How we protect your information

Last updated: [ADD: date]. This policy should be reviewed by a qualified Nigerian data protection adviser before the site goes live.

1. Who we are

Deborah Counseling Consult (“DCC”, “we”, “us”) is a counseling and mentorship practice based in Abuja, Nigeria. We are the data controller for the personal information described in this policy, which is written to comply with the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023 (NDPA).

Contact: info@dccounselling.online, 0903 908 3436, Phase One Aco Estate, Lugbe, Abuja.

2. Information we collect

• Contact details such as your name, phone number and email address, when you message us, fill in a form or book a session.
• Booking and payment details such as the service you choose, session dates and payment confirmations. Card details are handled by our payment provider and never stored by us.
• Session information that you choose to share during counseling, which may include sensitive personal data about your health, family life, relationships or religious beliefs.
• Order details such as your delivery address when you buy a book.
• Website data such as pages visited and device type, collected through cookies with your consent.

3. Why we use it and our lawful basis

• To provide counseling, mentorship and outreach services you have asked for (performance of a contract).
• To process sensitive session information (your explicit consent, which you may withdraw at any time).
• To reply to enquiries and manage bookings and book orders (contract and legitimate interest).
• To send our newsletter, only if you have subscribed (consent).
• To protect someone from serious harm or to meet a legal duty (vital interest and legal obligation).

4. Confidentiality and its limits

What you share in a session is confidential. We will only disclose it without your consent where we believe you or another person is at serious risk of harm, where a child or vulnerable person is being abused or neglected, or where a court or the law requires it. Wherever possible we will talk to you first.

5. Children and teenagers

For clients under 18 we ask for the consent of a parent or guardian before sessions begin. We share general progress with parents and guardians, while keeping the detail of what a young person says private unless there is a risk to their safety.

6. Who we share information with

We do not sell your information. We share it only with trusted providers who help us run the practice, and only as far as needed: our website host, booking system, payment provider (such as Paystack), email and newsletter provider, WhatsApp for messaging, and analytics tools. Some of these providers may store data outside Nigeria. Where they do, we rely on the safeguards permitted by the NDPA.

If we refer you to another professional, such as a marriage counselor, we share your details only with your permission.

7. How we keep it safe

Session notes and client records are stored securely with access limited to your counselor. Our website uses encryption (SSL), security monitoring and regular backups. No system is perfectly secure, but we take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect your information.

8. How long we keep it

We keep client records for [ADD: retention period, for example 6 years after the last session] and then securely delete them. Enquiries that do not lead to a booking are deleted within [ADD: period, for example 12 months].

9. Your rights

Under the NDPA you have the right to:

• know what personal data we hold about you and receive a copy;
• ask us to correct or delete your data;
• withdraw your consent at any time;
• object to or restrict how we use your data;
• receive your data in a portable format; and
• lodge a complaint with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC).

To use any of these rights, contact us at info@dccounselling.online. We will respond within one month.

10. Cookies

Our website uses essential cookies to work properly and, with your consent, analytics cookies to help us understand how the site is used. You can accept or decline non-essential cookies using the cookie banner, and change your choice at any time.

11. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time. The latest version will always be on this page with the date it was last updated.