Privacy Policy
Last updated: 16 September 2026
This Privacy Policy explains how personal information is collected, used, stored, and protected in connection with this practice of spiritual direction (soul accompaniment), including sessions, enquiries, bookings, correspondence, and use of this website.
This practice is based in Australia and seeks to handle personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles, where applicable.
1. What information is collected
Personal information collected may include:
- name, email address, phone number, and contact details
- age or date of birth where needed to confirm eligibility
- country, state, province or region, timezone, usual location, and current session location where reasonably needed for safe online or international practice
- emergency-contact details and your instructions or authorisation concerning their use
- appointment and booking information
- information provided in enquiry forms, intake forms, emails, or correspondence
- payment and invoicing details
- brief notes for professional record-keeping
- information you choose to share in sessions, including experiences, dreams, images, or aspects of your life
- website and technical data, such as IP address, browser type, and usage information
Some information shared in the context of spiritual direction may be personal or sensitive in nature. This information is only collected where it is reasonably necessary for the work and is provided voluntarily.
2. How information is collected
Personal information is generally collected directly from you when you:
- make an enquiry or contact me
- book or attend a session
- complete a form or provide information through the website
- subscribe to a newsletter or written content
- make a payment
- interact with the website
3. Why information is collected
Personal information is collected and used to:
- respond to enquiries
- arrange and provide sessions
- support the continuity and context of the work
- consider suitability, scope, insurance, jurisdiction, communication, and emergency arrangements for online or international work
- respond to serious safety, safeguarding, or welfare concerns
- manage bookings, payments, and administration
- maintain appropriate professional records
- provide newsletters, articles, webinars, or learning materials where requested
- improve website functionality and communication
- meet legal, insurance, ethical, and administrative obligations
Personal information is not sold or shared for marketing by third parties.
4. Confidentiality
Information shared within sessions is treated as confidential.
However, confidentiality may be limited where:
- there is a serious risk of harm to you or another person
- disclosure is required or authorised by law, for example by court order or subpoena
- there are concerns relating to abuse, neglect, family violence, or the safety of a child or adult at risk
- limited information is reasonably required to contact your nominated emergency contact or an appropriate emergency service in response to a serious safety concern
- information is required for professional advice, supervision, or insurance purposes, in which case identifying details will be limited where reasonably possible
Where disclosure is considered necessary, information will be limited to what is reasonably required for the purpose and shared only with an appropriate recipient.
5. Use of third-party services
Trusted third-party platforms are used to operate this practice and deliver services, including:
- Squarespace — website hosting
- Acuity Scheduling — appointment booking and client forms
- Stripe and PayPal — payment processing
- Zoom — online sessions
- Microsoft Outlook — email communication
- Microsoft OneDrive and Google Drive — document storage
If you choose to subscribe to written content or newsletters, services such as Substack may be used.
The website may also use standard analytics or tracking tools provided by the hosting platform or third-party services to understand website usage and improve functionality.
These providers may store or process personal information outside Australia and are governed by their own privacy policies and terms. Reasonable steps are taken to select and configure reputable services appropriately, but their systems and overseas processing are not under my complete control.
6. Cookies & website data
This website may use cookies or similar technologies to support functionality and understand how the site is used.
You may adjust your browser settings to refuse or limit cookies, although this may affect some website features.
7. Storage & security
Reasonable steps are taken to protect personal information from misuse, interference, loss, unauthorised access, modification, or disclosure.
Depending on the system, this may include password protection, multifactor authentication, device security, software updates, restricted access, and secure backup arrangements.
However, no method of electronic transmission or storage is completely secure, and absolute security cannot be guaranteed.
8. Session notes & records
Brief records may be kept to support the continuity of the work and to meet professional, ethical, and administrative requirements.
These are not clinical or therapeutic records and are not intended as counselling, psychotherapy, or medical documentation.
Notes are intended to be brief, factual, respectful, and limited to what is reasonably needed for continuity, consent, administration, referral, safety, or significant professional decisions. Speculative dream interpretation is not recorded as fact.
9. Supervision, teaching, and use of client material
Limited information may be discussed in professional supervision where reasonably necessary for safe and ethical practice. Identifying details are reduced or omitted wherever practicable, and supervisors are expected to maintain confidentiality.
A client's dream, image, artwork, story, or case material is not used in teaching, publication, research, promotion, or public presentation without separate, specific, and freely given consent. Declining such consent does not affect access to soul accompaniment.
Because distinctive material may remain recognisable even when names or details are changed, de-identification alone is not assumed to remove every privacy risk.
10. Data breaches and security incidents
A suspected loss, unauthorised access, disclosure, or other security incident will be contained and assessed as soon as reasonably practicable. Relevant service providers, insurers, privacy advisers, legal advisers, or technical specialists may be consulted where appropriate.
Affected people and the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner or another authority will be notified where notification is required by applicable law or is otherwise considered an appropriate protective response.
11. Access & correction
You may request access to personal information held about you, or request correction if it is inaccurate, incomplete, or out of date.
Requests can be made by contacting:
Email: johnpdoig@outlook.com
Identity verification may be required before responding. In some circumstances, access may be refused where permitted by law.
12. Retention of information
Personal information is retained only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes for which it was collected, taking account of legal, insurance, taxation, safeguarding, complaints, professional, and administrative requirements.
When no longer required, reasonable steps are taken to securely delete, destroy, or de-identify information. Some information may remain temporarily within protected backups until it is overwritten through the ordinary backup cycle.
13. Mailing lists & communications
If you subscribe to newsletters or written content, your contact details will be used to send the material you have requested.
You may unsubscribe at any time using the unsubscribe link or by contacting me directly.
14. Children
This practice is intended for adults aged 18 years and over. Personal information is not knowingly collected from children.
15. Privacy concerns & complaints
If you have concerns about how your personal information has been handled, you are encouraged to make contact:
Email: johnpdoig@outlook.com
A privacy concern will be acknowledged and considered without retaliation. Relevant records will be preserved while the concern is reviewed, and a response or outcome will be provided where appropriate.
If the issue is not resolved, you may contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) , where it has jurisdiction.
16. Updates to this policy
This Privacy Policy may be updated from time to time. The most current version will be available on this website.
If you have any questions about privacy or the handling of your information, you are welcome to get in touch.