John Hodgson Counselling
Last updated: October 2025
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).
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 from the website contact form are stored securely and deleted once no longer needed.
- 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.
Your Rights
Under the UK GDPR, you have the right to:
- Access the information I hold about you.
- Request correction of inaccurate data.
- Request deletion of data where appropriate.
- Withdraw consent for contact at any time.
To exercise these rights, please contact me at info@johnhodgsoncounselling.co.uk