Legal and Professional Framework
Introduction
This page presents the legal, ethical and professional framework within which Pro Comfort Counselling carries out its activity.
The services provided are compliant with United Kingdom legislation, covered by professional insurance, and grounded in academic training and continuous professional development.
Pro Comfort Counselling operates within a transparent and responsible framework.
Legal Basis of the Services
Official registration
Pro Comfort Counselling is registered in the United Kingdom as a Sole Trader, under a UTR issued by HMRC.
The activity is legally recognised and carried out in accordance with British tax and commercial regulations.
ICO registration
Pro Comfort Counselling is registered with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) for the processing of personal data, in accordance with the applicable data protection obligations in the United Kingdom.
ICO registration number: ZC095162
Professional insurance
The services are covered by an active policy of:
- Professional Indemnity & Public Liability Insurance
- (Oxygen Insurance / Marsh Ltd)
This insurance provides financial and professional protection in unforeseen situations.
Applicable legislation in the United Kingdom
The activity is carried out in accordance with the main regulations applicable to psychological counselling services:
- UK GDPR & Data Protection Act 2018 – regarding client confidentiality and data protection
- 🔗 ICO – UK GDPR guidance
- Equality Act 2010 – regarding fair and non-discriminatory treatment of clients
- 🔗 Equality Act 2010
- Consumer Rights Act 2015 – regarding the rights of service beneficiaries
- 🔗 Consumer Rights Act 2015
- Tax and commercial regulations applicable to authorised self-employed individuals (Sole Traders)
- 🔗 HMRC – Set up as a sole trader
- 🔗 Oxygen Insurance – Professional Liability for Psychologists
Professional Status and Scope of Practice
In the United Kingdom, certain professional titles are protected by law.
Pro Comfort Counselling uses the following titles transparently:
Psychologist / Psychological Counsellor / Psychological Counsellor
Protected titles regulated by HCPC or BPS are not claimed, such as:
- Clinical Psychologist
- Counselling Psychologist
- Chartered Psychologist
Medical diagnoses are not issued and medication is not prescribed.
The founder and service operator is:
Marian Claudiu Ciuhan, MBPsS
Informative note: Professional bodies such as BPS, HCPC and others display in their public registers only fully accredited specialists. Members who are still in a validation or registration process may not be listed. In such cases, proof of active membership or of the accreditation process can be provided directly, upon request.
Studies and Qualifications
Qualifications
- BSc Psychology – UK ENIC equivalent Level 6
- MSc Family & Couple Psychotherapy and Assessment in Clinical Practice – UK ENIC equivalent Level 7
- Psycho-pedagogical Module II
- Definitivat in Education (Romania)
- Qualified Teacher Status (UK)
Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
- Safeguarding & Child Protection, Levels 1–3+, Designated Safeguarding Lead
- GDPR & Data Protection, UK GDPR 2018 compliance
- Clinical and mental health training: treatment of anxiety, bipolar disorders, psychopharmacology
- Personality assessment – from normality to pathology (Psihoprofile, 2025)
Psychometric Instruments Used in Psychological Assessment
In certain situations, the psychological assessment process may be supported by the use of standardised and scientifically validated psychometric instruments.
These instruments allow for a structured and quantifiable analysis of relevant dimensions of psychological functioning and may be used in relation to individual, relational, professional, vocational, group, team or organisational contexts, depending on the purpose of the assessment.
Within Pro Comfort Counselling, psychological assessments are carried out using the professional Psihoprofile platform, which includes an extended battery of psychometric instruments used in applied psychological practice.
The platform integrates multiple assessment batteries, including contemporary personality analysis models such as the Big Five theoretical framework, as well as instruments relevant to emotional functioning, relational patterns, motivation, vocational orientation, adaptive vulnerabilities, group dynamics, organisational climate and dimensions associated with leadership.
The use of these instruments supports the process of psychological understanding and contributes to the formulation of professionally grounded directions for counselling, development, applied analysis or psychological intervention.
The results of psychometric instruments are interpreted in the context of the psychological interview and relevant professional observations, and are integrated into a coherent psychological formulation. This approach allows quantitative data to be correlated with the life context of the person, group or organisational framework assessed, contributing to a more nuanced and professionally useful understanding of psychological functioning.
The Psihoprofile platform includes an extensive set of psychometric batteries used in personality assessment and broader psychological functioning, with instruments selected according to the assessment context and the objectives of the counselling or assessment process.
Professional Authorisation to Use the Platform
The founder of Pro Comfort Counselling, Marian Claudiu Ciuhan, MBPsS, is licensed and authorised to use the professional Psihoprofile platform, used in computer-assisted psychological assessment and in the generation of psychometric reports for counselling purposes.
Based on this professional licence, within Pro Comfort Counselling, counselling reports and psychometric profiles can be produced in relation to the objective of the assessment and based on the validated instruments available on the platform.
Depending on the assessment context, the psychometric batteries used may cover:
- personality structure and personality profiles
- emotional functioning and adjustment mechanisms
- relational styles and communication patterns
- motivation and personal orientation
- vocational interests and career direction
- stress factors, adaptation and psychological vulnerability
- group, team and organisational dynamics
- organisational climate and leadership-related styles
The platform includes more than 30 psychometric instruments used in applied psychology, selected according to the assessment context and the objectives of the counselling or analysis process.
Psychometric assessments may be used in a variety of personal, relational, professional and organisational contexts, including:
- personality assessment
- assessment of relational style
- assessment of professional and vocational direction
- assessment of stress and adjustment factors
- analysis of groups and teams
- assessment of organisational climate and leadership-related dimensions
Psychometric reports generated in this context are used exclusively for psychological counselling, applied psychological understanding and personal or professional development, as support for the clarification process and for formulating directions for intervention within counselling, assessment or other related professional processes.
Disclaimer on Psychometric Assessments – Professional Status, Limits and Use
Psychometric assessments used within Pro Comfort Counselling have the role of structured psychological analysis, guidance and support for the counselling process, depending on the objective of the assessment and the context in which it is carried out.
These assessments:
- do not represent a medical or psychiatric diagnosis
- do not replace medical consultation, psychiatric assessment or specialist treatment
- do not, by themselves, constitute an automatic clinical decision and are not used to produce exclusively automated decisions with legal or similarly significant effects on the person
- are interpreted exclusively in the context of the psychological interview, relevant professional observations and the stated purpose of the assessment
The reports and profiles generated in this context are used exclusively for psychological counselling, personal or professional development, guidance and applied analysis, at an individual, relational, professional or organisational level, as appropriate.
Pro Comfort Counselling does not claim, through the use of these assessments, protected professional titles under the law and does not present psychometric results as a substitute for assessments carried out by regulated professions where United Kingdom legislation requires specific registration or competence.
In situations where the context requires medical assessment, psychiatric assessment, risk management, specialist clinical expertise or referral to other services, the client may be directed towards the appropriate professionals or institutions.
Professional Affiliation and Status
- Member of the British Psychological Society, MBPsS, GBC 524949 – since 2020
- Professional application / validation process in progress with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
Ethics and Professional Codes
The practice is guided by:
- BPS – Code of Ethics and Conduct
- HCPC – Standards of Conduct
- The practice is guided by the British Psychological Society (BPS) Code of Ethics and Conduct, the general principles of good practice in psychological counselling, and the legal obligations relating to confidentiality and data protection.
The fundamental principles include:
- Respect
- Competence
- Responsibility
- Integrity
- Confidentiality
🔗 BPS – Code of Ethics and Conduct (2018)
🔗 HCPC – Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics
Adjusted Fee Policy
Pro Comfort Counselling may, in certain situations, offer a limited number of places with an adjusted fee for individual therapy.
The granting of an adjusted fee is considered individually and depends on monthly availability, the financial situation presented and the possibility of maintaining the process within a stable framework.
The general conditions are:
- adjusted fee: £70 / session
- applicable for a maximum of 6 consecutive sessions
- available exclusively for individual therapy
- requires a written request and, where necessary, supporting documentation
- granted within the limit of available monthly capacity
The granting and continuation of the adjusted fee are determined exclusively by Pro Comfort Counselling.
Reductions:
- are not cumulative
- do not apply retrospectively
- do not affect agreements already confirmed in writing
- do not apply to psychological assessment services, professional psychological opinions or written documents
After the initial period, continuation of the process and any possible adjustments are reviewed by mutual agreement.
Pro Comfort Counselling reserves the right to amend this policy for future appointments.
Vision and Professional Direction
Pro Comfort Counselling aims to develop its services progressively, with emphasis on:
- consolidating individual and couple interventions
- developing group programmes
- collaboration with organisations and institutions
- psychological assessment and support services in organisational settings
The professional direction is oriented towards sustainable growth, while maintaining high standards of practice and responsibility.
Governance and Internal Compliance
Pro Comfort Counselling maintains an internal framework of professional compliance and governance, in accordance with the accountability principle under Art. 5(2) UK GDPR.
This framework includes:
- Record of Processing Activities, Art. 30 UK GDPR – ROPA
- Proportionate Data Protection Impact Assessment, Art. 35 UK GDPR – DPIA
- Internal record for managing possible data security incidents
- Internal policies regarding confidentiality and document retention
- Clear procedures for notification in the event of a data breach, Art. 33–34 UK GDPR
These documents are maintained internally and may be made available to competent authorities or institutional partners when necessary.
Professional governance is an integral part of the way Pro Comfort Counselling carries out its activity.
Useful Resources for Clients
- NHS Mental Health Support → https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health
- Samaritans, 116 123 – for crisis support → https://www.samaritans.org
- BPS "Find a Psychologist" → https://www.bps.org.uk/public/find-psychologist
- HCPC – Check the Register, for protected titles and official verification → https://www.hcpc-uk.org/check-the-register/