Terms of Use
Last Updated: March 16, 2026
1. Agreement to Terms
By accessing and using this website (“Site”), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Use and all applicable laws and regulations. If you do not agree with any of these terms, you are prohibited from using this Site.
2. Nature of Website Content
2.1 Educational Purpose
The content provided on this Site, including blog posts, articles, videos, and other materials, is for informational and educational purposes only. This content is not intended to create a therapist-client relationship, substitute for professional mental health treatment, provide medical, psychological, or psychiatric advice, serve as a diagnostic tool, or replace in-person consultation with a qualified mental health professional.
2.2 No Professional Relationship
Merely accessing this Site, reading content, or contacting us through forms or email does not establish a therapist-client relationship. This includes submissions made through the Confidential Inquiry system. A formal therapeutic relationship is established only through completion of intake procedures, execution of informed consent documents, mutual agreement to engage in therapeutic services, and payment arrangements and fee agreements.
3. Use of Services
3.1 Standard Contact
The Site offers a standard contact form for general inquiries. Information submitted through the standard contact form may not be encrypted and should not include sensitive health information. For confidential communication, use the Confidential Inquiry system described below or the secure channels provided after establishing a therapeutic relationship.
3.2 Confidential Inquiry System
The Site provides a Confidential Inquiry pathway designed for visitors who wish to make initial contact with heightened privacy protections. When you access the Confidential Inquiry page, the Site assigns a temporary, pseudonymous Alias ID (format: DC-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX) for the duration of your visit. This identifier is generated locally in your browser, is not stored on our servers, and cannot be used to track or identify you across the internet. The Confidential Inquiry page operates under enhanced privacy conditions with no third-party tracking scripts, no cross-site identifiers, and no advertising pixels. Use of the Confidential Inquiry system does not establish a therapist-client relationship. Any transition from anonymous inquiry to formal clinical engagement occurs through a mutual, voluntary disclosure process conducted via secure channels.
3.3 Telehealth Services
If telehealth services are offered through this Site, you must have a reliable internet connection and appropriate technology. You understand the limitations and risks of telehealth communication. You agree to participate from a private, secure location. You acknowledge that telehealth may not be appropriate for all clinical situations. Emergency services cannot be provided through telehealth platforms.
3.4 Psychedelic Integration Services
Information about psychedelic integration therapy is provided for educational purposes. These services do not involve the provision, recommendation, or facilitation of any controlled substances. They focus on preparation and integration of experiences that occur in legal, supervised settings. They require separate informed consent and clinical assessment. They are subject to applicable state and federal laws.
4. Privacy and Confidentiality
4.1 HIPAA Compliance
For clients engaged in therapeutic services, we maintain compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Please note that information submitted through the standard contact form may not be encrypted or HIPAA-compliant. Do not include sensitive health information in the standard contact form. Confidential communication occurs only through the Confidential Inquiry system or designated secure channels provided after establishing a therapeutic relationship.
4.2 Our No-Tracking Commitment
This Site does not use third-party tracking pixels, cross-site advertising cookies, or behavioral retargeting technologies. We do not use Google Analytics, Meta (Facebook) Pixel, LinkedIn Pixel, or any similar cross-site tracking tools. We do not share, sell, or transmit visitor browsing data to advertisers or third-party data brokers. We maintain Google Search Console verification solely for the purpose of monitoring search performance and indexing status. This no-tracking architecture is a core commitment of our practice, reflecting the principle that visitors seeking mental health information should never be identified, labeled, or followed across the internet as a result of visiting this Site. For complete details, see our Privacy Policy and Patient Safety page.
4.3 Confidential Inquiry Page — Enhanced Protections
The Confidential Inquiry page (/confidential-inquiry) operates under additional privacy protections beyond those applied to the rest of the Site. No analytics scripts of any kind are loaded on this page. The Alias ID is generated entirely within your browser and is never transmitted to or stored on our servers. No session identifiers, IP addresses, or device fingerprints are collected in connection with your use of the Confidential Inquiry page.
5. Intellectual Property Rights
5.1 Ownership
All content on this Site, including text, graphics, logos, images, videos, audio clips, and software, is the property of District Counseling and Psychotherapy at Joseph LaFleur and Associates or its content suppliers and is protected by United States and international copyright laws.
5.2 Limited License
You are granted a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to access and view content for personal, non-commercial use, print or download content for personal reference, and share links to our content with proper attribution.
5.3 Restrictions
You may not reproduce, duplicate, copy, sell, or exploit any content for commercial purposes. You may not modify or create derivative works from our content, remove copyright or proprietary notices, use automated systems or software to extract data from the Site (“scraping”), or frame or embed our content on other websites without permission.
6. User Conduct
When using this Site, you agree not to violate any applicable laws or regulations, transmit harmful, threatening, abusive, harassing, defamatory, or obscene content, impersonate any person or entity, interfere with or disrupt the Site’s functionality, attempt to gain unauthorized access to any portion of the Site, upload viruses, malware, or other malicious code, or collect or store personal data about other users.
7. Third-Party Links and Resources
This Site may contain links to third-party websites, resources, or services. We do not endorse or assume responsibility for third-party content. We are not liable for any damages arising from your use of third-party resources. We encourage you to review the terms and policies of any third-party sites you visit.
8. Mental Health Crisis and Emergencies
8.1 Emergency Disclaimer
This Site does not provide emergency or crisis services. If you are experiencing a mental health emergency or crisis, please call 911 immediately, contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988, go to your nearest emergency room, or contact your local crisis center.
8.2 Limitations of Online Content
Blog posts, videos, and other content cannot address individual circumstances or provide immediate intervention for crisis situations.
9. Disclaimer of Warranties
This Site and all content are provided “as is” and “as available” without warranties of any kind, either express or implied, including but not limited to warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose, warranties that the Site will be uninterrupted, secure, or error-free, warranties regarding the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of content, and warranties that defects will be corrected.
10. Limitation of Liability
To the fullest extent permitted by law, District Counseling and Psychotherapy at Joseph LaFleur and Associates and its owners, employees, and affiliates shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, loss of profits, revenue, data, or use, damages arising from your access to or inability to access the Site, damages arising from your reliance on any content or information on the Site, or personal injury or property damage resulting from your use of the Site.
This limitation applies whether the alleged liability is based on contract, tort, negligence, strict liability, or any other basis, even if we have been advised of the possibility of such damage.
11. Indemnification
You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless District Counseling and Psychotherapy at Joseph LaFleur and Associates and its owners, employees, and affiliates from any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, and expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, arising out of or in any way connected with your access to or use of the Site, your violation of these Terms of Use, your violation of any third-party rights, or any content you submit or transmit through the Site.
12. State Licensure and Jurisdiction
12.1 Licensed Practice Areas
District Counseling and Psychotherapy at Joseph LaFleur and Associates is licensed to provide mental health services in Washington, DC, Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey, and New York. Services are only available to clients physically located in these jurisdictions where the provider holds active licensure.
12.2 Governing Law
These Terms of Use shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the District of Columbia, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.
12.3 Dispute Resolution
Any disputes arising from these Terms or your use of the Site shall be resolved through good faith negotiations between parties, mediation if negotiations fail, and exclusive jurisdiction in the courts of the District of Columbia if mediation is unsuccessful.
13. Modifications to Terms
We reserve the right to modify these Terms of Use at any time. Changes will be effective immediately upon posting to the Site with an updated “Last Updated” date. Your continued use of the Site after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the modified Terms. We encourage you to review these Terms periodically to stay informed of updates.
14. Severability
If any provision of these Terms is found to be unlawful, void, or unenforceable, that provision shall be deemed severable and shall not affect the validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions.
15. Entire Agreement
These Terms of Use, together with our Privacy Policy, Patient Safety disclosure, and any other legal notices published on the Site, constitute the entire agreement between you and District Counseling and Psychotherapy at Joseph LaFleur and Associates regarding your use of the Site.
16. Contact Information
For questions about these Terms of Use, please contact:
District Counseling and Psychotherapy (DistrictCP)
Joseph LaFleur and Associates
2001 L Street NW, Suite 500
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: (202) 641-5335
Email: contact@districtcounseling.com
17. Accessibility Commitment
We are committed to ensuring our Site is accessible to people with disabilities. If you experience difficulty accessing any part of this Site, please contact us so we can assist you.
18. Children’s Privacy
This Site is not intended for children under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 18. If you are under 18, please do not use this Site or provide any information without parental consent.
19. Professional Credentials
Information about therapist credentials, training, and specializations is accurate as of the date posted. You may verify credentials through state licensing boards, professional association directories, or direct inquiry to our practice.
20. Client Rights
If you become a client, you have specific rights under state and federal law, including the right to confidentiality (with legal exceptions), the right to informed consent, the right to access your records, the right to file complaints with licensing boards, and the right to terminate services. These rights will be fully explained in the informed consent documents provided at the beginning of the therapeutic relationship.
Acknowledgment: By using this Site, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms of Use.