1. Your Privacy

IntimaBalance Counselling is an online relationship and intimacy counselling practice operated by Cecilia Engelbrecht and based in Portugal.

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I am committed to protecting your privacy and handling your personal information with care, respect, confidentiality and transparency.

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This policy explains how personal information is collected, used, stored, protected and, where necessary, shared in connection with counselling services, appointments, enquiries and communication.

 

 

2. Information Collected

When you enquire about, book or attend counselling, personal information may be collected, including:

• Your name and contact details.

• Appointment, booking and payment information.

• Information provided through intake, consent and other counselling forms.

• Information you voluntarily share during counselling sessions.

• Relevant counselling notes, correspondence and agreed feedback documents.

• Information relating to relationships, intimacy, emotional wellbeing or other personal circumstances that you choose to disclose.

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Some information shared during counselling may be particularly sensitive and receive additional protection under applicable data-protection law.

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Personal information is used to respond to enquiries, arrange and provide counselling, maintain appropriate professional records, manage payments, communicate with clients and fulfil applicable legal and professional obligations.

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Only information reasonably necessary for these purposes should be collected and retained.

 

 

3. Confidentiality of Counselling Sessions

Information shared during counselling is treated as confidential and handled with professional care and discretion.

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Client information is not ordinarily disclosed to third parties without appropriate consent or another lawful basis.

Confidentiality is not absolute. Disclosure may be necessary where required or permitted by applicable law, including circumstances involving serious safety concerns, safeguarding responsibilities or valid legal requirements.

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Where lawful and safe, I will aim to discuss the situation with the client beforehand and limit any disclosure to information reasonably necessary for the relevant purpose.

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Professional consultation may be sought when appropriate to support safe and responsible practice. Identifying details will be minimised wherever possible, and any sharing of personal information must have an appropriate confidentiality and legal basis.

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In couples counselling, additional confidentiality considerations apply when partners attend joint sessions or separate individual conversations. These arrangements are explained in the Counselling Confidentiality Agreement.

 

 

4. Online Counselling & Data Security

Counselling sessions are conducted online using video communication platforms.

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Reasonable technical and organisational measures are taken to protect personal information and counselling records against unauthorised access, loss or misuse.

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Clients are encouraged to attend sessions from a private location, use a secure internet connection and take reasonable steps to protect their own devices and communications.

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Sessions should not be recorded by either the counsellor or the client without the prior informed agreement of everyone involved.

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Although reasonable precautions are taken, no online communication or storage system can be guaranteed to be completely free from security risks.

 

 

5. Emails, Messages & Communication

Email, WhatsApp and online contact forms may be used for appointment arrangements, reminders, documents and limited practical communication.

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These communication channels are not intended to replace counselling sessions or provide emergency support.

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Clients are encouraged not to send highly sensitive personal information through ordinary messaging channels unless necessary and appropriate.

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Where a WhatsApp group is created for couples counselling, its purpose is primarily administrative communication and the sharing of information intended for both partners. Private disclosures and relationship disagreements should ordinarily be addressed during scheduled sessions rather than in the group.

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Clients should be aware that third-party communication services have their own privacy and security arrangements, and information visible on a recipient's device is outside the counsellor's direct control.

 

 

6. Data Storage & Retention

IntimaBalance Counselling retains personal information only for as long as necessary for the purposes for which it was collected, subject to applicable legal, professional and contractual obligations.

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Counselling records, intake forms, consent documentation and related correspondence are retained for periods determined by the nature of the information, the purpose of processing and any applicable legal or professional requirements.

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Financial and accounting records are retained in accordance with Portuguese tax legislation, including the applicable ten-year statutory retention requirement.

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When the relevant retention period expires, personal information is securely deleted or anonymised unless continued retention is legally justified.

 

 

7. Your Rights

Subject to applicable law and relevant conditions, you may have the right to:

• Request access to personal information held about you.

• Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information.

• Request deletion of personal information where legally applicable.

• Request restriction of certain processing activities.

• Object to certain uses of your personal information.

• Request data portability where applicable.

• Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent, without affecting the lawfulness of earlier processing.

• Lodge a complaint with a relevant data-protection supervisory authority.

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These rights are not absolute and may be subject to legal exceptions, including obligations to retain certain records and the privacy rights of other individuals.

 

Requests can be made by contacting:

cecilia@intimabalance.com

 

 

8. Changes to This Policy

This policy may be updated from time to time to reflect changes in practice or legal requirements. The most current version will always be available on this website.

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9. Third-Party Services & International Data Transfers

IntimaBalance Counselling uses third-party technology and service providers to support website operation, appointment booking, payments, communication and online counselling.

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Depending on the service used, these providers may process personal information on behalf of IntimaBalance Counselling or act as independent data controllers.

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Some providers may process or store information outside Portugal or the European Economic Area.

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Where personal information is transferred internationally, applicable data-protection requirements and appropriate safeguards must be considered.

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10. Lawful Basis for Processing Personal Information

IntimaBalance Counselling processes personal information only where an appropriate legal basis applies under relevant data-protection legislation.

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The applicable legal basis depends on the purpose of processing, such as responding to enquiries, providing agreed counselling services, administering payments, maintaining records or complying with legal obligations.

Where information falls within a specially protected category of personal data, an additional lawful condition is required.

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Clients will be informed of the applicable legal bases and relevant conditions for the processing of their personal information.