John Hodgson Counselling
Last updated: June 2026
Your privacy is very important to me. This policy explains how I collect, use, and protect your personal information when you contact or work with me.
Who I Am
I’m John Hodgson, a qualified and accredited psychotherapeutic counsellor (NCPS Accredited Member) based in Hastings, East Sussex.
You can contact me at:
📧 info@johnhodgsoncounselling.co.uk
What Information I Collect
Depending on how you interact with me, I may collect:
- Contact details: name, email, and phone number (through the contact form, email, or phone).
- Background information: relevant details shared during assessment (such as GP name, medication, and next of kin).
- Session notes: brief factual summaries to support our therapeutic work.
- Website data: minimal functional cookies used by my site provider for performance and security; no analytics or marketing tracking is used.
How I Use Your Information
I collect and store information in order to:
- Arrange and manage counselling sessions.
- Provide safe, ethical, and effective counselling.
- Contact you about appointments or respond to enquiries.
- Maintain appropriate professional records as required by the NCPS Code of Ethics.
I do not share your information with third parties unless:
- I am required to do so by law, or
- there is serious concern about your safety or the safety of others (in line with ethical and legal obligations).
Legal Basis for Processing
I process personal information in accordance with UK data protection law. For prospective clients, I process information in order to respond to enquiries and arrange appointments. For clients, I process information for the provision of counselling services, to maintain appropriate clinical records, and to meet my professional and legal obligations as an accredited member of the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society (NCPS).
How Your Information Is Stored
- Paper records (e.g., assessments or session notes) are stored securely in a locked filing cabinet.
- Digital files are encrypted and password-protected.
- Contact details provided through the website contact form are stored securely and retained only for as long as necessary to respond to your enquiry or provide counselling services.
- I use only secure, GDPR-compliant services for email and file storage.
Retention Period
In line with professional and legal guidance, I retain client records for five years after our work ends, after which they are securely destroyed.
Data Protection Complaints
If you have any concerns about how I collect, store or use your personal information, please contact me in the first instance at:
info@johnhodgsoncounselling.co.uk
I will acknowledge your concern and aim to respond as promptly as possible.
If you remain dissatisfied with my response, you have the right to make a complaint to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), the UK’s data protection regulator.
Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Website: www.ico.org.uk
Your Rights
Under UK data protection law, you have the right to:
• Access the personal information I hold about you.
• Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information.
• Request deletion of your information where appropriate.
• Request that I restrict or limit how your information is processed in certain circumstances.
• Object to the processing of your information in certain circumstances.
• Withdraw consent for contact at any time where consent is the basis for processing.
To exercise any of these rights, please contact me at info@johnhodgsoncounselling.co.uk.o.uk