1.1 Eligibility

You must be at least eighteen (18) years of age to use this Site or have the permission of a parent or legal guardian.

Children’s Privacy

This Site is not directed to children under the age of thirteen (13), and we do not knowingly collect personal information directly from children through the Site without appropriate parental or legal guardian consent.

If we become aware that such information has been collected in violation of applicable law, we will take reasonable steps to delete it.

1.2 Permitted Use

You agree to use this Site only for lawful purposes and in accordance with these Terms. You may not use the Site in any manner that could damage, disable, overburden, interfere with, or impair its operation or security.

1.3 Limited License

Equity Mental Health grants you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable license to access and use this Site solely for your personal, non-commercial use in accordance with these Terms.

No ownership rights are transferred through your use of the Site.

1.4 Prohibited Conduct

You agree not to engage in any of the following activities while using the Site:

• Use the Site for any unlawful purpose.
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to the Site or its servers.
• Introduce viruses, malware, or malicious code.
• Interfere with the operation or security of the Site.
• Copy, scrape, reproduce, or exploit Site content for commercial purposes without our prior written permission.

3.1 Informational Purposes Only

The information provided on this Site is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any medical or mental health condition and should not be relied upon as a substitute for an evaluation by a qualified healthcare professional.

3.2 Not Emergency Services

This Site, including email communications and online contact forms, is not intended for emergency or crisis situations and is not continuously monitored.

4.1 Service Availability

Appointments are subject to provider availability and acceptance. We reserve the right to decline or discontinue services when clinically appropriate or otherwise permitted by law.

4.2 Appointment Changes and Cancellations

Appointments may be scheduled, rescheduled, or canceled by telephone or through any approved scheduling method offered by Equity Mental Health.

Unless otherwise stated in your treatment agreement, cancellations must be made at least twenty-four (24) hours before the scheduled appointment. Late cancellations or missed appointments may be subject to a cancellation fee.

4.3 Telehealth Services

Telehealth services may be offered when clinically appropriate, permitted by applicable law, and consistent with the professional judgment of your treating provider.

Availability of telehealth services may depend upon provider licensure requirements and the client’s physical location at the time services are rendered.

Clients are responsible for participating in telehealth sessions from a private location and for maintaining the confidentiality of their own environment during telehealth appointments.

While reasonable safeguards are used to protect the privacy and security of telehealth communications, no electronic communication system is completely secure.

By participating in telehealth services, you acknowledge and accept the inherent risks associated with electronic communications, including technical failures, interruptions, unauthorized access, or data transmission issues.

Clients receiving telehealth services will be required to review and sign a separate Telehealth Informed Consent before virtual treatment begins.

Telehealth services may not be appropriate for every individual or every clinical situation. Equity Mental Health reserves the right to recommend in-person care, referral to another provider, or emergency services when clinically appropriate.

5.1 Financial Responsibility

Clients are responsible for payment of all applicable fees, including copayments, deductibles, coinsurance, and any charges not covered by insurance.

5.2 Insurance

As a courtesy, Equity Mental Health may submit claims to participating insurance carriers. However, verification of benefits is not a guarantee of payment.

Clients remain financially responsible for all balances owed.

5.3 Fee Changes

We reserve the right to modify our fees at any time. Any fee changes will be communicated before they become effective.

6.1 HIPAA and Arizona Privacy Laws

Equity Mental Health is committed to protecting your privacy and complies with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act, and all applicable Arizona laws governing the confidentiality of medical and behavioral health records.

Please review our Privacy Policy and Notice of Privacy Practices, which are incorporated into these Terms by reference, for additional information regarding how your protected health information is collected, used, stored, and disclosed.

6.2 Confidentiality and Legal Exceptions

Equity Mental Health is committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of your personal and health information. However, confidentiality is not absolute.

Protected health information may be disclosed without your authorization when permitted or required by federal or Arizona law, including, but not limited to:

• Reporting suspected child abuse or neglect to the Arizona Department of Child Safety (“DCS”) or other appropriate authorities.
• Reporting suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a vulnerable or incapacitated adult to Arizona Adult Protective Services (“APS”) or other agencies as required by law.
• Taking reasonable steps to protect an identifiable person or the public when there is a credible threat of serious harm, which may include notifying local law enforcement or other appropriate authorities.
• Complying with court orders, subpoenas, or other legal processes, as required by law.
• Disclosures necessary for treatment, payment, healthcare operations, or other purposes permitted under HIPAA and applicable Arizona law.

By using this Site and, if applicable, becoming a client of Equity Mental Health, you acknowledge that these legal exceptions to confidentiality may apply.

6.3 Cookies and Website Analytics

This Site may use cookies, web beacons, analytics tools, and similar technologies to improve website functionality, monitor website performance, enhance user experience, and understand how visitors interact with our Site.

These technologies may automatically collect certain technical information, including your IP address, browser type, operating system, referring website, pages viewed, device identifiers, and general usage patterns.

This information is generally collected in aggregate and is not intended to identify you personally.

You may adjust your browser settings to refuse cookies; however, doing so may affect certain features of the Site.

Additional information regarding cookies and tracking technologies is available in our Privacy Policy.

We may use third-party services, including website analytics providers, scheduling platforms, or embedded content providers, that also utilize cookies or similar technologies.

By continuing to use this Site, you consent to the use of cookies and similar technologies as described in our Privacy Policy.

6.4 Text Messaging Communications

By voluntarily providing your mobile telephone number, you expressly consent to receive healthcare-related administrative text messages from Equity Mental Health, including appointment reminders, scheduling notifications, billing communications, and other non-marketing practice communications.

Text messages are intended for administrative purposes only and should not be used to communicate medical emergencies or urgent clinical concerns.

Your consent to receive text messages is voluntary and is not a condition of receiving healthcare services. You may withdraw your consent at any time by following the opt-out instructions below or by contacting our office.

Message frequency may vary. Standard message and data rates may apply according to your wireless carrier.

You may opt out of receiving text messages at any time by replying “STOP” to any message or by contacting our office directly. Opting out of text communications may affect our ability to communicate appointment-related information promptly.

6.5 Electronic Communications

By communicating with Equity Mental Health through email, website forms, or other electronic means, you acknowledge that electronic communications may not always be secure despite reasonable safeguards.

Please do not send confidential, urgent, or emergency information through email or website contact forms.

Electronic communications should not be used to report emergencies, request urgent clinical assistance, or communicate time-sensitive medical information.

If you are experiencing a medical or mental health emergency, call 911 immediately or go to the nearest emergency department.

6.6 Online Payments

If online payments are offered, payment transactions are processed through secure third-party payment processors that are responsible for maintaining compliance with applicable Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards (PCI DSS).

Equity Mental Health does not store complete credit or debit card information on its systems.

Your use of third-party payment services is subject to the privacy policies and terms of those payment processors.

8.1 Website Availability

Equity Mental Health does not guarantee that the Site will be available at all times or that it will be free from interruptions, delays, viruses, malware, or other harmful components.

We reserve the right to modify, suspend, restrict, or discontinue any aspect of the Site at any time, with or without notice.

8.2 Force Majeure

Equity Mental Health shall not be liable for any delay or failure to perform resulting from causes beyond its reasonable control, including natural disasters, public health emergencies, acts of government, labor disputes, internet outages, cyberattacks, utility failures, or failures of third-party service providers.