relevant UK jurisdiction where services are provided). Any disputes arising under these Terms shall be subject to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of that jurisdiction.
Privacy Policy
Effective Date: 1st January 2026
Data Controller: Françoise Elvin
Contact Email: francoise@francoiseelvin.com
This Privacy Policy explains how personal data is collected, used, retained, protected and shared when you use this website or engage counselling services. It also explains your rights under UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018.
1. Who We Are
I am Françoise Elvin, a UK-based professional counsellor and psychotherapist. My practice provides confidential emotional support through 1:1 and group counselling, delivered either in person or online. I am registered with and accredited by the National Counselling & Psychotherapy Society (NCPS), and I adhere to its ethical requirements regarding confidentiality, record keeping, client welfare, and professional conduct.
As the Data Controller, I am responsible for determining why and how personal data is processed, and for complying with data protection laws.
2. How We Collect Personal Data
a) Direct Interactions
You may provide personal information when:
- You contact me via email, phone, or contact form;
- You complete a booking form to schedule a session;
- You attend counselling sessions (in person or online);
- You submit comments or communications through the website.
b) Clinical Information
To provide safe and effective counselling, I may collect sensitive personal information, including details about your mental health, personal history, health status, and emotional wellbeing. This is known as special category data under UK GDPR, and I will only collect it where it is:
- Necessary for the performance of the contract to provide counselling, and
- Done with your explicit consent.
c) Cookies and Technical Data
This website may use cookies and similar technologies to collect:
- Browser and device information;
- Interaction patterns with the website;
- Analytics and performance data.
Cookies help improve website functionality and user experience.
3. How Personal Data Is Used
Your personal data will only be used for a legitimate purpose and in ways that are compatible with the reason it was collected. These include:
- Responding to your enquiry or communication;
- Booking and administering counselling appointments;
- Preparing and maintaining clinical records to support your care;
- Processing payments;
- Complying with legal or regulatory requirements;
- Improving and analysing the performance of this website.
Personal data is not used or shared for unrelated purposes without your consent.
4. Lawful Bases for Processing
Under UK GDPR, your personal data is processed on one of the following lawful bases:
- Contract — where processing is necessary to deliver counselling services you have requested;
- Consent — where you have explicitly agreed to share information, such as health details;
- Legal obligation — where the law requires certain disclosures (e.g. safeguarding);
- Legitimate interests — where processing supports business administration and the safe delivery of services (provided your rights are not overridden).
Clinical and health-related data is treated as special category data and is processed only with explicit consent.
5. Who We Share Data With
Your personal and clinical data is treated as confidential and is not shared with third-party organisations without your explicit permission, except in the following limited situations:
- With clinical supervisors, on an anonymised basis, to ensure quality and ethical practice;
- Where safeguarding concerns require lawful disclosure;
- Where a court order or legal obligation demands disclosure;
- With technology service providers (e.g., secure video platforms, payment processors) who act as data processors bound by contractual and GDPR privacy obligations.
6. Embedded Content from Other Websites
Page or Articles on this site may include embedded content (e.g., videos, images, articles, etc.). Embedded content from other websites behaves in the exact same way as if the visitor has visited the other website. These websites may collect data about you, use cookies, embed additional third-party tracking, and monitor your interaction with that embedded content, including tracking your interaction with the embedded content if you have an account and are logged in to that website.
7. Comments and Public Content
When visitors leave comments on the site we collect the data shown in the comments form, and also the visitor’s IP address and browser user agent string to help spam detection. Furthermore, any personal data you provide in that public content (e.g., name, comment text) may be visible to other visitors. In addition, an anonymised string created from your email address (also called a hash) may be track your comments based on your email address. After approval of your comment, if you set a profile picture, it will be visible to the public in the context of your comment. You may request removal of your comment and associated data at any time.
8. Media and Uploaded Content
If you upload photos or media, be aware that images may contain embedded metadata (such as GPS location). You should avoid uploading sensitive images that reveal personal locations or information.
9. Cookies and Tracking
This website uses cookies to:
- Enable core functionality (e.g. secure forms);
- Improve performance and user experience.
You can control cookie preferences through your browser settings or the site’s cookie consent banner. Disabling cookies may limit some functionality.
10. How Long We Keep Your Data
Personal data is retained only for as long as is necessary for:
- Providing counselling services;
- Meeting legal and regulatory obligations;
- Complying with professional record-keeping standards.
Typical retention periods include:
- Enquiry records: up to 12 months if no counselling contract is formed;
- Clinical records: at least 7 years after the last session (or longer if you are under 18 at the time);
- Financial records: retained in accordance with tax reporting requirements.
After retention periods expire, data is securely deleted.
11. Your Data Protection Rights
You have a number of important rights under UK GDPR, including:
- The right to access your personal data;
- The right to correct inaccurate data;
- The right to request erasure of your data (where lawful);
- The right to restrict processing;
- The right to data portability;
- The right to withdraw consent at any time;
- The right to object to certain processing.
If you wish to exercise any of these rights, please contact me using the email address provided at the top of this Privacy Policy. You also have the right to file a complaint with the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) if you believe your data has been mishandled: https://ico.org.uk
12. Security of Personal Data
Appropriate technical and organisational measures are in place to protect your data, including secure storage, encryption where appropriate, limited access, and the use of reputable third-party services with strong privacy practices.
However, no method of transmission or storage over the internet can be completely guaranteed to be secure. You acknowledge and agree that there are limitations inherent in system security.
13. Changes to This Privacy Policy
This Privacy Policy may be updated from time to time to reflect changes in law, practice, or technology. Any updates will be posted on this website with a revised effective date. Continued use of the website or engagement in services after changes indicates acceptance of the updated policy.