Privacy Policy

Birth Story Alchemy. Last updated: June 2026

Who I am

I am Ella Hudson, a cognitive hypnotherapist and postpartum care provider based in London, operating as a sole trader. I am registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), registration number ZC161812

You can contact me at: Email: ella@birthstoryalchemy.com

What information I collect and why

A)When you book an appointment

When you book an appointment, I collect:

  • Your name, email address, and phone number

  • Your responses to intake form questions, which may include health information relevant to your care in order to manage your appointment and provide you with appropriate care

Lawful basis:

  • For general contact details, my legitimate interest in running my practice

  • For health information, your explicit consent, which you give by completing the intake form and ticking the consent checkbox.

B) During our work together

I keep clinical notes relating to our sessions to provide you with safe, effective, and continuous care. These may include:

  • Information about your physical and mental health

  • Details about your personal circumstances that you share with me

  • Notes on the therapeutic approaches we use and your progress

Lawful basis:

  • Explicit consent, and where relevant, the performance of our contract for services

C) When you contact me directly

  • If you email, call, or message me to make an enquiry, I retain that correspondence in order to respond to you and, if we proceed to work together, as part of your client record

Special category data

Health information is classed as special category data under UK GDPR and receives the highest level of protection. I collect this only where you have given your explicit consent, and I handle it with strict confidentiality. As a cognitive hypnotherapist and postpartum care provider, much of the information you share with me will be of a sensitive health or personal nature. I ask that you only share what you are comfortable sharing, and that you feel free to ask me any questions about how I handle your data.

Who I share your data with

I do not sell your data. I do not share it with third parties for marketing purposes. Your data is processed by the following third-party platforms as part of delivering my services: Squarespace participates in the UK-US Data Bridge, which means this transfer is covered by an appropriate legal mechanism under UK GDPR. I have a Data Processing Agreement in place with Squarespace. Privacy policy: squarespace.com/privacy I may also share information where I am legally required to do so (for example, if ordered by a court), or where I have a safeguarding concern that requires me to break confidentiality. I will always try to inform you if this happens unless doing so would put you or someone else at risk

How long I keep your data

  • Adult client records 7 years from the date of last contact

  • Records relating to children Until the child turns 25, or 8 years from last contact if longer

  • Enquiry correspondence (where no appointment was made) 12 months

After these periods, I will securely delete your records

Your rights

Under UK GDPR, you have the right to:

  • Access the personal data I hold about you

  • Correct any inaccurate information

  • Erase your data (subject to my legal obligations to retain certain records)

  • Restrict or object to how I process your data

  • Withdraw consent at any time, without affecting the lawfulness of processing before withdrawal

  • Data portability — receive your data in a commonly used format

To exercise any of these rights, please contact me at ella@birthstoryalchemy.com. I will respond within one month. If you are unhappy with how I have handled your data, you have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) at ico.org.uk or by calling 0303 123 1113

Cookies and website data

My website does not use tracking cookies or third-party analytics

Changes to this policy

I review this policy periodically and will update it as my practice evolves. The date at the top of this page reflects when it was last revised. If I make material changes, I will let active clients know.

This policy was last reviewed in June 2026