I use Google Ads to promote my services to people who are actively looking for a relationship coach or marriage counselor. Google's advertising process relies on the installation of a "pixel" on my website. This is a small piece of code which is loaded when a user visits a website, and is used to track user behaviour including browsing and purchasing. Some of the information gathered by a tracking pixel can include; operating system type of website (like desktop, tablet, or mobile) time & date of visit activities on website during a session (pages viewed and time on page) IP address whether it is the first visit, or a repeat visit The use of a tracking pixel allows collection of deidentified user demographics including; age gender geographic location shopping profile. To read a more complete explanation Google's privacy policies, go here.

Privacy Policy

Q: What Are the Challenges?

The key challenges are; Pricing. Google wins on every front here by offering integrated business platforms at a super low price. I'm a solo business owner with chronic fatigue and a limited ability to work, so it's no small thing. Coding. A lot of this change requires moving towards open source platforms, and demands a pretty fucking high level of understanding of coding and web development. I’m a basic bitch on those fronts, but I’m working at it and learning as I go. Time, energy, and attention. This is a huge investment of my time, energy and attention, and requires research to identify alternatives, learning how to use them, in many cases learning specific coding techniques and tools to integrate the platform into my workflows, trouble shooting glitches, rebuilding work flows to make sure I am still doing all the things, transitioning clients from the old to new systems and making sure I have clear instructions and support for them. Client ease. It’s cool for me to be changing online ecosystems, but I also need to do that in a way that doesn’t change how shit works for you. You know? Some of you won’t care, some of you won’t know, and some just don’t have the technical skill to work outside of the familiar interactions with places like Google and Facebook. That means I need to make things work in a way that feels exactly the same to you! Automation. The most popular platforms automate a lot of tasks, like when you book an appointment it updates my client database. The automation requires access, which reduces privacy and security (and increases the points of contact of data collection). In the absence of that, I have to learn to code the automations myself to happen on my own laptop, or do those things manually. I'm doing both right now, moving gradually from manual to little moments of self-coded magic!

Q: What Have You Done About It?

You can check out the timeline of my actions on this page by following this link . Or, you know, just scrolling to the bottom of the page.

Q: What Are Your Plans for Change?

You can check out the roadmap for planned changes by following this link , or just scrolling to the bottom of the page.

Q: Web Browsing and Website Use Information

This website uses a technology called "cookies" and web server files to collect information about how people are interacting with my website. That might include things like; date and time of visit pages viewed amount of time on pages and on website the referral website (which website linked you to my website) IP addresses

Ethics & Position

What is Your Ethical Position on Online Privacy?

I (Tara Thomas) am committed to protecting your privacy and giving you a safe online experience.

In fact I'm committed to that beyond the standard lip service, and I’m continually actively working to find ways to improve that privacy. I’m furious at the commodification of attention, and the complete disregard that huge corporations like Google, Meta, and more have for your privacy, for the security of your data, and for the destructive human outcomes of their business models.

I have long been naive about the implications of the choices I make in the software and platforms I use in my business, and your privacy and data security has suffered as a result of that. So, I’m on a steep learning curve to move away from those business practices and towards a system that prioritises your privacy, the security of your data, and ethical business practice.

What Are the Challenges?

The key challenges are;

Pricing. Google wins on every front here by offering integrated business platforms at a super low price. I'm a solo business owner with chronic fatigue and a limited ability to work, so it's no small thing.

Coding. A lot of this change requires moving towards open source platforms, and demands a pretty fucking high level of understanding of coding and web development. I’m a basic bitch on those fronts, but I’m working at it and learning as I go.

Time, energy, and attention. This is a huge investment of my time, energy and attention, and requires research to identify alternatives, learning how to use them, in many cases learning specific coding techniques and tools to integrate the platform into my workflows, trouble shooting glitches, rebuilding work flows to make sure I am still doing all the things, transitioning clients from the old to new systems and making sure I have clear instructions and support for them.

Client ease. It’s cool for me to be changing online ecosystems, but I also need to do that in a way that doesn’t change how shit works for you. You know? Some of you won’t care, some of you won’t know, and some just don’t have the technical skill to work outside of the familiar interactions with places like Google and Facebook. That means I need to make things work in a way that feels exactly the same to you!

Automation. The most popular platforms automate a lot of tasks, like when you book an appointment it updates my client database. The automation requires access, which reduces privacy and security (and increases the points of contact of data collection). In the absence of that, I have to learn to code the automations myself to happen on my own laptop, or do those things manually. I'm doing both right now, moving gradually from manual to little moments of self-coded magic!

What Have You Done About It?

What Are Your Plans for Change?

What Type of Information Do I Collect?

When you visit my website, there are two types of information that I might collect; personal information that you knowingly choose to share, and web site use information that is collected as you browse my website.

Personal Information You Choose to Provide (Online)

You might knowingly choose to provide information for some of the following reasons;

Registration Information

to register for an online program or newsletter
to book a Meet & Greet session
to use a contact form to ask me a question

Credit Card or Bank Account Information

If you choose to buy a digital product, or to pay me for coaching services including coaching, online workshops or programs, embodiment classes or other services, then you might need to enter personal information into the payment platform. That might include things like;

Web Browsing and Website Use Information

Google Ads Data

I use Google Ads to promote my services to people who are actively looking for a relationship coach or marriage counselor.

Google's advertising process relies on the installation of a "pixel" on my website. This is a small piece of code which is loaded when a user visits a website, and is used to track user behaviour including browsing and purchasing.

Some of the information gathered by a tracking pixel can include;

operating system
type of website (like desktop, tablet, or mobile)
time & date of visit
activities on website during a session (pages viewed and time on page)
IP address
whether it is the first visit, or a repeat visit

The use of a tracking pixel allows collection of deidentified user demographics including;

age
gender
geographic location
shopping profile.

To read a more complete explanation Google's privacy policies, go here.

Client Information

For my couples therapy clients I collect the following personal information as part of my intake process;

I also ask you to complete a detailed questionnaire which includes questions about your relationship, your mental and physical wellness, and your goals for our work.

This information provides important context for our work together and is common practice in any kind of therapy intake.

My Actions

2019

Deleted Twitter account.

LOL, when it was still Twitter, pre-Musk.

2019

2020

Fuck Facebook

Deleted Facebook account.

2020

July 2021

Marketing for Weirdos

This online course with anti-capitalist coach Bear Hebert is brilliant. They helped me understand the fuckery, and provided wonderful suggestions for how to do things differently.

July 2021

November 2022

Left Instagram

Stopped using Instagram. I still have an account as a ‘place holder’ to direct people to my website, but no longer use it to scroll, follow, or otherwise give my attention.

I don’t use social media for business, or personally.

November 2022

Dec 2023

Started Google Ads

Started running Google Ads.

I’m not super happy about this as I am deeply fundamentally opposed to the way that works. AND, I need to make money to survive within capitalism. There are a bunch of ways to market that I’ve tried & hated (content marketing, social media, business networking) so I’m still trying to find another way.

For now, it’s this.

Dec 2023

Feb 2024

Started Using Obsidian

Started using Obsidian as a personal knowledge management system. Ask me about this, I’m obsessed and I’ll tell you all the things!

This is what moved me towards open source, privacy oriented, ethically aligned software and platforms. My endless gratitude to Akua for this. ENDLESS.

Feb 2024

March 2024

Installed Linux (Fuck Microsoft)

Ditched windows OS, and installed Linux Mint Cinnamon Edge on my laptop.

Bro, I was just SO SICK of the updates and popups and slow slow slow system doing background shit I didn't want and couldn't change. Life changing my friends, and a whole new world. Also, a lot to learn.

March 2024

My Plans

April 2024

Change Scheduler: Acuity to cal.com

I love the philosophy of cal.com, and it’s also free. These kind of platform moves are never easy breezy, and I’m having to work out how to do my billing differently, set up all of the calendars and appointments, and emails again, plus test and trouble shoot the workflows, so hopefully that will be working by mid-May

April 2024

May 2024

Use Obsidian not Trello

I currently use Trello to store my client data and track session progress. I'm moving to an Obsidian vault which contains data only stored locally on my laptop.

This process I expect will take a few months as I have extensive automation and workflows within Trello and I need to make sure that I have continuity of service for my clients, and that the transition is smooth.

May 2024

June 2024

Move from Google to Proton Mail

Look, I had the slight paranoid idea that maybe Google didn’t respect email privacy, but I didn’t realise the extent to which that happened. Basically, all your online shopping receipts, conversations with friends, family, and colleagues, and other data stored in your gmail account is mined for advertising and profile building.

I’m fucking furious about that, on my behalf and yours. So I’m moving to Proton Mail and Proton Calendar where the workflows will be much more complicated and I’ll have less access to automation, but privacy and security are centred. You can read their privacy policy here.