Privacy Policy
Last updated: 09 October 2026
At So How’s It Going?, your privacy matters. This Privacy Policy explains what personal information we may collect when you use this website or contact us, why we collect it, how we use it and the rights you have in relation to your information.
So How’s It Going? is operated by Armaan Ahmed, a Level 4 trainee counsellor and Student Member of BACP.
For privacy-related enquiries, please contact:
Information we may collect
If you contact us through this website, we may collect information such as:
- your name
- your email address
- your telephone number, if provided
- the information you choose to include in your enquiry
- information required to respond to your enquiry and arrange the next steps
The website may also process limited technical information necessary for its operation and security, such as information associated with your device, browser or use of the website.
Please don’t include sensitive information in the enquiry form
The website enquiry form is intended only to make initial contact and enquire about counselling.
Please do not use it to provide detailed information about your physical or mental health, medical history, trauma, risk, medication or other sensitive personal circumstances.
If you proceed towards counselling, the appropriate assessment process will provide a more suitable way of collecting the information needed.
Why we use your information
Information submitted through this website may be used to:
- respond to your enquiry
- communicate with you about counselling and availability
- arrange the appropriate next steps
- administer and operate the website
- maintain the security and integrity of the website
- comply with legal or regulatory responsibilities where applicable
We only collect information that is reasonably necessary for these purposes.
Lawful basis for using your information
Under UK data protection law, personal information must be processed on an appropriate lawful basis.
Depending on the circumstances, information provided through this website may be processed because it is necessary to take steps at your request before entering into an agreement for counselling, because we have a legitimate interest in responding to and administering enquiries, or because processing is necessary to comply with a legal obligation.
Where special category information, such as information concerning your health, is processed as part of the counselling service, additional legal protections and conditions apply.
If you proceed with counselling
Making an enquiry through So How’s It Going? does not by itself make you a counselling client.
Counselling is currently provided by Armaan Ahmed as a trainee counsellor through iCounselling, with professional clinical supervision.
If you decide to proceed, you will be asked to complete an appropriate pre-assessment before counselling begins. This is separate from the website enquiry form.
The assessment and counselling service may require additional information concerning matters such as your wellbeing, presenting difficulties, relevant medical or family history, previous counselling and any potential risk to yourself or others. iCounselling’s assessment process includes these areas as part of determining an appropriate therapeutic plan.
Information collected and processed through iCounselling is also subject to iCounselling’s own privacy, confidentiality, safeguarding and data-protection arrangements.
Confidentiality and counselling
Counselling is confidential, but confidentiality is not absolute.
Information discussed in counselling is treated with care and confidentiality. However, there may be circumstances where information needs to be discussed or disclosed, including:
- as part of professional clinical supervision
- where there is a serious concern about harm to you or another person
- where safeguarding responsibilities apply
- where disclosure is required or authorised by law
Where reasonably possible and appropriate, we will aim to discuss a potential disclosure with you before information is shared.
These limits will be explained more fully as part of the counselling agreement before counselling begins.
This reflects iCounselling’s existing terms, which provide for disclosure where there is serious risk to the client or others, as well as the BACP Ethical Framework’s requirements concerning reasonably foreseeable limitations to confidentiality.
Professional supervision
As a trainee counsellor, Armaan’s client work is supported by professional clinical supervision.
Supervision is an established part of ethical counselling practice and helps support the quality and safety of the work. Relevant aspects of client work may therefore be discussed within supervision.
Client privacy and confidentiality remain important when information is discussed in this context. Wherever practicable, information will be anonymised or limited to what is necessary.
Sharing your information
We do not sell your personal information.
Your information will only be shared where there is an appropriate reason to do so. Depending on the circumstances, this may include:
- iCounselling, where you proceed towards assessment or counselling
- Armaan’s professional clinical supervisor, where relevant to counselling practice
- service providers required to operate this website or communications
- emergency, healthcare, safeguarding or other appropriate services where there is a serious concern about safety
- regulators, courts, law-enforcement bodies or other organisations where disclosure is legally required or authorised
Only information reasonably necessary for the relevant purpose will be shared.
How your information is stored
Reasonable steps are taken to protect personal information from unauthorised access, loss, misuse or disclosure.
Information submitted through the website should not be treated as a substitute for the secure processes used for counselling assessment and clinical information.
Clinical records and assessment information handled through iCounselling are subject to the security and privacy arrangements applicable to that service. iCounselling’s privacy policy states that it uses measures designed to protect personal data and that client information is pseudonymised following allocation.
How long information is kept
Personal information collected through So How’s It Going? will generally be retained for up to five years, unless there is a reason to retain it for a shorter or longer period, such as a legal, regulatory, safeguarding or professional requirement.
Information that is no longer required will be securely deleted or disposed of where appropriate.
Where information is processed by iCounselling as part of assessment or counselling, iCounselling’s own retention arrangements may also apply.
Marriage in Practice and AI features
Marriage in Practice is also operated by Armaan Ahmed. The privacy arrangements outlined in this policy apply to personal information we collect when you enquire about, register for or use the course. We use this information to provide and administer the course and respond to course-related enquiries. Taking part does not make you a counselling client.
Your Marriage in Practice course progress and saved exercise responses are stored against your website user account so you can return to them when you sign in.
The course includes optional AI-assisted exercises, reflections and roleplays. Information you submit to an AI feature is processed by the provider powering that feature to generate responses. Where you use the Marriage in Practice Coach through ChatGPT, OpenAI’s privacy policy and your account’s data settings also apply, including its arrangements for storage, retention and use of conversations to improve its models.
Please use fictional names and avoid entering identifying details, sensitive personal information or private information about another person. Only share information you are comfortable submitting to the AI provider. AI features support learning and practice; they do not provide confidential counselling or emergency support.
Cookies
This website may use cookies or similar technologies that are necessary for it to function correctly.
Where non-essential cookies are used, for example for analytics or other optional functionality, visitors will be provided with appropriate information and choices where required.
You can also control cookies through your browser settings.
Your data protection rights
Depending on the circumstances, UK data protection law gives you rights in relation to your personal information. These can include the right to:
- be informed about how your information is used
- request access to personal information held about you
- ask for inaccurate information to be corrected
- ask for information to be erased in certain circumstances
- ask for the use of your information to be restricted in certain circumstances
- object to certain uses of your information
- receive certain information in a portable format where applicable
- withdraw consent where consent is the basis being relied upon
Some of these rights are subject to legal conditions and exceptions.
Contacting us about your information
If you have a question about this Privacy Policy, want to exercise a data-protection right or have a concern about how your information has been handled, please contact:
Armaan Ahmed
So How’s It Going?
hello@sohowsitgoing.com
We will aim to address privacy concerns appropriately and in accordance with applicable data-protection requirements.
Complaints about data protection
If you remain concerned about the way your personal information has been handled, you have the right to raise a concern with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), the UK’s independent data-protection regulator.
Information Commissioner’s Office
Changes to this Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes to the website, counselling arrangements, legal requirements or professional guidance.
The date at the top of this page will show when it was most recently updated.