Chars Consulting respects your privacy. This policy explains, in plain language, what personal information we collect through this website, why we collect it, how we protect it, and the choices you have. We know that reaching out about mental health, addiction, or a crisis takes courage, and we treat everything you share with care.
Who we are
Chars Consulting is a mental health, addiction, and crisis consulting practice founded by Charleen Flintroy, based in the Fraser Valley, British Columbia, and serving clients across Canada. This policy applies to our website at https://charsconsulting.com and the ways we handle personal information collected through it. We follow the principles of Canada's Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) and British Columbia's Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA).
Information we collect
We try to collect only what we need. The information we handle falls into a few simple categories.
Information you give us
When you use our contact or booking form, we collect the details you choose to provide. This usually includes your name, email address, and phone number, along with any message or background you decide to share about your situation or the support you are looking for. You are always in control of how much you tell us in a message.
Basic, privacy-friendly analytics
We use Vercel Web Analytics to understand how the site is used in a general, aggregate way, for example which pages are visited most often. This tool is designed to be privacy friendly and does not use cookies to track you as an individual across websites. It does not build an advertising profile of you.
Standard server logs
Like almost all websites, our hosting provider automatically records standard technical information when pages are requested, such as the type of request, the date and time, and general technical details. These logs help keep the site secure and running properly.
Sensitive information
We recognise that information about mental health, substance use, and addiction is deeply personal and highly sensitive. When you share this kind of information with us through the form, we treat it with extra care and confidentiality. We do not share it casually, and we limit access to it to what is necessary to respond to you and provide our services.
How we use your information
We use the information you provide to:
- Respond to your enquiries and answer your questions.
- Arrange consultations, intervention support, treatment navigation, and other services you ask about.
- Follow up with you about a request you have already made.
- Understand, in aggregate, how the site is used so we can improve it and make it easier to navigate.
We do not sell your personal information, and we do not rent or trade it. We do not use the details you share to send you unrelated marketing.
Consent
When you submit information through our form, you are giving us your consent to use that information to respond to you and provide the support you have asked for.
You can withdraw your consent at any time, subject to legal and practical limits and reasonable notice. To do so, contact us using the details at the end of this policy. Withdrawing consent may mean we are no longer able to provide certain services.
Sharing your information and service providers
We do not sell your personal information. We share it only in limited situations, such as with trusted service providers who help us operate the website and deliver our services.
Our website is hosted on Vercel, and the contact form and related delivery may be handled through Vercel and similar trusted providers who process data on our behalf. These providers are only permitted to use your information to provide services to us.
Because some of these providers operate outside Canada, your information may be stored or processed in other countries, including the United States. When that happens, your information may be subject to the laws of those countries, including lawful access requests by their courts and government authorities. We take reasonable steps to work with providers that maintain appropriate safeguards.
We may also disclose information where we are required or permitted to by law, for example to comply with a legal obligation or to protect the safety of a person where there is a risk of serious harm.
How we protect your information
We use reasonable physical, technical, and organisational safeguards to protect your information against loss, theft, and unauthorised access, use, or disclosure. This includes encrypted connections for our website and limiting who can see the information you share. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, so while we work hard to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.
How long we keep your information
We keep personal information only as long as we reasonably need it for the purposes described in this policy, to maintain our records, or to meet legal requirements. When we no longer need it, we take reasonable steps to securely delete or anonymise it.
Your rights
Under Canadian privacy law, you have rights regarding your personal information. You can:
- Ask what personal information we hold about you and how we have used it.
- Ask us to correct information that is inaccurate or incomplete.
- Withdraw your consent to our use of your information, subject to legal and practical limits.
- Ask questions or raise a concern about how we handle your information.
To make any of these requests, contact us using the details below. We will respond within a reasonable time and may need to confirm your identity before acting on a request.
Children's privacy
Our website is intended for adults, including parents, family members, and caregivers seeking support. It is not directed at children, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children through this site. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us and we will take reasonable steps to remove it.
Changes to this policy
We may update this policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or the law. When we do, we will revise the date at the top of this page. We encourage you to review it occasionally so you stay informed.
How to contact us about privacy
If you have questions about this policy or how we handle your personal information, or if you would like to make a request about your information, please reach out.
- Phone: 236-881-2600
- Use the contact form on this website.