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Website Terms of Use

Last Updated: January 2026
This website provides information about counselling services offered by Introspectus Counselling Ltd. in Greater Victoria, British Columbia. By using this site, you agree to these terms.
These terms exist to protect both of us; they clarify what this website is (and isn’t), set reasonable expectations, and explain your rights. Think of this as the legal framework that allows me to offer helpful information online while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries.
If you have questions about these terms, you can reach me at sean@introspectuscounselling.ca.

📑 Table of Contents

✅ Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using this website, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms of Use. If you don’t agree with these terms, please don’t use this site.

These terms apply to everyone who visits the site, whether you’re a prospective client, current client, or just browsing for information. They work alongside our Privacy Policy & Confidentiality and Information Security Statement to create a complete picture of how this website operates.
This practice complies with British Columbia’s Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) and the federal Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA).

🌐 What This Website Is (And Isn't)

This website serves as an informational resource about the counselling services I provide. You’ll find details about my background, approach, services offered, fees, and how to get started with therapy.

What this website is NOT: This site doesn’t provide therapy, mental health treatment, or personalized medical advice. Reading articles on this site, filling out a contact form, or browsing the FAQ doesn’t constitute professional counselling services.

Think of this website like a brochure for a medical practice; it tells you what’s available and how things work, but the actual care happens in person (or via secure telehealth), not through web pages.

📊 Online Assessment Tools & Screening Questionnaires

This website may include online assessment tools, screening questionnaires, or self-assessment instruments (such as anxiety scales, depression inventories, or symptom checklists). These tools exist to help you better understand your experiences and determine whether professional support might be helpful.
What These Tools Are
Online assessments are screening tools, not diagnostic instruments. They’re designed to:
  • Help you identify patterns or concerns worth discussing with a professional
  • Provide general information about common mental health symptoms
  • Give you a starting point for conversations with healthcare providers
  • Help you decide whether seeking professional support makes sense
What These Tools Are NOT

Critically important: These screening tools do NOT:

  • Provide a clinical diagnosis (only a qualified healthcare provider can diagnose)
  • Replace professional mental health assessment or treatment
  • Create a therapist-client relationship between us
  • Constitute medical or psychological advice
  • Guarantee accuracy for your specific situation


Example: If a depression screening indicates “moderate symptoms,” this doesn’t mean you “have depression” as a diagnosis. It means your responses suggest patterns worth discussing with a healthcare provider who can conduct a comprehensive assessment.

Per Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA) standards, I do not rely on computer-generated assessment results without exercising professional judgment. If you become a client, any screening results you’ve completed will be reviewed and interpreted by me in the context of a full clinical assessment, not taken at face value.
Automated assessments have limitations:
  • Not validated for all populations: Tools may be less accurate for certain cultural backgrounds, age groups, or specific mental health conditions
  • Self-report bias: Results depend entirely on how you answer; there’s no way to verify accuracy
  • Snapshot in time: Results reflect how you’re feeling right now, not a comprehensive picture
  • Context matters: Tools can’t account for life circumstances, medical conditions, or other factors affecting your responses
When you complete an online assessment:
  • Your responses are stored separately from clinical therapy records (unless you later become a client and we integrate them)
  • Assessment data is handled according to our Information Security Statement
  • Data is encrypted and stored securely
  • You can request deletion of assessment data by contacting me
Important distinction: Assessment data has moderate confidentiality protection (better than general website analytics but less comprehensive than full therapeutic confidentiality). See the Privacy, Data Separation, and Cookies section for details.
If an assessment tool detects potential crisis indicators (such as suicidal ideation), an automated message with crisis resources will appear. However:
  • This is NOT real-time human monitoring
  • Automated messages cannot replace immediate professional crisis support
  • Do NOT rely on assessment tools for crisis intervention
If you’re in crisis, go directly to Crisis Resources for immediate help.
Assessment results are informational only. I make no guarantees about:
  • The accuracy of results for your specific situation
  • The reliability of automated scoring algorithms
  • Whether results will match a professional assessment
  • Outcomes if you act on assessment information

📚 Psychoeducational Courses & Self-Help Resources

This website may offer psychoeducational courses, self-help modules, skill-building workshops, or educational resources (such as anxiety management courses, mindfulness training, or relationship skills modules). These resources are designed to teach concepts and skills, not provide therapy.
Educational courses and self-help resources:
  • Teach evidence-based concepts and techniques
  • Provide skill-building exercises and practice tools
  • Offer general psychoeducation about mental health topics
  • Support personal growth and self-understanding
  • Are marketed to the general public, not exclusively to existing therapy clients
Critically important: Courses and self-help resources do NOT:
  • Provide therapy, counselling, or clinical treatment
  • Replace professional mental health care
  • Offer personalized advice for your specific situation
  • Create a therapist-client relationship between us
  • Diagnose mental health conditions
  • Guarantee specific outcomes or results

The key distinction: Courses teach skills; therapy applies those skills to your specific life with professional guidance and support. Think of courses as learning to cook from a cookbook versus hiring a personal chef who customizes meals for your needs.

Course outcomes depend entirely on:
  • Your engagement with the material
  • Your willingness to practice skills
  • Your unique circumstances and challenges
  • Factors beyond the course content (social support, life stressors, existing mental health conditions)
I make no guarantees that completing a course will resolve specific problems or produce particular results. Educational resources support good practice; they don’t replace it.
Courses work best for:
  • Learning general coping skills and techniques
  • Understanding mental health concepts
  • Personal development and growth
  • Supplementing therapy (with your therapist’s knowledge)
You should seek professional therapy instead of (or in addition to) courses if:
  • You’re experiencing significant distress or functional impairment
  • Symptoms are worsening or haven’t improved with self-help
  • You have thoughts of harming yourself or others
  • You’re dealing with trauma, complex relationship issues, or persistent mental health conditions
  • A healthcare provider has recommended professional treatment
Courses can be valuable tools, but they’re not substitutes for clinical care when clinical care is needed.
Course content reflects current evidence-based practices at the time of creation. However:
  • Mental health research evolves; information may become outdated
  • Courses are reviewed periodically but may not reflect the most current research at all times
  • Content represents general best practices, not personalized recommendations
If courses include community forums, discussion boards, or peer interaction features:
  • These are NOT therapy groups or professionally facilitated support groups
  • I’m not responsible for advice, comments, or information shared by other course participants
  • Peer support can be valuable but doesn’t replace professional guidance
  • You’re responsible for maintaining your own privacy (don’t share identifying details publicly)

The key distinction: Courses teach skills; therapy applies those skills to your specific life with professional guidance and support. Think of courses as learning to cook from a cookbook versus hiring a personal chef who customizes meals for your needs.

When you enroll in a course:
  • Your enrollment data and progress are stored separately from clinical therapy records
  • Course data is handled according to our Information Security Statement
  • You can request deletion of course data by contacting me
  • Course completion certificates or records may be provided upon request

🤝 When Professional Obligations Begin

Understanding when a professional relationship begins matters for both legal and ethical reasons. Here’s how it works in practice:

Simply visiting this website, reading content, filling out a contact form, completing online assessments, or enrolling in courses does not create any therapist-client relationship or professional duty of care. At this stage, you’re gathering information to decide whether my services might be a good fit.
Once I accept and confirm your appointment request, a limited professional obligation begins, even before our first session. This means:
  • I have a duty to assess whether I can appropriately serve you
  • If you contact me in crisis before our first meeting, I have a responsibility to provide appropriate crisis assessment and referral
  • I’m obligated to communicate professionally and respond to urgent safety concerns
  • I need to determine if my services are appropriate for your presenting concerns
What this is NOT: This is not yet a full therapeutic relationship. I haven’t gathered detailed clinical history, we haven’t established treatment goals, and the ongoing confidentiality protections that govern therapy haven’t fully activated.

Why this matters: If you schedule an appointment and then experience a crisis before we meet, please contact me. I may not be able to provide therapy, but I have an obligation to help assess the situation and connect you with appropriate immediate resources. Don’t assume you’re “not my client yet” and avoid reaching out if safety is a concern.

A complete therapeutic relationship with all associated confidentiality protections and ongoing clinical responsibilities begins when:
  1. You complete intake paperwork through our secure client portal (Jane App)
  2. We review and you agree to the Clinical Services Agreement and informed consent documentation
  3. We have our first scheduled counselling session
At this point, the full scope of therapeutic confidentiality, professional boundaries, treatment planning, and ongoing care obligations are established. For details about confidentiality limits and clinical policies, see our Privacy Policy & Confidentiality.
Information you share through website contact forms or initial emails is handled with care but does not carry the same confidentiality protections as established therapeutic relationships. Use these channels for practical questions (services, fees, scheduling) rather than detailed clinical disclosures.
For detailed information about secure communication once you become a client, see our Information Security Statement.

📊 Information Accuracy and Changes

I work to keep the information on this website accurate, current, and helpful. That said, I’m running a small practice, not managing a news organization; occasionally information may become outdated between updates.
What this means for you: Services offered, fees, availability, policies, course content, and assessment tools described on this website are subject to change. The authoritative information you’ll receive during intake may differ from what’s currently shown here if I haven’t updated the site yet.
If you notice something that seems incorrect or contradictory, please let me know. I want this site to be a reliable resource, and your feedback helps me maintain accuracy.

🚨 No Crisis Support via Website

This is critically important: This website cannot and does not provide crisis intervention or emergency mental health support. Email, contact forms, assessment tools, and course forums are not monitored 24/7, and there may be significant delays before I see your message.
If you’re experiencing a mental health crisis or emergency:
This isn’t me being difficult; it’s about safety. Crisis situations require immediate, trained support that a website, email, assessment tool, or online course simply cannot provide. The resources listed above are specifically designed for urgent situations and can help you right now.
For more crisis resources and local supports, see our Crisis Resources page.

🔒 Privacy, Data Separation, and Cookies

This website uses cookies and analytics tools (specifically Google Analytics) to understand how visitors use the site and to improve functionality. These tools collect basic information like pages visited, time spent on site, general location (city/region), and device type.

Three Types of Data (Separated by Purpose)

I maintain three distinct categories of data with different privacy protections:
  1. Website Analytics Data (Lowest Protection)
    • Pages you visit, time on site, navigation patterns
    • General location (city/region), device type, browser
    • Collected automatically via cookies and Google Analytics
    • NOT connected to your identity unless you log into a course or assessment platform
    • NOT linked to clinical records at any point
  1. Assessment & Course Data (Moderate Protection)
    • Your responses to screening questionnaires or assessment tools
    • Course enrollment, progress, and completion records
    • Forum posts or community interactions (if applicable)
    • Stored separately from clinical therapy records until/unless you become a client
    • Protected under PIPA/PIPEDA privacy laws
    • NOT shared with insurance companies, employers, or third parties without your explicit authorization
  1. Clinical Therapy Data (Highest Protection)
If you become a client after completing assessments or courses, I may integrate relevant assessment results into your clinical file with your explicit consent. This integration happens only after our therapeutic relationship begins and only for clinically relevant information.
Website analytics data (what pages you browsed, when you visited) is never connected to your clinical record, even if you become a client.
  • You can opt out of Google Analytics by installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on
  • You can manage cookies through your browser settings
  • You can request deletion of assessment or course data by contacting me
  • You can request to review what data we have about you
Using this website with cookies enabled means you consent to this data collection as described.
This practice complies with BC’s Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) and federal Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) requirements.
For comprehensive details about how your information is protected, where data is stored, and what security measures are in place, please review our Information Security Statement and Privacy Policy & Confidentiality.

🔗 Interaction Between Website Tools & Clinical Services

If you complete online assessments or courses and later become a therapy client, here’s how those tools relate to clinical services:
If you’ve completed screening questionnaires before starting therapy:
  • I’ll review your responses as one source of information during intake
  • I’ll conduct my own professional clinical assessment in-session
  • My clinical assessment may differ from automated screening results
  • Professional judgment trumps computer-generated scores
Example: An online anxiety screening might suggest “severe symptoms,” but during our intake, I might determine that your symptoms are primarily related to a specific situational stressor and don’t meet criteria for an anxiety disorder. Or vice versa; a screening might show “mild symptoms” while a comprehensive assessment reveals more significant concerns. Both scenarios are common and expected.
There’s an important distinction between:
  • Screening tools (what’s available on this website): Quick questionnaires that flag potential concerns
  • Formal clinical assessment (what happens in therapy): Comprehensive evaluation including clinical interview, observation, and professional judgment
Screening tools are helpful starting points but are never substitutes for formal assessment.
If you’ve taken courses and later start therapy:
  • Course concepts may inform our therapeutic work
  • You can reference techniques you’ve learned
  • We’ll adapt and personalize those skills to your specific situation
  • Therapy goes deeper than what any course can offer
Conversely, if you’re currently in therapy elsewhere and take one of my courses, I encourage you to discuss what you’re learning with your therapist. They can help you apply concepts to your unique circumstances.
Once a therapeutic relationship begins:
  • Assessment responses you provided before becoming a client can be integrated into your clinical file (with your consent)
  • Course participation remains separate unless clinically relevant and you request integration
  • Full therapeutic confidentiality applies to everything discussed in sessions, regardless of whether it originated from website tools

📝 Intellectual Property

All content on this website, including text, images, design, graphics, course materials, assessment tools, and the overall look and feel, is my intellectual property or used with appropriate permission. This content is protected by Canadian copyright law.
  • Read, browse, and share links to this website freely
  • Print individual pages for your personal reference
  • Quote brief excerpts for professional, educational, or clinical purposes with attribution
  • Share specific pages with clients or colleagues as part of professional practice
  • Reference this content in professional or academic work with proper citation
  • Use course materials for your personal learning and skill development
  • Reproducing substantial portions of content for commercial purposes
  • Using images, graphics, or design elements for another business
  • Republishing entire articles, courses, or policy documents on other websites
  • Creating derivative works based on this content
  • Using course materials or assessment tools in your own professional practice
  • Distributing course content to others outside of authorized sharing
I want this information to be useful to the professional community and accessible to people seeking help. Reasonable professional sharing, educational use, and clinical reference are welcomed and expected. What I’m protecting against is commercial exploitation, misrepresentation of my work, or unauthorized professional use of assessment and course materials.
If you have questions about whether your intended use requires permission, just ask. I’m generally happy to grant permission for reasonable requests that serve legitimate professional or educational purposes.
This website includes links to external resources, such as crisis hotlines, professional associations (Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association), insurance information sites, mental health education resources, community support services, and external course platforms or assessment tools.
Important: I don’t control these external sites and am not responsible for their content, privacy practices, or availability. A link from this site doesn’t constitute an endorsement; it’s provided for your convenience and information.
Your responsibility: When you click a link to an external site, you’re subject to that site’s terms of use and privacy policy. Please review their policies before sharing personal information on any third-party website.
If you notice a broken link or find that a linked resource isn’t helpful (or worse, is harmful), please let me know so I can update or remove it.

⚖️ Limitation of Liability

This section distinguishes between website-related issues, assessment/course tools, and professional counselling services, which are governed by different standards.
For issues related to the website itself (not counselling services), my liability is limited to the following:
I’m not liable for:
  • Technical problems with the website (server downtime, broken features, display issues on your device)
  • Temporary unavailability of the booking system, contact forms, assessment tools, or course platforms
  • Inaccuracies in general informational content that becomes outdated
  • Any indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising from website technical failures
What this means practically: If you experience a technical glitch that prevents you from booking an appointment or accessing a course, I’ll help you resolve it. If the server goes down temporarily, I’m not liable for your inability to access information during that period.
I’m not liable for:
  • Inaccuracy of automated assessment results for your specific situation
  • Decisions you make based on screening tool results without professional consultation
  • Outcomes if assessment results differ from a professional clinical assessment
  • Technical issues with third-party assessment platforms
  • Your reliance on screening results as diagnostic information
I AM liable for:
  • Privacy breaches or unauthorized disclosure of your assessment responses
  • Violations of PIPA/PIPEDA privacy laws
  • Professional misconduct if I misuse assessment data in clinical practice
I’m not liable for:
  • Whether course content achieves specific outcomes for you
  • Results depending on your individual effort and circumstances
  • Third-party course platform technical issues or data breaches
  • Advice, comments, or information shared by other course participants in forums
  • Your application of course concepts without professional guidance
I AM liable for:
  • Course content that violates CCPA Standards of Practice
  • Privacy breaches or unauthorized disclosure of your course data
  • Misrepresentation of course content as therapy or clinical treatment
Important: Nothing in these website terms limits or excludes my professional liability as a Canadian Certified Counsellor for:
Professional counselling services are subject to separate agreements and professional liability standards. The Clinical Services Agreement (provided at intake) governs the therapeutic relationship and includes appropriate professional protections.
I’m not liable for content, privacy practices, or actions of third-party websites, course platforms, or assessment tools linked from this site, even if I’ve recommended or referenced those resources.
If you make decisions based solely on general information, assessment results, or course content found on this website without seeking professional consultation, I’m not responsible for the outcomes of those decisions. Website content, assessments, and courses are educational and informational; they’re not personalized treatment.
Nothing in these terms excludes liability that cannot be limited by law, including liability for fraud, intentional misconduct, or gross negligence.

📋 Professional Standards for Digital Tools

When offering online assessment tools, courses, or self-help resources, I adhere to professional standards established by relevant Canadian healthcare regulatory bodies and professional associations.
  1. Professional Judgment Required

Per CRPO Standard 3.4: “Registrants do not rely on information obtained from computer-generated assessments without exercising their own professional judgment.”

This means I always:

  • Review assessment results critically, not at face value
  • Consider cultural context, population validity, and individual circumstances
  • Use professional clinical assessment to verify or contextualize screening results
  • Recognize limitations of automated tools
  1. Tool Validation and Appropriateness

I select assessment tools and course content that:

  • Are evidence-based and validated for their intended purposes
  • Are appropriate for the populations they’ll serve
  • Are culturally sensitive and adapted where necessary
  • Clearly state their limitations and intended use
  1. Informed Consent for Digital Tools

Before using assessment tools or enrolling in courses, you’ll receive clear information about:

  • What the tool or course is designed to do (and what it’s NOT)
  • How your data will be collected, stored, and used
  • Limitations of automated results
  • Your rights regarding data access and deletion
  1. Technology Competence

I maintain competence in the digital tools I offer, including:

  • Understanding how algorithms generate results
  • Knowing the validation research behind tools
  • Staying current with updates to platforms and content
  • Recognizing when tools may not be appropriate for specific individuals
Assessment tools and courses may have limitations for:
  • Specific cultural or linguistic groups
  • Individuals with disabilities
  • People with limited technology access
  • Certain age groups or populations
Where I’m aware of limitations, I’ll disclose them. If you believe a tool or course isn’t appropriate for your circumstances, please contact me to discuss alternatives.

💳 Insurance & Accessibility Considerations

Online assessments, screening questionnaires, and psychoeducational courses are typically not covered by extended health insurance plans in Canada. These are considered educational or informational resources rather than clinical services.
What IS usually covered:
  • In-person or telehealth counselling sessions with a Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC)
  • Clinical assessments conducted during therapy sessions
  • Treatment planning and ongoing therapeutic care
If you have questions about what your specific insurance plan covers, contact your insurance provider directly or see our Fees, Billing & Insurance Policy.
I’m committed to making website tools reasonably accessible. If you require accommodations to access assessment tools or courses, please contact me to discuss:
  • Alternative formats for content (audio, simplified text, larger fonts)
  • Additional time for timed assessments
  • Language translation options
  • Technical support for platform access
To use online assessments and courses effectively, you’ll need:
  • Reliable internet connection
  • Updated web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge)
  • Device with sufficient screen size for readability
  • Quiet, private space for completing assessments or course work
  • Basic computer literacy skills
If technical barriers prevent you from using digital tools, please let me know so we can explore alternatives.

🇨🇦 Governing Law

These Terms of Use are governed by the laws of British Columbia, Canada. Any disputes arising from these terms or your use of this website will be resolved according to BC law in the courts of British Columbia.
This makes sense given that Introspectus Counselling operates in Colwood, BC, and serves clients across Vancouver Island and Greater Victoria. If you’re accessing this site from outside Canada, please note that you’re still subject to BC law when using this site.

📝 Changes to These Terms

I may update these Terms of Use occasionally to reflect changes in how the website operates, new features (such as assessments or courses), legal requirements, or professional standards. When significant changes are made, I’ll update the “Last Updated” date at the top of this page.
Material changes (those that substantially affect your rights or obligations) will be communicated more actively, such as through a notice on the homepage or an email to active clients and course enrollees.
Your continued use of the website after changes are posted means you accept the updated terms. If you disagree with changes, your option is to stop using the website; however, for practical matters like booking appointments, you can always contact me directly by phone or email.

📞 Contact Information

If you have questions about these Terms of Use, or if you need clarification about how they apply to your situation, you can reach me at:

Introspectus Counselling Ltd.
 Sean Lewis, MA, MDiv, CCC
 Canadian Certified Counsellor
 132-328 Wale Road, Colwood, BC V9B 2W8
 Phone: 250-556-4623
 Email: sean@introspectuscounselling.ca

For questions specifically about privacy, data security, or how your information is protected, please see our Information Security Statement or contact me using the information above.

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