Welcome to Feel Validated (feelvalidated.com), a verified therapist directory operated by Feel Validated, Inc. ("Feel Validated," "we," "us," or "our"). These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your use of our website, search tools, directory listings, and related services (collectively, the "Service"). By accessing or using the Service, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, please do not use the Service.

1. Overview of the Service

Feel Validated is a directory that helps prospective therapy clients find licensed mental health providers. Our directory features therapist profiles with verified credentials, areas of focus, and professional background information. The Service includes an AI-assisted search tool that helps match clients with therapists based on natural-language queries.

Important: Feel Validated is an informational directory and matching service. We do not provide therapy, counseling, crisis intervention, medical advice, or any form of clinical treatment. We are not a healthcare provider, and use of the Service does not create a therapist-client relationship between you and Feel Validated or between you and any therapist listed on the Service.

2. Crisis and Emergency Disclaimer

Feel Validated is not an emergency service. If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, suicidal thoughts, or immediate danger, please contact emergency services immediately:

Our search tool includes safety measures designed to detect crisis language and direct users to appropriate emergency resources. However, these measures are not infallible. The Service is designed for non-emergency use by individuals seeking ongoing scheduled therapy, not crisis intervention.

3. AI-Assisted Search

Our search feature uses artificial intelligence (provided by Anthropic) to match your natural-language queries with therapist profiles. You acknowledge and agree that:

• Search results are generated by AI and may not be perfectly accurate or comprehensive.
• The matching algorithm considers verified credentials, areas of focus, therapeutic approach, and location, but results are suggestions and not clinical recommendations.
• You are solely responsible for evaluating any therapist and making your own decisions about care.
• Feel Validated does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of any search result or therapist match.

4. Therapist Information and Verification

Feel Validated reviews therapist credentials and areas of focus using documentation, public records, and professional databases. Profile designations such as "Validated" or "Documented" reflect the level of evidence we have reviewed for a given claim. However:

• We do not guarantee the accuracy of any therapist's credentials, qualifications, or representations.
• Verification reflects our review at a point in time and may not reflect changes to a therapist's licensure status, practice, or qualifications.
• Therapist profiles may include information derived from publicly available sources. Therapists may request corrections or removal of their profile by contacting us.
• The inclusion of a therapist on Feel Validated does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by Feel Validated.

5. User Conduct

You agree not to use the Service to:

• Harass, stalk, threaten, or intimidate any therapist listed on the Service.
• Attempt to obtain a therapist's home address, personal phone number, or other private information not included in their profile.
• Impersonate another person or misrepresent your identity or purpose.
• Scrape, harvest, or systematically collect therapist data from the Service.
• Submit queries designed to manipulate, exploit, or circumvent the AI search system's safety measures.
• Use the Service in any manner that could damage, disable, overburden, or impair it.

We reserve the right to terminate or restrict access to the Service for any user who violates these Terms.

6. Privacy and Data Collection

Search Queries. When you use our search feature, your query is sent to a third-party AI provider (Anthropic) for processing. Feel Validated does not store raw search query text. We may collect anonymized, aggregated search analytics (such as the number of searches performed or general topic categories) to improve the Service. We do not associate search content with your identity.

Sensitive Information. Search queries may contain sensitive personal disclosures (such as descriptions of mental health concerns, relationship issues, or traumatic experiences). By using the search feature, you acknowledge that this information is transmitted to our AI provider for the purpose of generating matches. We strongly recommend that you not include identifying personal details (such as your full name, address, or other personal identifiers) in search queries.

Children's Privacy. Feel Validated is intended for use by adults (persons aged 18 and older) who are seeking therapy for themselves or on behalf of a minor in their care. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 13 as defined by the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). If we become aware that a child under 13 has provided personal information, we will take steps to delete such information.

California Privacy Rights. If you are a California resident, you may have rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA/CPRA). For details, see our Privacy Policy.

7. Therapist Safety and Address Protection

The safety of listed therapists is a priority. The AI search system is designed to never disclose therapist home addresses, personal contact information, or any identifying details beyond what appears in their public profile. Queries that appear designed to obtain private information about therapists will be blocked.

8. Fees and Payments

The client-facing search and directory features of Feel Validated are free to use. Therapists listed on the directory may be subject to separate terms and fees as described in their Founding Member Agreement or other applicable agreements with Feel Validated.

9. Disclaimer of Warranties

THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT. FEEL VALIDATED DOES NOT WARRANT THAT THE SERVICE WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, ERROR-FREE, OR COMPLETELY SECURE.

10. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, FEEL VALIDATED AND ITS OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AND AGENTS SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR ANY LOSS OF PROFITS OR REVENUE, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO YOUR USE OF THE SERVICE, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO:

• Any decision you make based on search results or therapist information provided through the Service.
• The conduct, qualifications, or actions of any therapist listed on the Service.
• Any inaccuracy in therapist credentials, areas of focus, or other profile information.
• Any interaction between you and a therapist that originated through the Service.

11. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Feel Validated and its officers, directors, employees, and agents from and against any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of or related to your violation of these Terms or your use of the Service.

12. Intellectual Property

The Service, including its design, layout, text, graphics, logos, and software, is the property of Feel Validated and is protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws. Therapist profile content (including biographical descriptions and areas of focus) is created by Feel Validated based on publicly available information and verified documentation and is the property of Feel Validated, subject to the therapist's right to request corrections or removal of their profile.

13. Modifications to the Service and Terms

We reserve the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue the Service at any time without notice. We also reserve the right to update these Terms at any time. Material changes will be indicated by updating the "Last Updated" date. Your continued use of the Service after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

14. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

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 dispute arising out of or relating to these Terms or the Service shall be resolved in the state or federal courts located in Alameda County, California.

15. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is held to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.

16. Contact

Questions about these Terms may be directed to: jacob@feelvalidated.com