Privacy Policy

Who We Are

This website is operated by Christine Wattie, trading as Christine Wattie Couples Therapy & Marriage Counselling, based in Havelock North, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand. References to "we", "us", and "our" throughout this policy refer to Christine Wattie and Grant Wattie.

What Information We Collect

We collect personal information in the following ways:

Contact forms and enquiries

When you submit a contact form on this website, we collect your name, email address, phone number (if provided), and the content of your message. We also collect how you heard about us, if you provide that information.

Booking systems

When you book a consultation or session, we collect the information required by our booking system — typically your name, email address, and phone number.

Email correspondence

If you contact us directly by email, we collect and retain that correspondence.

Website analytics

We use Google Analytics to understand how visitors use this website. This collects anonymised information including pages visited, time on site, geographic region, and device type. This data does not identify you personally. You can opt out of Google Analytics by installing the Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on.

Cookies

This website uses cookies — small text files stored on your device. We use cookies for analytics (Google Analytics) and to remember your preferences. You can control cookies through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect some functionality of the site.

How We Use Your Information

We use the personal information we collect to:

• Respond to your enquiries and questions
• Book and manage consultations and sessions
• Send appointment reminders and follow-up information relevant to your enquiry
• Improve our website and services
• Meet our legal and ethical obligations as professional counsellors

We do not use your personal information for unsolicited marketing without your consent.

Client Confidentiality

All information shared in the context of a counselling or coaching relationship is held in strict professional confidence. This is a core ethical requirement of our practice and goes beyond the requirements of the Privacy Act. Information shared in sessions will not be disclosed to any third party without your written consent, except where required by law (for example, if there is a serious risk of harm to you or another person).

Third-Party Services

We use the following third-party services that may process your data:

• Google Analytics — website analytics (anonymised)
• Netlify — website hosting and form processing
• [PLACEHOLDER: Booking system name] — appointment booking
• [PLACEHOLDER: Email provider name] — email communication

Each of these services operates under their own privacy policies. We choose services that we believe handle data responsibly.

Data Storage and Security

Your personal information is stored securely. We take reasonable steps to protect it from unauthorised access, disclosure, or misuse. However, no method of internet transmission is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

How Long We Keep Your Information

We retain personal information for as long as necessary to provide our services and meet our legal obligations. Client records are typically retained for seven years after the end of our professional relationship, in line with professional counselling standards. Other enquiry information is retained for a reasonable period and then deleted.

Your Rights Under the NZ Privacy Act 2020

Under the Privacy Act 2020, you have the right to:

• Ask whether we hold personal information about you
• Request access to that information
• Request correction of any information that is inaccurate or misleading
• Ask us to stop using your information in certain circumstances

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details below. We will respond within 20 working days.

Contact for Privacy Matters

If you have any questions about this privacy policy, or wish to make a request regarding your personal information, please contact us:

• Email: [PLACEHOLDER: Insert email address]
• Post: Christine Wattie, Havelock North, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand

If you are not satisfied with how we handle your privacy concern, you can contact the Office of the New Zealand Privacy Commissioner at privacy.org.nz.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time. The date at the top of this page shows when it was last updated. Continued use of this website after any changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.