SessionBridge User Agreement

1. Service Description

SessionBridge provides an AI-powered conversational companion designed to support individuals between licensed therapy sessions. Our service uses artificial intelligence to engage in supportive conversations, offer techniques inspired by evidence-based coping strategies, and help bridge the gap between professional therapy appointments.

Important: SessionBridge is a supplemental support tool, not a replacement for professional mental health care.

2. Eligibility and Restrictions

Age Requirements:

• You must be 18 years or older to use SessionBridge independently.
• Users 16–17 may use the service only with written parental/guardian consent AND active supervision by a licensed mental health professional.
• Users under 16 are not permitted to use this service.

Medical Restrictions:

• Individuals in active mental health crisis
• Those with severe mental health conditions requiring intensive treatment
• Users with active suicidal or self-harm ideation
• Individuals with severe eating disorders, active psychosis, or severe substance abuse
• Anyone requiring immediate medical or psychiatric intervention

3. What SessionBridge Is and Is Not

SessionBridge IS:

• An AI companion for emotional support and conversation
• A tool to practice coping strategies between therapy sessions
• A source of mental health techniques and exercises inspired by evidence-based practices
• Available 24/7 for general emotional support

SessionBridge IS NOT:

• A licensed therapist, counselor, or medical professional
• Able to diagnose, treat, or cure any mental health condition
• A substitute for professional mental health care
• Appropriate for crisis intervention or emergency situations
• Capable of prescribing medication or providing medical advice

4. Crisis and Emergency Procedures

If you are experiencing a crisis:

• STOP using SessionBridge immediately
• Call 911 or your local emergency number
• Contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (call or text 988)
• Go to your nearest emergency room
• Contact your therapist or mental health provider

SessionBridge may remind you of these resources but cannot provide crisis intervention.

5. Therapeutic Relationship and Professional Care

• SessionBridge does not create a doctor-patient or therapist-client relationship
• We strongly encourage maintaining regular contact with licensed mental health professionals
• SessionBridge is designed to supplement, not replace, professional therapy
• You remain responsible for your mental health care decisions

6. Data Privacy and Confidentiality

What We Collect:

• Conversation content to generate AI responses and improve our proprietary AI features
• Usage patterns and interaction data
• Information you voluntarily provide about your mental health journey

AI Model Providers:

• We send conversation content to our AI providers (currently OpenAI, L.L.C. and Anthropic PBC) to generate responses. These providers may temporarily retain data for abuse prevention (up to 30 days) but do not use it to train public models.

Important Differences from Therapy:

• Conversations with SessionBridge are NOT protected by therapist-client privilege
• While we maintain strong security, AI conversations do not have the same legal protections as therapy sessions
• Authorized administrators may access data for troubleshooting, abuse prevention, or legal compliance. All such access is logged.
• We may be required to disclose information if legally compelled

Your Rights:

• Access your conversation data at any time
• Request deletion of your data (active copies removed promptly, backups purged within 30 days)
• Opt out of data use for research purposes

7. Limitations of AI Technology

• AI responses are generated by computer algorithms, not human therapists
• SessionBridge may not always understand complex emotional situations
• AI cannot provide personalized treatment plans or professional assessments
• Technical limitations may occasionally result in inappropriate responses

8. User Responsibilities

You agree to:

• Use SessionBridge only as a supplemental support tool
• Not rely on SessionBridge for crisis situations or medical emergencies
• Maintain ongoing professional mental health care as appropriate
• Be honest about your age and mental health status
• Report any concerning AI responses to our support team

You agree NOT to:

• Share login credentials with others
• Use SessionBridge to harm yourself or others
• Rely solely on SessionBridge for mental health care
• Use the service if you are in crisis or need immediate professional help

9. Liability Limitations

Critical Disclaimer: SessionBridge provides AI-generated responses for general emotional support only. We do not guarantee the accuracy, appropriateness, or effectiveness of any AI-generated content.

• You use SessionBridge at your own risk
• SessionBridge is not liable for any harm resulting from AI interactions
• We are not responsible for decisions you make based on AI conversations
• No warranty is provided regarding the therapeutic effectiveness of our service

10. Professional Supervision Requirement

For therapy practice clients: If you are accessing SessionBridge through your therapist's practice:

• Your use may be monitored by your licensed mental health professional
• Your therapist may review conversation summaries for treatment purposes
• SessionBridge data may be integrated into your overall treatment plan
• Your therapist retains professional responsibility for your care

11. Terms Updates and Forced Agreement

• We may update these terms as laws and best practices evolve
• Major changes will require your explicit re-agreement to continue using the service
• Continued use after minor updates constitutes acceptance
• You will be notified of all changes via email and in-app notifications

12. Termination

• You may stop using SessionBridge at any time
• We may suspend your access if you violate these terms
• All limitations of liability survive termination

13. Governing Law

This agreement is governed by South Dakota law and any disputes will be resolved in Pennington County courts.