Terms and Conditions

Terms and Conditions

Age

To receive services through this site, you must be 18 years of age or services initiated by an adult who is taking responsibility for the process.

Privacy

This site will not sell, give or trade your personal information or email to a third party. Your e-mail and my responses are the only records kept in my computer files about your situation and are confidential. As in any face to face office therapy situation, the same procedures would apply in regards to releasing this information. By law any citizen, including helping professionals, have a duty to report situations of child protection or threats of harm to yourself or others; such issues around safety for you or others override the issues of confidentiality and will be released to the appropriate authorities.

It is important to remember that there are limits to privacy with any e-mail sent through the internet. E-mails on the internet can be subject to errors occurring within computer systems, human error and networks resulting in e-mails going astray accidentally. Privacy in transit over the internet cannot be guaranteed. A work computer is clearly not strictly confidential. It would not be advisable to send e-mails from a computer that is designated for work. Even on a home computer, other family or friends might have access to your files. You need to take your own precautions on your personal computer to ensure confidentiality of your private e-mail as this may be the most likely danger of breeches of privacy. You need to evaluate your own privacy situation with your computer records and may want to print files and delete them off your computer.

Mental Health Issues

This site is not suitable for you if you suffer from a serious mental health disorder such as schizophrenia, manic-depression, PTSD or dissociation. These disorders require local face to face mental health assessment and treatment. I do not provide assessment, diagnosis or treatment of psychiatric conditions.

E-therapy is not intensive psychotherapy and is  not intended to substitute for mental health therapy, nor does it address any issues related to medication. Medication needs to be managed by your family doctor or psychiatrist.

This site is not able to respond to crises such as child protection, trauma, domestic violence or sexual assault.

This site is unable to respond to your needs if you feel suicidal or homicidal. E-mail counseling would be insufficient for all these types of crises.

In situations where trauma has occurred, a full mental health assessment or intensive therapy is needed. At times of a mental health crisis, you need face to face crisis intervention with a local mental health professional. If you feel distress to the point of harming yourself or others, you need to tell someone right away. Contact your local crisis line, family doctor or hospital emergency department immediately.

Responsibility

You are responsible for your own actions. Any decisions or actions taken that you feel are a result of these services remains solely your responsibility. If there are links or advertisements from other site, they are not endorsed by this site. You must evaluate site links by their own merit.