Therapy Peer Terms of Service

Effective Date: 11/13/2025

Welcome to Therapy Peer! These Terms of Service (“Terms“) govern your access and use of therapypeer.com (“Platform“) and any associated services provided by Therapy Peer (“we,” “our,” or “us“). By using our website, you agree to the Terms and Conditions contained in this agreement.

Background

Therapy Peer is a peer consultation website designed to encourage community and collaboration amongst mental health professionals.

Therapy Peer is an independent, private, members-only platform designed exclusively for licensed mental health therapists. We provide community spaces for professional networking and peer consultation groups via live video meetings. The Platform is not a substitute for clinical supervision, legal advice, or therapy, and users are solely responsible for ensuring their professional actions comply with all applicable ethical and legal obligations.

Terms and Conditions

1. License Requirements

1. Active License in Good Standing: To use the Platform, you must hold an active professional license in good standing. Therapy Peer reserves the right to determine “good standing,” including factors such as license suspension, expiration, or disciplinary action. Membership will be terminated without refund if your license is deemed, at our sole discretion, to be invalid.
2. License Verification: We reserve the right to verify and re-verify licenses at any time at our discretion but make no guarantees of license status accuracy. All profile information, including additional credentials (e.g., LCSW, Ph.D.), mental health role, license state, license numbers, and all states licensed is user-provided and may or may not be verified at our discretion. We encourage you to conduct your own due diligence regarding other members’ credentials.
3. Errors in Verification: While we strive for accuracy, errors in the verification process may occur. We are not responsible for changes in license status.
4. Member Responsibility: You are required to report changes in license status to Therapy Peer immediately.

2. Sharing Information

1. Email and Text Communications: By providing your email or phone number, you consent to receive communications from Therapy Peer, including:
   1. Transactional emails, such as meeting reminders, which cannot be unsubscribed from.
   2. Marketing emails, which can be opted out of.
2. Profile and Content Usage: By providing profile information, photos, reviews, or testimonials, you grant Therapy Peer the right to use this content on the Platform and our associated social media. Explicit permission will be sought for public marketing.
3. Privacy and Data Use: We do not sell, rent, or mine your posting data for AI training, or big data purposes. Content shared within the Platform belongs to you, and we do not share your posts outside the Platform.

3. Community Conduct / Guidelines

1. Community Conduct: Members must adhere to professional standards. Membership requires an active therapist license. Protect client confidentiality; do not share PHI. Share resources, not spam. Engage respectfully, personal attacks or inflammatory comments are prohibited. Use the Report feature for concerns. Moderators may remove any post at any time if it violates these Terms or the spirit of the community.

4. Peer Consultation Rules

1. Limits of Peer Consultation: Therapy Peer facilitates professional peer consultations but is not a substitute for supervisory, clinical, or legal advice. Practitioners must seek additional consultation where appropriate.
2. Confidentiality in Consultations: You agree not to disclose confidential client information during consultations unless permitted by state or federal law, in accordance with your governing board’s rules, regulations, or ethics, or with client consent.
3. Confidentiality of Platform Information: You agree to keep information shared during consultations, meetings, and community spaces confidential. Sharing such information outside the Platform is strictly prohibited.
4. Liability for Advice: Therapy Peer is not liable for advice shared during consultations. Users are responsible for ensuring their actions align with their ethical and legal obligations.

5. Prohibited Content and Protected Health Information (PHI)

1. Prohibited PHI: Users must not upload, share, or transmit Protected Health Information (PHI) as defined under HIPAA (45 CFR § 160.103). PHI includes any identifiable health information related to an individual’s medical history, care, or payment for care.
2. De-Identification Requirements: Users must remove all identifying information from cases shared on the Platform. Violations should be reported for prompt removal.
3. Platform Liability: Therapy Peer is not responsible for HIPAA violations or unauthorized disclosures by users. Users are solely responsible for compliance with applicable state and federal laws.

6. Membership Terms

1. Autorenewal: All memberships will auto-renew upon expiration until such time as you provide notice of cancellation.
2. Non-Refundable Fees: Membership and fees are non-refundable. Prepaid memberships will not be prorated upon cancellation.
3. Non-Transferability: Memberships are non-transferable and cannot be paused. Users may cancel at any time via their account page.

7. Group Participation

1. Meeting Attendance: Groups meet regularly following a schedule, including holidays. No refunds are provided for holiday conflicts or technical issues.
2. Group Changes: Users may request group changes, but frequent changes are not allowed. Therapy Peer reserves the right to deny requests that disrupt group dynamics.
3. Group Communication: All case consultations must occur during video meetings. Group chats and private messages are for general discussion and networking purposes only, not consultation.
4. Group Assignment: We may reassign a user’s group without prior notification if necessary.
5. Group Guidelines: Therapy Peer has specific Group Guidelines that users are required to follow. These guidelines are designed to maintain a professional and respectful environment and to ensure that consultations are productive and in line with ethical standards. Failure to follow the group guidelines may result in removal from the group or the platform entirely.

8. Recording and Confidentiality

1. Prohibition on Recording: Users are prohibited from recording, screenshotting, or duplicating any part of the Platform, including meetings, group chats, or private messages.
2. Therapy Peer Recordings: Therapy Peer may record meetings for quality assurance. These recordings will not be shared with users and are used solely for internal purposes.

9. Conduct and Professionalism

1. Prohibited Conduct: Users agree to refrain from:
   1. Solicitation, poaching, or moving communication off-platform.
   2. Harassment, bullying, or disruptive behavior.
   3. Attending meetings or using the community spaces in unsafe environments (e.g., while driving).
   4. Users must not impersonate others or provide false information in their profiles, communications, or interactions on the platform.
2. Professional Standards: Meetings must be attended in professional attire and from a private, appropriate environment.

10. Account Security

1. Responsibility for Account: Users are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and for all activities under your account, including unauthorized access by third parties.
2. Unauthorized Use: Users agree to notify us immediately if you believe your account has been compromised or if you suspect any unauthorized use of your account.

11. Intellectual Property

1. Our Materials: All content, logos, designs, text, software, graphics, user interfaces, visual interfaces, photographs, trademarks, trade names, service marks, and other materials provided by Therapy Peer, including including these Terms and our Privacy Policy (collectively, the “Materials”), are, the exclusive property of Therapy Peer or its licensors and are protected by United States and international intellectual property laws, including but not limited to the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976 (17 U.S.C. § 101 et seq.), the Lanham Act (15 U.S.C. § 1051 et seq.), and the Defend Trade Secrets Act (18 U.S.C. § 1836 et seq.). Unauthorized use, reproduction, or distribution of these Materials is strictly prohibited and may result in civil or criminal penalties.
2. User Content: You retain ownership of any content you upload, post, or submit to the Platform (“User Content”), but by submitting content, you grant us a perpetual, worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, sublicensable license to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, display, and distribute your content within the platform and for purposes related to the operation of the Platform, including promotional and marketing materials as described in these Terms. We agree not to publicly display User Content for marketing purposes without obtaining explicit consent from you unless such content is anonymized or aggregated. You are solely responsible for the content you post and for ensuring it complies with all applicable ethical, legal, and professional obligations. Moderators may remove or restrict any User Content at any time if it violates these Terms or the spirit of the community.
3. Restrictions and User Responsibilities: You may not:
   Use the Materials or User Content in any manner inconsistent with these Terms.
   Copy, modify, distribute, or reverse engineer any part of the Materials.
   Submit User Content that violates intellectual property laws, infringes on the rights of others, or breaches any legal or ethical obligations.
4. Legal Enforcement: We reserve the right to enforce our intellectual property rights to the fullest extent of the law, including under copyright (17 U.S.C. § 501 et seq.), trademark (15 U.S.C. § 1114 et seq.), and trade secret laws (18 U.S.C. § 1839).

12. Termination of Access

1. Right to Terminate: We reserve the right to suspend or terminate a user’s access to the platform at any time, with or without notice, for license issues, guideline violations, or other reasons at our discretion.
2. Effect of Termination: Upon termination, a user will no longer be able to access their account or any associated services. If terminated, a user will not be entitled to any refund of fees already paid.

13. Privacy and Data Protection

1. Data Use: All personal data provided to us is governed by our Privacy Policy and these Terms. By using the platform, you agree to our collection, use, and processing of your data as outlined in the Privacy Policy.
2. Cookies and Tracking: We may use cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience on the platform.

14. Member-Generated Content

1. Responsibility of Members: All content posted, shared, or transmitted by members, including messages, comments, reviews, and any other material (“Member Content”), is the sole responsibility of the member who created it. You acknowledge and agree that you are fully responsible for the accuracy, legality, and consequences of your Member Content.
2. No Liability for Therapy Peer: Therapy Peer does not review, endorse, control, or monitor Member Content. Therapy Peer makes no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy, reliability, appropriateness, or legality of Member Content. In no event shall Therapy Peer be liable, directly or indirectly, for any damages, losses, claims, or other liabilities arising from or related to Member Content.
3. Indemnification: You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Therapy Peer, its affiliates, officers, employees, and agents from and against any and all claims, damages, obligations, losses, liabilities, costs, or expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising from or relating to your Member Content, your use of the platform, or your interactions with other members.
4. Third-Party Interactions: You understand and agree that any interactions, communications, or transactions with other members or third parties are solely between you and such members or third parties. Therapy Peer is not responsible for any acts, omissions, or conduct of any member or third party.
5. Right to Remove Content: Therapy Peer may, at its sole discretion, monitor, review, remove, or restrict access to any Member Content on the Platform, including content that may violate these Terms of Service, applicable laws, community guidelines, or professional confidentiality obligations (including, without limitation, the disclosure of Protected Health Information).
   However, Therapy Peer is under no obligation to monitor, review, or remove any Member Content. Users remain solely responsible for the content they post and for ensuring that their posts comply with all professional, ethical, and legal obligations.
   Moderators may remove or restrict content at any time, with or without notice, to maintain a safe, professional, and compliant environment. Therapy Peer does not guarantee detection, removal, or response to all prohibited content, including content that may be shared outside the Platform by other members.

15. Disclaimers

1. WARRANTY DISCLAIMER: WE DISCLAIM ANY AND ALL EXPRESS AND IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND WHATSOEVER, INCLUDING THOSE OF MERCHANTABILITY, NONINFRINGEMENT, AND/OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, PERTAINING TO THE SERVICES AND/OR ANY WARRANTY THAT THE PLATFORM AND RELATED SERVICES WILL MEET YOUR SPECIFIC NEEDS, THAT SPECIFIC RESULTS WILL BE ACHIEVED WITH USE, OR THAT THE OPERATION OF THE PLATFORM AND THE SERVICES WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED OR ERROR FREE.
2. Not a Professional Service Provider: Therapy Peer is a software platform designed for licensed mental health professionals. We provide community spaces for professional networking and peer consultation groups via live video meetings. We are not a licensed medical, mental health, legal or other professional services provider; furthermore, we do not provide medical, legal, or professional advice. As such, Therapy Peer is not liable for user-generated content or advice, nor actions taken based on Therapy Peer Platform consultations. We do not have control, nor are we involved in, the session or messages exchanged between users. We are not liable for any content posted by users or actions taken based on interactions on the Platform. Users remain solely responsible for their professional actions and decisions.
3. Accuracy: We are not liable for the accuracy of user-generated content, including profile information, credentials, license statuses, user posts, or messages. Users are responsible for verifying credentials of other members and for ensuring compliance with all professional and ethical obligations.

16. Limitation of Liability

Therapy Peer is not liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising from your use of the platform, including but not limited to loss of data, revenue, or reputation. Therapy Peer’s total liability in relation to these Terms will be limited to the amount paid for the service during the 12 months prior to any incident for which damages are sought.

Security and Privacy Risks: While we employ reasonable technical and administrative safeguards, we cannot guarantee the confidentiality of user communications or content, and the Platform is not HIPAA-compliant. Use of the Platform, including participation in groups, sharing content, or sending messages, is at your own risk. Users acknowledge that posts may be shared outside the Platform by other members and agree that Therapy Peer is not responsible for such external disclosures.

17. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Therapy Peer, its affiliates, officers, directors, employees, contractors, licensors, and agents from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, judgments, awards, losses, costs, expenses, or fees (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising out of or relating to:

1. your violation of these Terms of Service;
2. your disclosure of Protected Health Information (PHI) or failure to comply with privacy, confidentiality, or other applicable laws;
3. your professional practice, advice, or interactions on or through the Platform;
4. your use or misuse of the Platform;
5. member content; or
6. your interactions with other members.

18. Miscellaneous

1. Changes to Terms: Therapy Peer reserves the right to update these Terms at any time. Continued use constitutes acceptance.
2. Governing Law: These Terms are governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia.
3. Arbitration: Any disputes arising out of or relating to these Terms will be resolved
4. through binding arbitration, held in the county of Chesterfield, in the Commonwealth of Virginia. This includes any disputes regarding the enforcement, validity, or interpretation of these Terms. The arbitration will be conducted in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association (AAA) or a similar body.
5. CLASS ACTION WAIVER: YOU AGREE THAT YOU WILL NOT FILE OR PARTICIPATE IN ANY CLASS ACTION OR COLLECTIVE ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST US. YOU ALSO WAIVE YOUR RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN A CLASS ACTION, REPRESENTATIVE ACTION, OR ANY OTHER TYPE OF PROCEEDING WHERE SOMEONE ACTS IN A REPRESENTATIVE CAPACITY.
6. Force Majeure: Therapy Peer will not be held responsible for any failure or delay in performance due to events outside our reasonable control, including but not limited to natural disasters, strikes, government actions, internet service disruptions, or other unforeseeable events.
7. Changes to the Service: Therapy Peer reserves the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue the platform or any services provided without prior notice. We will make reasonable efforts to notify users of major changes, but you agree that we are not liable for any interruptions to the service.
8. Severability: If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will remain in full force and effect.
9. Waiver: Our failure to enforce any provision of these Terms shall not constitute a waiver of that provision.
10. Contact Information: For questions or concerns about these Terms, please contact us via our contact form.