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Legal Policies

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Whitaker Hypnotherapy – Client Agreement

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Last Updated: May 2026

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This agreement outlines the professional relationship between Whitaker Hypnotherapy and the Client. By booking a session, paying a deposit, or purchasing a hypnotherapy package, you agree to the following terms:

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1. Professional Disclaimer & Complementary Scope of Practice

  • Complementary Therapy: Hypnotherapy is a complementary therapy and is intended as a self-improvement and emotional support tool. It is not a substitute for professional medical or psychological diagnosis, advice, medication, or treatment.

  • Medical Consultation: If you are seeking assistance for physical symptoms, clinical depression, or other diagnosed conditions, you are advised to consult your registered medical practitioner (GP). I do not diagnose medical or physical conditions. I will never offer advice that conflicts with your registered medical advisor.

  • Age Requirement: I work exclusively with individuals aged 18 and over. By agreeing to these terms, you confirm you meet this requirement.

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2. The 5-Session Block Model

  • Commitment to the Process: Lasting neurological and behavioral change takes time. Therefore, except where explicitly agreed otherwise, hypnotherapy is structured within a 5-session framework to map, clear, and consolidate subconscious shifts.

  • Investment: All sessions or packages must be paid for in advance to secure your scheduled time and commit to the therapeutic process.

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3. Initial Consultation & Deposit

  • The Deposit: A £10 refundable deposit is required to secure your Initial Consultation session.

  • Refund of Deposit: This deposit is refunded in full or taken off your package cost upon attendance of the scheduled consultation.

  • Forfeiture: The deposit is non-refundable if you fail to attend (No-Show) or attempt to reschedule with less than 24 hours' notice.

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4. Cancellation & Rescheduling Policy

  • 48-Hour Notice: A minimum of 48 hours' notice is required to cancel or reschedule a standard therapy session.

  • Late Changes: Appointments cancelled, changed, or missed with less than 48 hours' notice will be charged in full or deducted from your pre-paid package balance.

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5. Online Session Requirements

  • Environment: You agree to conduct all virtual sessions from a private, safe, quiet, and completely uninterrupted space. You must not listen to relaxation audios or engage in active hypnosis while operating machinery or driving.

  • Technology: You are responsible for ensuring a stable internet connection. If technical connectivity fails, I will attempt to reconnect with you immediately. Disrupted time due to client-side technology issues cannot be extended.

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6. Confidentiality & Record Keeping

  • Confidentiality: All information shared during consultations and therapy sessions remains strictly confidential.

  • Legal Exceptions: Exceptions to confidentiality apply if required by a court of law, or if I have significant reason to believe there is a risk of serious harm to yourself or others.

  • Supervision: In line with professional association guidelines (AFSFH/NCH), I participate in regular supervision. Case studies are discussed entirely anonymously, protecting your identity.

  • Data Retention: To comply with professional indemnity insurance and therapeutic standards, clinical notes and client files will be retained securely for a period of 8 years following your final session.

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7. Outcomes & Guarantees

  • Because human behavior and individual neuroplasticity vary, no guarantees of a successful resolution or a cure can be offered. Hypnotherapy is a collaborative process. Your active commitment, reflection between sessions, and listening to provided audios are essential to achieving your goals.

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Whitaker Hypnotherapy – Privacy Policy

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Last Updated: May 2026

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Whitaker Hypnotherapy ("we," "us," or "our") is the Data Controller of your personal data. We are registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). We have adopted this Privacy Policy to outline how we protect your personal information under the UK GDPR and the Data Use and Access Act (DUAA) 2025.

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1. Personal Information We Collect

We collect personal information voluntarily provided by you via booking forms, initial consultations, and intake questionnaires, including:

  • Identity Data: Name, surname, date of birth.

  • Contact Data: Email address and telephone number.

  • Health & Lifestyle Data: Relevant medical history, current medications, sleep patterns, and details regarding your therapeutic goals to ensure safe treatment.

  • Payment Data: Handled securely via external, PCI-compliant payment gateways; we do not store full payment card numbers.

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2. Lawful Basis for Processing Data

Under UK GDPR, our primary lawful basis for processing your data is Legitimate Interests.

  • Purpose & Necessity: We collect, view, and store only the data that is strictly necessary to perform safe, effective hypnotherapy sessions, manage bookings, and contact you regarding appointments.

  • Special Category Data: Because we process health-related information, our additional legal basis is your explicit, informed consent, which you provide prior to your initial consultation.

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3. Third-Party Service Providers

We share limited, necessary data with trusted tools to manage our practice:

  • Scheduling: TidyCal (booking management).

  • Video Conferencing: Zoom (online therapy delivery).

  • Payments: Stripe or equivalent secure processing networks.

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4. Your Rights & Subject Access Requests (SARs)

You have the right to be informed, access, rectify, or request the deletion of your personal records.

  • Subject Access Requests: If you request a copy of your records, we will perform a reasonable and proportionate search to provide your data without undue delay, in accordance with the DUAA (2025).

  • Retention Boundary: Please note that your right to data erasure may be limited by our legal obligation to retain clinical notes for 8 years under professional liability insurance guidelines.

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5. Data Protection Complaints

If you believe your personal data has been handled incorrectly, you have a legal right to file a complaint. Under the DUAA (2025), you must submit your complaint through our internal process first before escalating to the ICO.

  • To log a formal data handling complaint, please access our Electronic Data Privacy Complaints Form linked directly in our website footer.

  • We will formally acknowledge your complaint within 30 days and provide an update on our internal investigation without undue delay.

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6. Legal Disclosure & Recognised Legitimate Interests

In accordance with the Data Use and Access Act (2025), we will disclose relevant personal data to law enforcement or public safety organizations (such as the police) upon lawful request for public safety protections, without bearing sole liability for assessing the structural necessity of the request.

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7. Contact Information

For data queries, please contact:

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Whitaker Hypnotherapy – Terms of Service

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Last Updated: May 2026

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Welcome to Whitaker Hypnotherapy. By accessing this website, you agree to comply with and be bound by the following terms and conditions.

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1. Intellectual Property Rights

Unless otherwise stated, Whitaker Hypnotherapy owns the intellectual property rights for all material on this website, including articles, recorded audio clips, site graphics, and text copy. You may view and print pages for personal use, but you must not copy, duplicate, or republish this content without express written consent.

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2. No Medical Advice

The content on this website is for general educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute medical, psychiatric, or psychological advice. Accessing this website or contacting us via web forms does not establish a formal clinical or client-therapist relationship.

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3. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, Whitaker Hypnotherapy shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, or consequential loss or damage arising from your use of this website or the information contained herein. We make no specific guarantees regarding absolute website uptime or immediate technical functionality.

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4. Variation & Governing Law

We reserve the right to revise these terms from time to time. These terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales. Any disputes will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.

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