Terms of Service

Welcome to the The Journey Counseling Services website. By accessing or using our website at www.thejourneycs.com (the "Site"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). Please read them carefully before using our Site or services.

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using our Site, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms and our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree to these Terms, please do not use our Site.

2. Description of Services

The Journey Counseling Services provides professional counseling and therapy services. Our Site offers information about our services, allows you to contact us, and provides access to our online appointment booking system through SimplePractice.

3. Not a Substitute for Professional Care

If you are experiencing a mental health emergency, please call 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), 911, or go to your nearest emergency room.

4. AI Chatbot Disclaimer

Our website features an AI-powered chatbot assistant designed to answer general questions about our services and practice. Please understand that:

• The chatbot does not provide clinical advice, diagnosis, or treatment
• Responses are generated by artificial intelligence and may not always be accurate
• The chatbot is not a replacement for consultation with a licensed therapist
• You should not share sensitive personal health information through the chatbot
• In case of emergency, contact 988 or 911 immediately

5. Appointment Booking

Our online appointment booking is provided through SimplePractice, a third-party HIPAA-compliant platform. By using the booking system, you also agree to SimplePractice's terms of service and privacy policy. Appointment availability, scheduling, cancellation policies, and fees are communicated separately through SimplePractice and during your intake process.

6. User Responsibilities

When using our Site, you agree to:

• Provide accurate and truthful information
• Use the Site only for lawful purposes
• Not attempt to interfere with the proper operation of the Site
• Not impersonate any person or entity
• Not use automated systems to access the Site without permission

7. Intellectual Property

All content on this Site, including text, graphics, logos, images, and software, is the property of The Journey Counseling Services or its content suppliers and is protected by United States and international copyright laws. You may not reproduce, distribute, modify, or create derivative works from any content without our express written permission.

8. Third-Party Links

Our Site may contain links to third-party websites or services that are not owned or controlled by us. We have no control over, and assume no responsibility for, the content, privacy policies, or practices of any third-party websites or services. We encourage you to review the terms and privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit.

9. Disclaimer of Warranties

THE SITE AND ITS CONTENT ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. WE DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.

We do not warrant that the Site will be uninterrupted, secure, or error-free, or that any defects will be corrected.

10. Limitation of Liability

TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, THE JOURNEY COUNSELING SERVICES SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR ANY LOSS OF PROFITS OR REVENUES, WHETHER INCURRED DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, OR ANY LOSS OF DATA, USE, GOODWILL, OR OTHER INTANGIBLE LOSSES, RESULTING FROM YOUR USE OF THE SITE.

11. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless The Journey Counseling Services, its officers, directors, employees, and agents from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, and expenses arising out of or in any way connected with your use of the Site or violation of these Terms.

12. Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California, without regard to its conflict of law provisions. Any legal action or proceeding arising out of these Terms shall be brought exclusively in the state or federal courts located in San Joaquin County, California.

13. Changes to Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. Changes will be effective immediately upon posting to the Site. Your continued use of the Site after any changes indicates your acceptance of the modified Terms.

14. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable or invalid, that provision shall be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary, and the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

15. Contact Information

If you have questions about these Terms, please contact us: