Privacy & Confidentiality Statement

• We do not sell or share any of your personal information.
• All sessions are private and confidential, and by default, are not recorded.
• You control what you disclose: we will only share any information you provide with your explicit, written consent.
• Your identity is always protected: we use anonymized or pseudonymous identifiers—your name or details are never revealed without your permission.
• If you choose to be recorded, prior consent is required—you must sign a recording consent form before any session is recorded.
• Only the client may authorize disclosure: any sharing of session content or personal details requires your clear, documented approval.

Late Arrival & Session Time Policy

1- Grace Period

You are granted a 5‑minute grace period at the start of your session. If you arrive within this window, the session will proceed as scheduled.

• You may use this grace period up to three times per calendar quarter without penalty.

2- Beyond the Grace Period

If your arrival exceeds 5 minutes late, the session will still start when you join. However, any lost time will be deducted from the remaining session time.

3- Grace Period Reset

The grace period allowance resets at the beginning of each calendar quarter (January–March, April–June, July–September, October–December).

4- Examples

• 2 minutes late (within grace): No change; full session time preserved.
• 7 minutes late (exceeding grace): You have used one grace period. The 2 minutes beyond grace are deducted from the session.
• Fourth late arrival within the quarter: No grace remains—any late time is deducted immediately from the session duration.

5- Missed Connections

If you fail to join within 30 minutes of the scheduled start time, the session will be cancelled and treated as a no‑show. All applicable fees (booking and change fees) will be forfeited.

Payment & Booking Policy Agreement

All sessions with The Listening Companion are subject to the following terms:

1. Booking Fee (Nonrefundable)

A $20 nonrefundable booking fee is required to reserve every session, regardless of session tier, type, or duration. This fee is applied toward the total cost of the session.

2. Change Fee (Nonrefundable)

Requests to change the session date, time, or duration will incur a $10 nonrefundable change fee per change. This fee must be paid along with a new $20 booking fee at the time of rescheduling.

3. Cancellations & No-Shows

All booking and change fees are strictly nonrefundable. If you cancel your session or fail to attend without proper notice, all fees paid to date will be forfeited.

4. Payment of Balance

Any remaining session balance is due before the start of your session. If the balance is not paid in full prior to the session, it will be canceled and all prior fees retained.

Emergency Disclosure Policy

• The Listening Companion maintains confidentiality as the foundation of all sessions.
• In the event of an emergency during a session, such as imminent risk of harm to yourself or others, only the appropriate emergency authorities (e.g., 911, crisis hotline) will be contacted.
• No one else will be notified—friends, family, employers, or other parties—unless you explicitly request and sign off on the disclosure. We will obtain your clear, documented consent before informing anyone beyond emergency responders.
• This disclosure is strictly limited to the information you authorize and the emergency context that triggered the call.
• Unless there’s a legal requirement (e.g., court order or mandatory reporting), your privacy remains intact, and your personal information or identities will not be shared without your express permission.

Hold Harmless & Disclaimer Agreement

This Agreement is entered into between the client (“Participant”) and The Listening Companion (“Service Provider”).

1. Purpose of Services

The Listening Companion provides active, compassionate listening services. These are supportive in nature and are not clinical therapy, medical advice, or legal guidance.

2. Acknowledgment of Limitations

The Participant understands that the Service Provider is not a licensed counselor, therapist, or medical professional, and no diagnosis, treatment, or health service is offered.

3. Hold Harmless

The Participant agrees to indemnify and hold harmless The Listening Companion, its agents, representatives, and successors from any and all claims, demands, damages, or actions arising from participation in any session.

4. Emergency Situations

The Listening Companion is not equipped to handle crisis or emergency mental health situations. If the Participant is in crisis, they agree to contact emergency services or a qualified professional.

5. Voluntary Participation

Participation in any session is voluntary. The Participant may end the session at any time and acknowledges responsibility for their own emotional and mental well-being.