Center for Psychological Advice: on-line advice about mental health issues and problems from a professional point of view

Terms of Service for the
Center for Psychological Advice

Before proceeding, please read the following limitations, disclaimers and service agreement. Your acceptance of this agreement will enable you to proceed to sending your inquiry.

Disclaimer

Online advice is not to be construed as either diagnosis or psychological treatment. In some cases, it is recommended that the client contact a local mental health professional for face-to-face treatment. Information provided by the Center for Psychological Advice (CPA) and/or Doctor Chance is for educational and entertainment purposes only.

If you are currently feeling suicidal or feel like hurting someone else, log off NOW and call a local mental health professional.

Limitation Of Liability

The Client agrees that use of any or every part of this service is entirely at the client's own risk. CPA's services are provided "as is," without warranty of any kind, either express or implied. Specifically, CPA disclaims any and all warranties, including without limitation any warranties concerning the availability, quality, accuracy or content of information, products or counseling and other services.

This disclaimer of liability applies to any damages or injury caused by the failure of performance, error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operation of transmission, computer virus, communication line failure, theft or destruction or unauthorized access to, alteration of, or use of record, whether for breach of contract, tortious behavior, negligence, or under any other cause of action.

Neither the provider nor any if its agents, affiliates or content providers shall be liable for any direct, indirect, special or consequential damages arising out of the use of the service or inability to gain access to or use the service or out of any breach of any warranty. The client hereby acknowledges that the provisions of this section shall apply to all content on the service.

Confidentiality And Security

Dr. Chance assures you that she will not communicate anything to a third party except under specific conditions as enumerated below.

Therapists and other professionals are required by law to report any suspected child abuse. If Dr. Chance believes that a child is at risk of being abused or has already been abused, she has no choice but to immediately make every effort possible to report it to social services and/or the police. This is to protect the child.
If a person is actively suicidal and will not agree to voluntary hospitalization, Dr. Chance will attempt to report this situation to local authorities.
If a person is threatening to kill another person, Dr. Chance will attempt to contact local authorities and/or the person(s) threatened.
Most U.S. courts have the power to subpoena a counselor's records if you are involved in a court case in which your relationship with Dr. Chance is somehow relevant. Although this may be rare, if you have any questions, it is better to contact your lawyer prior to disclosing any information you may deem private.

Dr. Chance encourages inquiries regarding concerns about confidentiality. Enquiries regarding confidentiality may be sent to Dr. Chance via feedback.

If you are going to send email to Dr. Chance, please consider carefully whether you are willing to take the risk of third-party interception. While some experts say that third-party interception is unlikely, others argue that encryption of sensitive information is a necessary precaution and the only way to ensure private communication.

Dr. Chance has taken steps to ensure that information regarding credit cards, etc. are dealt with in a secure manner. However, at this time, fully encrypting our email communications is not practical.

Records of all communications will be stored by Dr. Chance electronically on removable and lockable disks. Only Dr. Chance will have access to these disks. She will maintain these disks for a minimum of 15 years. Should a client desire a release of stored information, a written request would be sent to Dr. Chance at 119 S. Thompson St., Hemet, CA 92543.

Choice Of Law

This agreement will be construed and controlled by the laws of the State of California. Further, any dispute arising from the terms of this agreement or a breach of this agreement will be governed by the laws of the State of California. The client agrees to personal jurisdiction by the state and federal courts sitting in the State of California.

The Agreement

The Center for Psychological Advice (CPA) and/or Dr. Cathy A. Chance, Ph.D. agrees to provide you (the Client) with informational articles, email advice and other services CPA and Dr. Chance decide to offer, subject to the terms of the agreement listed above. Upon notice published through the web site of CPA, we may modify this agreement at any time. You agree and continue to agree to use the services of CPA in a manner consistent with all applicable laws and regulations and in accordance with the terms and conditions specified above.

Clicking on the "I Understand and Agree" button below means you agree to the following:

"I understand and agree to the terms of this Agreement with the Center for Psychological Advice and want access to the email advice service. I further certify that I am at least 18 years of age."