TERMS OF SERVICE & DISCLAIMER
I understand that cookies are used on the site (See below for more details).
I understand that content moderation is dependent on the availability of volunteers and that not all content is moderated.
I understand that if I choose to be a Patron Member, there are no refunds offered for my monthly fee.
These terms and conditions are important, but although we have tried to make them as palatable as possible, it isn’t easy (you know what lawyers are like!). So you should read them carefully and completely before browsing these web pages or participating in any of the forums.
If you browse or otherwise use this site, you agree to be bound by the Terms of Service, and also agree that you have read and consent to the terms of the Privacy Policy. If you do not agree to these terms and conditions you may not access or use this site.
About the Psych Cafe
This site is maintained by Dr. Susan LaCombe (through "S.K. LaCombe Consulting Inc") solely for the personal information, education, communication and entertainment of its members and the general public (who shall be referred to collectively as "users"). We provide general mental health information, bulletin boards, forums, surveys, quizzes, for your entertainment and education. There is no set publishing schedule. New stuff is posted whenever we get around to it.
Specific Terms of Use for these Forums
The forums are not currently moderated on a regular basis. Content moderation is dependent upon the availability of volunteers. You should not expect that all content is moderated.
No Professional Advice
The Psych Cafe does not offer online psychotherapy or psychological services. This site is dedicated to educating people about neuroscience, personal development, the power of psychotherapy and self-help; it is not intended to be a substitute for face-to-face professional psychological advice or therapy. No warranties regarding the site.
The Psych Cafe is provided on an "as is" basis without warranties of any kind, express or implied. Neither "S.K. LaCombe Consulting Inc" nor its employees, affiliates, information providers or content partners shall be liable for any errors, inaccuracies, omissions or other defects in the information contained in the site, and there are no warranties as to the results obtained from the use of the information. It is your obligation to evaluate the information and results from tools we provide, ideally with your mental health professional.
If you are a mental health professional you must exercise your professional judgment in evaluating any information contained herein, especially before undertaking any treatment based upon it. This disclaimer of liability applies to any damages or injury caused by any failure of performance, error, omission, interruption, computer virus, line failure, theft or unauthorized access to or alteration of the site, whether for breach of contract, negligence, or tort. Obligation of users to check credentials.
The term "mental health professional" includes psychologists, psychotherapists, counselors, nurse practitioners and social workers, but is not limited to these professions. The Psych Cafe does not endorse any mental health professional listed on the site and will not be liable for damages to any user as a result of using the services of any such mental health professional. Use site information at your own risk.
The Psych Cafe makes reasonable efforts to ensure the accuracy and quality of information posted on the site, including random monitoring of bulletin boards and forums and screening articles, but does not take responsibility for or guarantee the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of any such information or process disclosed, nor for errors and omissions.
The Psych Cafe does not necessarily endorse, oppose or edit any opinions or recommendations posted by any professional contributors or members, except to remove any content that is unlawful, hurtful or inconsistent with the Terms of Service. We are not responsible for information on the site that comes from site users and we are not responsible for any damages resulting from your use of any information on the site. Users agree that if they rely on information posted on the site they do so solely at their own risk.
While we are picky about the organizations we link to, we don’t assume any responsibility for any web sites that are linked to our site or that you browse after following a link from our site.
Copyright restrictions
Users may freely download material from the site to your personal or handheld computer, and even print a reasonable number of copies for yourself, your family, or friends. However, you may not distribute, modify, re-post or use any such downloads for your own web site or for public or commercial purposes without the express written permission of the Psych Cafe. All site contents, including selection, coordination, arrangement and enhancement, are subject to Canadian and international law regarding copyright protection unless otherwise noted and may not be used except as provided in these Terms of Service.
S.K. LaCombe Consulting Inc. owns the names used for our products and services, and all trademarks, logos, and service marks displayed are protected by Canadian trademark law. If your activities are noncommercial you may make use of our trademarks by linking to us or discussing us with others, as long as you make it clear that we are the owner of the trademark.
Links to other web sites
The Psych Cafe has not reviewed all sites that may be linked from this site and is not responsible for the content of these sites. Visit these sites at your own risk.
Linking to Us
We welcome a simple link from your web site to ours however if you intend to frame our site or incorporate pieces of it into a different site or product in a way that is not clear to our users you must first have our written permission. Links that in any way have a negative impact on our reputation are prohibited. This means you cannot link to us if your site is engaged in unlawful, obscene or offensive activities.
No liability for postings
Although the Psych Cafe has the right, but not the obligation, to monitor or review the discussions, postings, transmissions, bulletin boards and forums, we are not responsible or liable for any error, defamation, libel, slander, omission, falsehood, obscenity, profanity or inaccuracy contained in any information posted to the site.
We have the right in our sole discretion to edit, refuse to post, or remove any material submitted to or posted on the site.
Prohibited postings
Users shall not post or transmit through the Psych Cafe any material which violates or compromises the rights of others, which is unlawful, threatening, abusive, defamatory, invasive of privacy or publicity rights, obscene, profane or otherwise objectionable, which encourages conduct that would constitute a criminal offence or give rise to civil liability, or which, without express prior approval, contains advertising or any solicitation with respect to products or services.
We reserve the right in our sole discretion to refuse service or terminate site access if user conduct restricts or inhibits any other user from using or enjoying the site or is harmful to the interests of the Psych Cafe, its users, members, affiliates or suppliers.
Paid Membership Program (Being a Patron)
Patron Membership fees partially fund the ongoing hosting and running of the site. Patron Membership offers a number of features not available to free registered members.
These features are listed on the home page of the site. Please note that they are subject to change (especially as we are just now working out what is best for our members and the optimal functioning of the site). However, you will be given adequate notice of any changes well before your next renewal date.
Patron Membership Trial Period
The trial period offers you the chance to try out the Patron Membership features. There is no fee associated with the trial however you will be asked to give your credit card information. If you cancel before your trial period ends, you will not be charged. Please note that you are only given one opportunity for a trial period.
Once your trial period ends - currently it's set at 10 days - your credit card will be charged.
Membership dues are payable monthly on the anniversary date at which your trial membership ends.
You can cancel at any time (you will have access up to the date that your membership fee covers). As our support is limited, we cannot offer any refund on a monthly fee. This is non-negotiable.
Third Party Advertising
The Psych Cafe is partially funded by revenue generated from the strategic placement of ads on the site. This relationship with outside commercial interests in no way compromises our editorial integrity and independence. In the event that the Psych Cafe acquires one or more sponsors, the principles of editorial integrity and independence will be maintained. We also try to ensure that editorial content is always clearly distinguished from commercial messages. For example, we require clear identification of the authorship and credentials of all third party content accessible on the site, whether directly or through links.
The Psych Cafe is committed to providing the visitor with relevant and compelling content. For this reason, we make every attempt to ensure that the ads you see are relevant to the topics contained in the pages on which they appear. We encourage visitors to bring to our attention any advertising they believe is inappropriate or irrelevant to the spirit of the site. Unfortunately, we sometimes have little or no control over what ads appear (e.g. under the Google AdSense program) but let us know of your concerns and we'll do what we can!
Remember, finally, that though we hope you consider giving some of our advertisers a try, we cannot guarantee that your experience will be exactly as advertised! Click safely!
Cookies Associated With Our Community Platform
A cookie is a small data file sent to your browser and stored on your computer - it does not come with chocolate chips or ice cream :-)
Our website utilizes a community platform hosted by a third party. In order to enhance your experience with the site, that platform may use any or all of the following types of cookies: session cookies used for load balancing purposes, a “remember me” cookie which must be proactively enabled by the user, authentication cookies that support session timeout recovery, a user ID cookie, a time-of-visit cookie, and a last authentication cookie. None of these cookies contain any personally identifiable information, and do not track user’s activities beyond this specific site.
Additionally, this platform uses Google Analytics cookies, which provides aggregated user data to the administrator. These cookies do not contain any personally identifiable information either.
We also use cookies to serve ads that are - hopefully - relevant to you. We use the cookies to track what you have been looking at so that we can show you new material when you return.
By registering with this site, you are agreeing that you are aware of, and accept the possible placement of, these cookies.
Complaints
Users having any concern or complaint regarding any content or postings on this site are encouraged to contact Dr. LaCombe by email at comments@myshrink.com, or by phone at 1 800 263-0187. Please report any violations of the Terms of Service that you may encounter. If the complaint cannot be resolved in this manner, users agree that any claim, dispute or controversy arising from or relating to these terms of service shall be resolved by neutral binding arbitration to be held in Vancouver, Canada, and that all issues shall be interpreted according to the laws of British Columbia and any applicable federal laws of Canada.
Changes to these terms and conditions.
The Terms of Service may be changed or modified at any time, in whole or in part, and any changes, modifications, additions or deletions shall be effective immediately upon posting to the site. You are bound by any such revisions and should therefore periodically visit this page to review the then current Terms of Service. Contact information. If you have any questions or comments regarding the Psych Cafe please contact us at comments@myshrink.com, or by mail at 511 - 470 Granville Street, Vancouver, B.C., V6C 1V5. TM & SL March 8, 2016.