Terms & Conditions

THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS

The following are the Terms and Conditions (the "Agreement") which govern your access and use of our website (the "Website") and your participation in therapeutic services with a Caring Connected Care Provider (collectively the "Care Provider Services"). The Website may be provided or be accessible via multiple websites or applications whether owned and/or operated by us or by third parties, including, without limitation, the website www.caringconnected.com and any web browsers used to access it.

The terms "we", "us", "our" or similar used in this Agreement refer to Caring Connected, LLC (the "Company").

By accessing or using the Website and/or by entering into, engaging, receiving, purchasing, and/or participating in Care Provider Services, you are entering into this Agreement. You should read this Agreement carefully before starting to use the Website or engage in Care Provider Services. If you do not agree to be bound to any term of this Agreement, you must not access the Website or engage in Care Provider Services.

CARE PROVIDERS AND CARE PROVIDER SERVICES

We and our Website may be used to connect you with a Care Provider who will provide therapeutic and other related services to you (“Care Provider Services”).

Care Provider Credentials and Experience

We require every Care Provider providing Care Provider Services to be an accredited, trained, and experienced Licensed and/or Registered Psychologist/Educational Psychologist (AP, RP, LP, LEP; whether holding a PsyD or PhD), Licensed and/or Registered Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT, LMFT), Licensed and/or Registered Clinical Social Worker (ACSW, LCSW), Licensed and/or Registered Professional Clinical Counselor (APCC, LPCC), or similar applicable recognized professional certification based on the Care Provider's state and/or jurisdiction. Care Providers must have a relevant academic degree in their field, at least 2,000 hours of hands-on experience, and have to be qualified and certified by their respective professional board after successfully completing the necessary education, exams, training and practice requirements as applicable to their level of credential. We also require our Care Providers to have undergone at least 20 hours of their own personal psychotherapy.

Care Provider and Company Roles

Our Care Providers are independent providers who are neither our employees nor agents nor representatives. The Company's role is limited to enabling the Care Provider Services while the Care Provider's Services themselves are the responsibility of the Care Provider who provides them. If you feel the Services provided by the Care Provider do not fit your needs or expectations, you may change to a different Care Provider who provides Services through the Company.

Care Provider Services May Not Be Right for Everyone

While we hope the Care Provider Services are beneficial to you, you understand, agree and acknowledge that they may not be the appropriate solution for everyone’s needs and that they may not be appropriate for every particular situation and/or, in the case of remote treatment, may not be a complete substitute for a face-to-face examination and/or care in every particular situation.

If We Can't Work with You

If for any reason we believe we can't help with your given situation, we will be honest with you about that and do our best to provide you with contact information for someone who we think might be able to help you better. We do not make any promises that we will be able to accept you as a client nor do we take any responsibility for arranging outside treatment if, for any reason, you do not participate in treatment through our Company. Additionally, if you choose your own Care Provider instead of letting us attempt to match you, we will do our best to accommodate your request but can not guarantee you will get to work with your chosen Care Provider.

We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone. 

We do not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual   orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, hiring and firing of staff, selection of volunteers and vendors, and provision of services. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, clients, volunteers, subcontractors and vendors.

Associate Care Providers and Supervising Care Providers

AP, RP, AMFT, APCC, ACSW, and other Registered Associate Care Providers are working under supervision and license of fully licensed Care Providers ("Supervisors") who are licensed by the State of California's Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) or equivalent body in other states. The Supervisor/Care Provider are a "treatment team," which means that information shared with your Care Provider might also be shared with the Supervisor per BBS clinical supervision guidelines.

Legal Limits to Confidentiality

Information shared with us is confidential and will not be disclosed to anyone without prior written permission from you, except as required or permissible by law. 

Disclosure may be required by law in any of the following circumstances:

·      When there is reasonable suspicion of abuse or neglect of an elder, dependent adult, or minor child 

·      When a client communicates a threat of harm to self, others, or property.

·      When disclosure is required pursuant to court or legal proceedings. 

·      Parents'/legal guardians' right to know their minor child's progress (unless the minor is age 12 or older and elected to enter treatment without his/her parent/legal guardian's consent or knowledge, as allowed by each state's applicable laws). 

Disclosure of limited information is permissible by law in any of the following circumstances:

·      When a client has an outstanding balance owed for services provided. In this circumstance, we reserve the right to employ an outside agency to assist in the collection of any unpaid balances (which would require us to share a client's contact information and balance due with the collections agency). 

·      When one or more people ("the treatment unit") are seen for therapy and/or counseling and have consented to a "No Secrets Policy" between themselves and their treating Care Provider, information shared with the Care Provider by one member of the treatment unit when the other member(s) are not present may at some point be disclosed to the other member(s). Any disclosure would be based on the Care Provider's clinical judgment of what is in the best interest of the whole treatment unit and the standard of care within the therapeutic process. The Care Provider will make every reasonable effort to warn the client if information he/she shares falls under the "No Secrets Policy."

Electronic Treatment Formats

When treatment occurs by any electronic means, there are potential risks, consequences, and benefits, including but not limited to, possible issues of confidentiality, clinical limitations, transmission difficulties, and ability to respond to emergencies. We are not responsible for technological failures or transmission difficulties, but we will always do our best to keep our systems running smoothly and without issue. Clients should be aware that phone, text, or video treatment is not a substitute for face-to-face therapy and could expose their privacy depending on where and how they choose to engage in electronic treatment services.

Though session frequency (and the resulting amount of money spent on treatment) is always up to the client, the Care Provider may share an independent, professional, clinical opinion as to how much he/she believes a client should attend treatment for the client's best interest or progress.

Possible Benefits and/or Risks

Therapy and/or counseling will seek to meet the established goals of all members involved. A major benefit that may be gained from participating in therapy and/or counseling is a better ability to cope with or self-manage difficulties or issues that arise within personal, romantic, family, occupational, educational, legal, or other interpersonal relationships. Adjusting to various life transitions or events, such as career changes, grief/loss, traumas, addictions, and illnesses are also significant areas worth exploration.  Additionally, examining the cognitive, behavioral, or mood-based patterns formed in one's early childhood, and/or more recently, can help clients determine which elements of their lives continue to serve and/or hinder their progress and personal growth and development.

Although there is an expectation of benefitting from participating in therapy and/or counseling, there is no guarantee that this will occur. Sessions may deal with sensitive or difficult topics, elicit uncomfortable emotions, or lead to individual decisions that can be, at the least, temporarily disruptive for oneself or others. Therapy may also change a client's perspective or attitude toward their experiences, values, beliefs, self, or other people and their experiences, values, or beliefs, or selves.

Duration and Termination

There is no set minimum or maximum number of sessions, nor is there a guarantee surrounding the length of the treatment process. You may inquire about the nature, length, cost, and consequences of treatment at any time, and you are free to discontinue treatment at any time.

The Care Provider also reserves the right to discontinue treatment at any time, for any reason, including, but not limited to: non-payment of fees, failure of the client to benefit from treatment, the Care Provider being physically or emotionally unable to continue, ethical conflicts, conflicts of interest, closure of the practice, the Care Provider moving away, or if there is a perceived threat of personal safety. 

If services are discontinued by either party, the Company will attempt to provide appropriate outside referrals for your continued care by another clinician. 

Public Settings

If you accidentally cross paths with your Care Provider and/or any Company official in a   public setting (e.g., shops, restaurants, public events, or within a social media capacity), they will not acknowledge you. This policy is in place to maintain professional boundaries and protect your confidentiality by not revealing publicly to others that a therapeutic relationship exists. 

Rates and Financial Policies and Procedures

Your rate per session is set before your first session (either during your consultation call and/or once you enter into a formal agreement with the Company to receive Care Provider Services). Payment is accepted at the beginning of each session in person by cash or personal check, or before each session online via credit/debit/FSA/HSA card. All payments must be made out to Caring Connected, LLC. Please do NOT make checks out to your Care Provider. There will be a $25.00 charge for any returned checks or undepositable funds. As a courtesy, you will not be charged late fees if payment is made within one week after a session occurs; however, for any outstanding balances older than one week, you will be charged a late fee of $10.00 (per additional week). Caring Connected also reserves the right to employ an outside agency to assist in the collection of any unpaid balances (which would require Caring Connected to share your contact information and balance due with the collections agency).

Care Provider rates are reviewed on an annual basis and adjusted based on inflation, costs of the practice, new services offered, and/or additional credentials obtained. Rates are subject to change at any time; however, your Care Provider will attempt to provide you with reasonable notice if changes in rates or policies occur.

Any communication exchanged with your Care Provider outside of session (i.e., increments; including, but not limited to crisis response, coordinated care with other professionals, client advocacy, phone calls, video sessions, e-mail correspondence, and text communication. If any legal or court proceedings require your Care Provider's time, you will be billed at twice your specific established rate.

Cancellation Policy

24-hour notice is required for cancelations of scheduled appointments or you will be charged your full specific established session fee. When an appointment is scheduled, you are reserving that time and space with your Care Provider; thus, if you miss an appointment, that time becomes unusable for other clients. Exceptions for extenuating circumstances will be granted on a case-by-case basis.

Insurance

Insurance is not accepted; thus, it is your responsibility to pay for the full cost of your treatment. However, reimbursement for your treatment may be possible, depending on your insurance coverage. It is your responsibility to check with your insurance company to determine if any reimbursement is possible. Since Caring Connected does not accept insurance, all services are considered "out-of-network."

If your insurance company does offer reimbursement, you may request a superbill as a receipt for services rendered. Superbills include date(s) of service, relevant billing codes, and insurance-required information about diagnoses and the treating Care Provider/Supervisor.

Care Provider Availability

Your Care Provider will try his/her best to return your communications within two (2) business days. This policy is in place to maintain personal and professional boundaries, encourage your independence, and set an example of psychologically healthy communication practices. 

In our technologically advanced time, many people feel obligated to be constantly available and immediately responsive. This increasingly and unfortunately common expectation (to always be available) is not psychologically healthy, or realistically achievable, and does not allow for truly relaxing or quality time with the self or others. If your Care Provider becomes aware of an emergency situation, he/she will attempt to respond as promptly as possible. 

Emergency Situations

IF YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT SUICIDE OR IF YOU ARE CONSIDERING HARMING YOURSELF OR OTHERS OR IF YOU FEEL THAT ANY OTHER PERSON MAY BE IN ANY DANGER OR IF YOU HAVE ANY MEDICAL EMERGENCY, YOU MUST IMMEDIATELY CALL THE EMERGENCY SERVICE NUMBER (911 IN THE US) AND NOTIFY THE RELEVANT AUTHORITIES. SEEK IMMEDIATE IN PERSON ASSISTANCE. THE WEBSITE AND/OR CARE PROVIDER SERVICES IS NOT DESIGNED FOR USE IN ANY OF THE AFOREMENTIONED CASES AND THE CARE PROVIDERS/COMPANY/WESITE CANNOT PROVIDE THE ASSISTANCE REQUIRED IN ANY OF THE AFOREMENTIONED CASES.

THE WEBSITE IS NOT INTENDED FOR THE PROVISION OF CLINICAL DIAGNOSIS REQUIRING AN IN-PERSON EVALUATION AND YOU SHOULD NOT USE IT IF YOU NEED ANY OFFICIAL DOCUMENTATION OR APPROVALS FOR PURPOSES SUCH   AS, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, COURT-ORDERED COUNSELING OR EMOTIONAL SERVICE DOG CERTIFICATION. THE WEBSITE IS ALSO NOT INTENDED FOR ANY INFORMATION REGARDING WHICH DRUGS OR MEDICAL TREATMENT MAY BE APPROPRIATE FOR YOU, AND YOU SHOULD DISREGARD ANY SUCH ADVICE IF DELIVERED THROUGH THE WEBSITE.

DO NOT DISREGARD, AVOID, OR DELAY IN OBTAINING IN-PERSON CARE FROM YOUR DOCTOR OR OTHER QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL BECAUSE OF INFORMATION OR ADVICE YOU RECEIVED THROUGH THE WEBSITE.

Your Care Provider will attempt to return any emergency client communications as soon as is practically possible, BUT DO NOT WAIT FOR THEIR COMMUNICATION TO SEEK HELP.

 PRIVACY AND SECURITY 

Protecting and safeguarding any information you provide to the Website and/or Company is extremely important to us. Information about our security and privacy practices can be found in our Privacy Policy (the "Privacy Policy").

BY AGREEING TO THIS AGREEMENT AND/OR BY USING OUR WEBSITE/CARE PROVIDER SERVICES, YOU ARE ALSO AGREEING TO THE TERMS OF THE PRIVACY POLICY. THE PRIVACY POLICY IS INCORPORATED INTO AND DEEMED A PART OF THIS AGREEMENT. THE SAME RULES THAT APPLY REGARDING CHANGES AND REVISIONS OF THIS AGREEMENT ALSO APPLY TO CHANGES AND REVISIONS OF THE PRIVACY POLICY.

THIRD-PARTY CONTENT

The Website may contain other content, products or services which are offered or provided by third parties ("Third-Party Content"), links to Third-Party Content (including but not limited to links to other websites) or advertisements which are related to Third-Party Content. We have no responsibility for the creation of any such Third-Party Content, including (but not limited to) any related products, practices, terms or policies, and we will not be liable for any damage or loss caused by any Third-Party Content.

DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY AND LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY

YOU HEREBY RELEASE US AND AGREE TO HOLD US HARMLESS FROM ANY AND ALL CAUSES OF ACTION AND CLAIMS OF ANY NATURE RESULTING FROM THE CARE PROVIDER SERVICES, WEBSITE, OR THE COMPANY, INCLUDING (WITHOUT LIMITATION) ANY ACT, OMISSION, OPINION, RESPONSE, ADVICE, SUGGESTION, INFORMATION AND/OR SERVICE OF ANY CARE PROVIDER AND/OR ANY OTHER CONTENT OR INFORMATION ACCESSIBLE THROUGH THE COMPANY OR WEBSITE.

YOU UNDERSTAND, AGREE AND ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE WEBSITE AND CONTENT THEREIN IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO MERCHANTABILITY, NON-INFRINGEMENT, SECURITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR ACCURACY. THE USE OF THE WEBSITE AND CARE PROVIDER SERVICES IS AT YOUR OWN RISK. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT OF THE LAW, WE EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, WHETHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED.

YOU UNDERSTAND, AGREE AND ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE SHALL NOT BE LIABLE TO YOU OR TO ANY THIRD PARTY FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, SPECIAL, PUNITIVE OR EXEMPLARY DAMAGES.

YOU UNDERSTAND, AGREE AND ACKNOWLEDGE THAT OUR AGGREGATE LIABILITY FOR DAMAGES ARISING WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT AND ANY AND ALL USE OF THE WEBSITE OR CARE PROVIDER SERVICES WILL NOT EXCEED THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF MONEY PAID BY YOU TO THE COMPANY IN THE 3 MONTHS PERIOD PRIOR TO THE DATE OF THE CLAIM.

If the applicable law does not allow the limitation of liability as set forth above, the limitation will be deemed modified solely to the extent necessary to comply with applicable law.

This section (limitation of liability) shall survive the termination or expiration of this Agreement.

YOUR CLIENT PORTAL ACCOUNT, REPRESENTATIONS, CONDUCT, AND COMMITMENTS 

You hereby confirm that you are legally able to consent to receive Care Provider Services, or have the consent of a parent or guardian, and that you are legally able to enter into a contract.

You hereby confirm and agree that all the information that you provided to or through the Website, Client Portal, Care Provider, and/or Company, and the information that you will provide to or through the Website, Client Portal, Care Provider, and/or Company in the future, is accurate, true, current and complete. Furthermore, you agree that during the term of this Agreement you will make sure to maintain and update this information so it will continue to be accurate, current and complete.

You agree, confirm and acknowledge that you are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your password and any other security information related to your Client Portal account (collectively "Account Access"). We advise you to change your password frequently and to take extra care in safeguarding your password.

You agree to notify us immediately of any unauthorized use of your Account Access or any other concern for breach of your account security.

You agree, confirm and acknowledge that we will not be liable for any loss or damage that incurred as a result of someone else using your account, either with or without your consent and/or knowledge.

You agree, confirm and acknowledge that you are solely and fully liable and responsible for all activities performed using your Account Access. You further acknowledge and agree that we will hold you liable and responsible for any damage or loss incurred as a result of the use of your Account Access by any person whether authorized by you or not, and you agree to indemnify us for any such damage or loss.

You agree and commit not to use the account or Account Access of any other person for any reason.

You agree and confirm that your use of the Website, Company, and Care Provider Services, are for your own personal use only and that you are not using the Website, Company, or the Care Provider Services for or behalf of any other person or organization.

You agree and commit not to interfere with or disrupt, or attempt to interfere with or disrupt, any of our systems, services, servers, networks or infrastructure, or any of the Website's systems, services, servers, networks or infrastructure, including without limitation obtaining unauthorized access to the aforementioned process/items.

You agree and commit not to make any use of the Company and/or Website for the posting, sending or delivering of either of the following: (a) unsolicited email and/or advertisement or promotion of goods and services; (b) malicious software or code; (c) unlawful, harassing, privacy invading, abusive, threatening, vulgar, obscene, racist or potentially harmful content; (d) any content that infringes a third party right including intellectual property rights; (e) any content that may cause damage to a third party; (f) any content which may constitute, cause or encourage a criminal action or violate any applicable law

You agree and commit not to violate any applicable local, state, national or international law, statute, ordinance, rule, regulation or ethical code in relation to your use of the Website and your relationship with the Care Providers and the Company.

If you receive any file from us or from a Care Provider, whether through the Client Portal or otherwise, you agree to check and scan this file for any virus or malicious software prior to opening or using this file.

You will indemnify us, defend us, and hold us harmless from and against any and all claims, losses, causes of action, demands, liabilities, costs or expenses (including, but not limited to, litigation and reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses) arising out of or relating to any of the following: (a) your access to or use of the Website; (b) any actions made with your Client Portal account or Account Access whether by you or by someone else; (c) your violation of any of the provisions of this Agreement; (d) non-payment for any of the services (including Care Provider Services) provided through the Website, in-person, by phone, text, e-mail, or any other means; (e) your violation of any third party right, including, without limitation, any intellectual property right, publicity, confidentiality, property or privacy right. This clause shall survive expiration or termination of this Agreement. 

You confirm and agree to use only credit cards or other payment means (collectively “Payment Means”) which you are duly and fully authorized to use, and that all payment related information that you provided and will provide in the future, to or through the Website, Company, Client Portal, and/or Care Provider, is accurate, current and correct and will continue to be accurate, current and correct.

You agree to pay all fees and charges associated with your Client Portal account and/or Care Provider Services on a timely basis and according to the fees schedule, the terms and the rates as published and agreed to in your signed and completed Informed Consent for Care Provider Services. By providing us with your Payment Means you authorize us to bill and charge you through that Payment Means and you agree to maintain valid Payment Means information in your Client Portal account information and/or by providing that information to us in another fashion.

If you have any concerns about a bill or a payment, please contact us immediately by sending an email to billing@caringconnected.com.We will evaluate your issue on a case-by-case basis and, at our discretion, take steps to resolve any issue, including but not limited to helping you find a new Care Provider and issuing partial or full refunds when applicable.

MODIFICATIONS, TERMINATION, INTERRUPTION, AND DISRUPTIONS TO OUR WEBSITE

You understand, agree and acknowledge that we may modify, suspend, disrupt or discontinue the Website, any part of the Website, or the use of the Website, whether to all clients or to you specifically, at any time with or without notice to you. You agree and acknowledge that we will not be liable for any of the aforementioned actions or for any losses or damages that are caused by any of the aforementioned actions.

The Website and certain electronically related portions of Care Provider Services provided by us depend on various factors such as software, hardware and tools, either our own or those owned and/or operated by our contractors and suppliers. While we make commercially reasonable efforts to ensure the Website’s reliability and accessibility, you understand and agree that no website can be 100% reliable and accessible and so we cannot guarantee that access to the Website will be uninterrupted or that it will be accessible, consistent, timely or error-free at all times.

NOTICES

We may provide notices or other communications to you regarding this agreement or any aspect of the Website, Company, and/or Care Provider Services, by email to the email address that we have on record, by regular mail, or by posting it online. The date of receipt shall be deemed the date on which such notice is given. Notices sent to us must be delivered by email to legal@caringconnected.com.

IMPORTANT NOTES ABOUT OUR AGREEMENT

This Agreement and our relationship with you shall both be interpreted solely in accordance with the laws of the State of California excluding any rules governing choice of laws.

You irrevocably agree that the exclusive venue for any action or proceeding arising out of relating to this Agreement or our relationship with you, regardless of theory, shall be the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California, or the state courts located in Los Angeles County in California. You irrevocably consent to the personal jurisdiction of the aforementioned courts and hereby waive any objection to the exercise of jurisdiction by the aforementioned courts.

THIS AGREEMENT CONSTITUTES THE ENTIRE AGREEMENT BETWEEN YOU AND US. YOU CONFIRM THAT YOU HAVE NOT RELIED UPON ANY PROMISES OR REPRESENTATIONS BY US EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN THIS AGREEMENT.

We may change this Agreement by posting modifications on the Website. Unless otherwise specified by us, all modifications shall be effective upon posting. Therefore, you are encouraged to check the terms of this Agreement frequently. The last update date of this Agreement is posted at the bottom of the Agreement. By using the Website after the changes become effective, you agree to be bound by such changes to the Agreement. If you do not agree to the changes, you must terminate access to the Website and participation in its services or any effected Company or Care Provider Services.

We may freely transfer or assign this Agreement or any of its obligations hereunder.

The paragraph headings in this Agreement are solely for the sake of convenience and will not be applied in the interpretation of this Agreement.

If any provision of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be illegal, invalid, unenforceable, or otherwise contrary to law, the remaining provisions of this Agreement will remain in full force and effect.

To clear any doubt, all clauses regarding limitations of liabilities and indemnification shall survive the termination or expiration of this Agreement.

Last Updated: March 13, 2024