Waldrup Somatic Method — Privacy Policy
Effective date:
This Privacy Policy explains how Waldrup Somatic Method™ ("WSM," "we," "us," or "our") collects, uses, shares, and protects your personal information when you visit waldrupsomaticmethod.com, enroll in our online courses, download our free resources, take our quizzes, or sign up for our email and text messages (together, the "Services").
WSM is operated by Waldrup Somatic Method LLC, If you have any questions about this policy, contact us at [email protected]
By using our Services, you agree to the practices described in this policy. If you do not agree, please do not use the Services.
Who We Are
WSM provides online education in canine somatics and nervous system regulation, including Dog Somatics 101: Foundations, Both Ends of the Leash, and the Pro Series+ Professional Certification in Canine Nervous System Regulation. Our courses are hosted on Thinkific. We are not a veterinary or medical provider, and our courses are educational only.
Information We Collect
We collect only what we need to deliver our courses, support you, and keep you informed.
Information you give us directly
- Account and enrollment details: name, email address, password, and any profile details you add when you create a Thinkific account or enroll in a course.
- Purchase details: billing name, billing address, and transaction records. Card payments are processed by our payment providers (such as Stripe or PayPal). We do not see or store your full card number.
- Contact details for marketing: email address and, if you opt in, your mobile phone number.
- Quiz and form responses: answers you give in our quizzes, surveys, and lead-magnet sign-up forms (for example, "The First 72 Hours" guide).
- Scholarship and certification applications: information you provide when applying for a scholarship or the Pro Series+ certification, such as your background, experience, location, written responses, and details shared in an interview.
- Course activity you submit: assignments, worksheets, practicum materials, discussion posts, and messages to our team. This may include information or videos about your dog.
- Communications: anything you send us by email, social media, or support request.
Information collected automatically
- Course progress: lessons completed, quiz results, completion dates, and certificates earned, recorded by Thinkific.
- Device and usage data: IP address, browser type, device type, pages visited, referring site, and time spent, collected through cookies and similar technologies.
- Email and SMS engagement: whether you open emails, click links, or reply to texts.
Information from third parties
- Payment confirmations from payment processors.
- Basic profile information if you sign in using a third-party account, where offered.
- Analytics and advertising data from platforms such as Meta (Instagram/Facebook) and Google, if you interact with our ads or content.
How We Use Your Information
We use your information to:
- Create and manage your account, enroll you in courses, and deliver course content and certificates.
- Process payments, refunds, and payment plans.
- Review scholarship and certification applications, check eligibility (including whether an applicant is already enrolled in a course), and run interviews.
- Support practicum supervision, mentorship sessions, and, for certified practitioners who join, our practitioner referral network.
- Respond to questions and provide customer support.
- Send transactional messages, such as receipts, enrollment confirmations, and course updates.
- Send marketing emails and text messages if you have consented (see the next section).
- Group contacts by interest or course purchase so the content we send is relevant to you.
- Understand how our website and courses are used so we can improve them.
- Measure and improve our advertising.
- Prevent fraud, protect our content, and enforce our Terms of Service.
- Meet legal, tax, and accounting obligations.
We do not sell your personal information, and we do not use it for automated decisions that have legal or similarly significant effects on you.
Legal bases (for visitors in the EU, UK, and similar regions)
We process your information based on: performance of a contract (delivering courses you buy); your consent (marketing emails, SMS, and non-essential cookies); our legitimate interests (improving our Services, preventing fraud, and reviewing applications); and legal obligations (tax and accounting records).
Email and Text Message (SMS) Communications
We send marketing messages only with your consent, and you can stop them at any time.
Email. When you sign up for a free resource, take a quiz, or buy a course and choose to receive updates, we may send you newsletters, educational content, and offers. Every marketing email includes an unsubscribe link. Unsubscribing from marketing does not stop transactional emails about courses you have purchased.
Text messages. If you provide your mobile number and check the box or answer "yes" to receive texts (for example, in our quiz), you agree to receive recurring automated marketing and informational text messages from WSM at that number. Consent is not a condition of any purchase. Message frequency varies. Message and data rates may apply.
- Reply STOP to any message to opt out. You will receive one confirmation text and no further messages.
- Reply HELP for help, or contact us at [email protected].
- Carriers are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages.
We never sell or share your mobile number or SMS opt-in consent with third parties for their own marketing purposes. Mobile information is shared only with the service providers that deliver our messages.
We follow applicable anti-spam and messaging laws, including Canada's Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL), the U.S. CAN-SPAM Act, and the U.S. Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA).
How We Share Your Information
We share personal information only with service providers who help us run WSM, and only as needed for them to do that work.
Provider | Purpose |
|---|---|
Thinkific | Course hosting, student accounts, enrollment, and progress tracking |
Stripe / PayPal (via Thinkific) | Payment processing |
Brevo | Email and SMS marketing and contact management |
Interact | Quizzes and lead capture |
Zapier | Moving data between our tools (for example, adding new buyers to the right email list) |
Google Workspace | Email, documents, and scholarship application review |
Zoom | Live mentorship sessions, interviews, and practicum supervision |
Meta and Google | Website analytics and advertising measurement |
These providers may only use your information to provide services to us and are required to protect it.
We may also share information:
- Within WSM: with our instructors, mentors, and team members who need it to teach, review applications, or support you.
- Practitioner referral network: if you are a certified practitioner who joins our referral network, we will share the details you approve (such as your name, location, and contact information) with people seeking a practitioner. If you request a practitioner referral, we will share your contact details with the practitioner we match you with.
- For legal reasons: when required by law, court order, or to protect the rights, safety, or property of WSM, our students, or others.
- Business transfers: if WSM is involved in a merger, sale, or reorganization, your information may transfer to the new owner under this policy.
- With your consent: for any other purpose we tell you about when you agree to it (for example, featuring your testimonial).
Cookies and Tracking
We and our providers use cookies, pixels, and similar tools to keep you signed in, remember your preferences, understand site traffic, and measure our ads. Essential cookies are needed for the site and courses to work. You can block or delete other cookies through your browser settings or our cookie banner, where available. Blocking some cookies may affect how the site works. You can also limit ad personalization through your Meta and Google account settings.
How Long We Keep Information
We keep personal information only as long as needed for the purposes in this policy:
- Student accounts and course records: while your account is active, plus up to [3] years so we can verify completions and certifications.
- Purchase records: as long as tax and accounting laws require (generally 6–7 years).
- Marketing contacts: until you unsubscribe or stop engaging, after which we remove or archive your details.
- Scholarship and certification applications: up to [2] years after the decision, then deleted.
How We Protect Information
We use reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards, including encrypted connections (HTTPS), access controls limited to team members who need the data, and reputable providers with their own security programs. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security. If a breach affects your personal information, we will notify you and the relevant authorities as the law requires.
International Transfers
WSM serves students worldwide, and our providers may store or process information in Canada, the United States, the European Union, or other countries. These countries may have different data protection laws than where you live. Where required, we rely on appropriate safeguards, such as standard contractual clauses, for these transfers.
Your Privacy Rights
You can ask us to access, correct, or delete your personal information, and to stop marketing to you, at any time.
Depending on where you live, you may also have the right to:
- Receive a copy of your information in a portable format.
- Withdraw consent you previously gave.
- Object to or restrict certain processing.
- Opt out of targeted advertising.
- Not be treated differently for exercising your rights.
Canada: You have rights under PIPEDA and applicable provincial laws, including Quebec's Law 25. You may complain to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada.
United States: Residents of California, Colorado, Virginia, Connecticut, Texas, and other states with privacy laws have the rights above as their state law provides. We do not sell or "share" personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising as defined under California law, other than standard ad-measurement pixels you can control through cookie settings. You may use an authorized agent to make a request.
EU, UK, and similar regions: You may lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority.
To make a request, email [email protected]. We may need to verify your identity before acting, and we will respond within the time the law requires (usually 30 days). Deleting your account removes access to purchased courses and certificates.
Children's Privacy
Our Services are intended for adults. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 16. If you believe a child has given us information, contact us and we will delete it.
Links to Other Sites
Our site and courses may link to other websites, such as Instagram or YouTube. We are not responsible for their privacy practices, so please review their policies.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this policy from time to time. When we do, we will change the effective date at the top. If changes are significant, we will notify you by email or a notice on our website.
Contact Us
Waldrup Somatic Method™
Email: [email protected]