Disclaimer:

None of the information on this website is therapeutic advice!

All of the information on this website is provided for educational purposes only, to help familiarize the reader with my practice, and to generally raise awareness of the issues discussed.

Reading and/or commenting on this website does not constitute the establishment of any client-therapist relationship. Establishing a therapeutic relationship with me only happens after someone meets with me in person, AND we both agree to work together in that capacity and actually begin to do so.  

This website and my YouTube channel and Instagram account can not provide professional therapeutic diagnosis, treatment, or advice for anyone’s specific life situation.  They are not in any way a substitute for actual participation in therapy.

Also, I am not licensed to give legal or medical advice; and none of the information on this website or in my practice, constitutes legal or medical advice. I have included links to various websites and/or resources under the “Resources” section of this website. Those links are provided as a courtesy.  They do not constitute a thorough survey of available resources. The inclusion of these links should not be interpreted as a recommendation or endorsement; and none of the entities that are linked here, pay me for including links to their websites or other contact information.

I have served as an assistant/independent contractor with Somatic Experiencing Trauma Institute, and in that capacity I have received financial compensation for my role in organizing Somatic Experiencing trainings and providing student educational sessions for credit towards certification. I also may receive financial compensation for any Somatic Experiencing introductory seminars I conduct. Other than my own individual conduct in those aforementioned capacities, I am not responsible for any content, efficacy, conduct, or practices of any of the resources or entities whose websites or articles (etc) are linked on this website, or the ones not linked on this website..

Your use of this website means that you accept these terms and conditions..

Privacy:

My understanding is that this website does not collect or store any cookies or other user information. I have verified this by checking with my webhost and also by running an online scan. There are no sales or user accounts available through this website. I do not collect any website user information, nor do I sell or share it with third parties. I do not want to collect any information about anyone who has viewed my website, with the exception of blocking IP addresses associated with attempted unauthorized logins (attempts to hack this website).

When I did offer a newsletter through this website many years ago, subscribing to my newsletter did not establish any professional relationship with me, nor did it/does it indicate in any way that I am your therapist.  (I have long since stopped offering a newsletter and deleted my MailChimp account.)

I, Andrea Bell, am the sole owner and publisher of this website. All opinions expressed here are my own, unless specifically noted otherwise. No advertising or outside funding contributes to the creation, publication or maintenance of this website.

If you are experiencing any kind of emergency, please call 9-1-1 and/or go to your nearest emergency room immediately. The national suicide prevention hotline can be reached by dialing 211.

Privacy for clients:

I am a licensed psychotherapist (LCSW, California) who is compliant with the Federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). As such I offer HIPAA compliant SMS messaging, a HIPAA compliant client portal, and HIPAA compliant encrypted email. I am generally a one person practice, and I do my own billing, practice accounting, and scheduling. For further information please refer to the most recently updated version of my Office Policies document.

I do not share or disclose client data except as detailed in my Office Policies, and/or as required by law.

How long I retain your data:

I retain client records for at least seven (7) years from the date of the last session; subsequently, I securely destroy the records. After seven years I am unlikely to still have records.

Website Content and Photographs:

All photographs on this website were photographed by me, Andrea L. Bell. All rights reserved. Please contact me to request permission to retain, reuse or publish any images. No AI was used in the production or editing of any images or text. Graphic design for my SomaticWise logo was done by Sumako.

All written content was written personally by me, Andrea Bell, without the use of AI. Text not to be used without my explicit permission.