At QLL Counselling and Wellness Practice, we value your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and safeguard your data in line with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) in South Africa. We aim to be transparent and ensure you feel safe sharing your information with us.

Who We Are

QLL Counselling and Wellness Practice is a holistic healing service based in Pretoria, South Africa, led by Elizabeth Whitford. We offer Psychology Counselling, Life Coaching, Hypnotherapy, Timeline Healing, Acupuncture, Usui Reiki, and Rife Sessions. You can reach us at:

• Address: 575 Airport Road, Doornpoort, Pretoria 0186
• Phone: +27 (0)66 274 3110
• Email: info@qllcounselling.co.za

Information We Collect

We collect personal information to provide our services and improve your experience. This includes:

• Identity and Contact Details: Name, email, phone number, and address when you book a session or contact us.
• Health Information: Details about your physical or emotional health shared during counselling, Reiki, or other sessions (e.g., for treatment planning).
• Payment Information: Billing details when you pay for sessions through WooCommerce.
• Website Usage Data: Information like your IP address, browser type, and cookies when you visit our site, collected to enhance functionality and user experience.

We collect this information directly from you (e.g., when you fill out a booking form) or automatically through our website (e.g., cookies). Providing your information is voluntary, but if you choose not to share certain details (e.g., health information for counselling), we may not be able to provide the best service tailored to your needs.

Why We Collect Your Information

We use your information for specific purposes:

• To schedule and provide services like counselling, Reiki, or acupuncture.
• To process payments securely through WooCommerce.
• To communicate with you about your bookings or respond to inquiries.
• To improve our website’s functionality (e.g., analyzing usage data).
• To comply with legal obligations, such as record-keeping or reporting to authorities if required.

Sharing Your Information

We do not share your information with third parties unless necessary. We may share it with:

• Service Providers: Trusted partners like Bookly (for booking management) or payment processors, who are contractually bound to protect your data under POPIA.
• Legal Authorities: If required by law or to protect our rights (e.g., in case of a legal dispute).

We do not transfer your information outside South Africa. If this changes, we will ensure the recipient country has adequate data protection laws or agreements in place, as required by POPIA.

Your Rights

Under POPIA, you have rights regarding your personal information:

• To be informed about what data we collect (as outlined here).
• To access your information and request corrections if it’s inaccurate.
• To object to the processing of your data (e.g., for marketing, though we don’t currently engage in direct marketing).
• To request deletion of your data, where applicable.
• To lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator if you feel your rights are violated (visit https://inforegulator.org.za for details).

To exercise these rights, please contact us at info@qllcounselling.co.za.

How We Protect Your Information

We take your privacy seriously and implement measures to keep your data safe:

• Secure storage of physical and digital records (e.g., encrypted databases for online data).
• Limited access to your information, only available to Elizabeth Whitford and necessary service providers.
• Regular reviews of our security practices to prevent unauthorized access or breaches.

If a data breach occurs, we will notify you and the Information Regulator promptly, as required by POPIA.

Cookies and Website Tracking

Our website uses cookies to improve your experience (e.g., remembering your preferences). You can manage cookie settings in your browser or opt out, but this may affect site functionality. We’ll provide a cookie consent banner to ensure transparency, as per POPIA requirements.

How Long We Keep Your Information

We retain your information only as long as necessary for the purposes outlined (e.g., during your treatment) or as required by law. Once no longer needed, we securely delete or anonymize your data.

Updates to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. The latest version will always be available on our website, with the date of the last update noted.

Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your information, please reach out:

• Email: info@qllcounselling.co.za
• Phone: +27 (0)66 274 3110
• Address: 575 Airport Road, Doornpoort, Pretoria 0186
  We’re here to help.

Last Updated: April 24, 2025