The short version. When you send the enquiry form, what you write goes directly to John and only John. It is used for one purpose: to reply to you and, if you both choose, to arrange a first conversation. There are no newsletters, no marketing lists, and your information is never sold or shared. If you do not go on to work with John, your enquiry is deleted no later than six months after your last exchange, or immediately if you ask.
Who is responsible for your information
This website belongs to John Alfred Smith, a counsellor, addiction specialist and coach working in Phuket, Thailand, who is the data controller for anything you send through it. You can reach him about privacy through the enquiry form on the main page.
What this notice covers
It covers this website and its enquiry form. If you go on to become a client, the handling of your clinical records, and the confidentiality of what you discuss in sessions, is covered separately in the counselling agreement you will receive and discuss before work begins.
What is collected
The enquiry form asks for your name and at least one way to reach you, by email or phone. Everything else is optional: whether the enquiry is for you, someone close to you, or a referral; how you would prefer to be contacted; and a free-text message you are welcome to leave blank.
The website itself sets no cookies and runs no analytics or tracking. Like almost every website, the hosting service and the font service (Google Fonts) receive standard technical information such as your IP address and browser type when the page loads.
Sensitive information
If you choose to write about your health, substance use, or mental health in the message box, that counts as sensitive personal data under Thailand's Personal Data Protection Act. It is processed only with your explicit consent, which is why the form asks you to tick a consent box before sending. Please share only what you are comfortable sharing; a first message needs no detail at all.
How your information is used
- To reply to your enquiry, by the method you chose, normally within two working days.
- If you both decide to go ahead, to arrange a free introductory call.
- Nothing else. No newsletters, no marketing, no profiling, and your details are never sold, rented, or shared with third parties beyond the services below that deliver the message.
Who handles the message in transit
When you press send, the form is delivered by Web3Forms, a form-delivery service, to John's email inbox, which is hosted by Google (Gmail). Both act as processors: they carry or store the message so that John can read it, and are bound by their own security and privacy terms. The website is served by its hosting provider, which keeps standard server logs. No other party receives your enquiry.
How long it is kept
If your enquiry does not lead to working together, it is deleted no later than six months after the last exchange between you, and sooner if you ask. If you become a client, the enquiry becomes part of your client record and is kept according to the retention terms in the counselling agreement.
Your rights
Under the Personal Data Protection Act you can ask at any time to see the information held about you, to have it corrected or deleted, to withdraw the consent you gave when sending the form, and to receive a copy of it. Send your request through the enquiry form on the main page and you will get a response within 30 days. If you believe your information has been mishandled, you also have the right to complain to Thailand's Personal Data Protection Committee (PDPC).
Enquiring about someone else
If you are writing about a person you are worried for, please share only what is needed to explain the situation. Enquiries concerning a person under 18 should be made by a parent or guardian.
Security
The form is sent over an encrypted connection (HTTPS) and John's inbox is protected with standard account security. No transmission or storage method is perfectly secure, but access to enquiries is limited to John alone, and reasonable measures are in place to keep it that way.
A note on urgency
This website and inbox are not monitored around the clock and are not an emergency service. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, use the crisis numbers listed on the main page instead of the form.
Changes to this notice
If this notice changes, the new version will be published here with a new effective date. A change will never retroactively reduce the protection of anything you have already sent.