CLIENT SERVICE AGREEMENT, INFORMED CONSENT & TERMS OF SERVICE

Dr. Michael Francis Professional Counseling Services

Important Notice

Please read this agreement carefully and in its entirety before accepting its terms and continuing to payment. This document explains the nature and scope of services offered by Dr. Michael Francis, the responsibilities of the individual receiving services, important limitations concerning those services, confidentiality and privacy considerations, emergency procedures, electronic communications, video-only recording, appointments, payments, and other conditions governing the service relationship.

By selecting I ACCEPT & AGREE at the conclusion of this agreement, the individual acknowledges that he or she has had an opportunity to review the entire agreement and voluntarily accepts its applicable terms.

1. PURPOSE, APPLICATION AND ELECTRONIC ACCEPTANCE

This Client Service Agreement, Informed Consent & Terms of Service (“Agreement”) establishes the general terms, conditions, understandings, responsibilities, and limitations applicable to counseling, educational, consultative, mentoring, faith-based, pastoral, behavioral, family, personal-development, environmental, and other services offered by Dr. Michael Francis (“Dr. Francis”).

For purposes of this Agreement, “Client” generally refers to the individual receiving services. Where a parent, legal guardian, caregiver, family member, organization, religious institution, employer, or other authorized person arranges services for another individual, provisions applicable to that person's authority and responsibilities shall apply accordingly.

This Agreement is presented electronically so that Clients may review important information before proceeding with services or payment. It is not necessary to print, physically sign, or manually complete this Agreement unless Dr. Francis determines that a separate written authorization or service-specific document is appropriate.

Electronic acceptance of this Agreement is intended to constitute an affirmative acknowledgment that the Client has been provided access to the Agreement, has had the opportunity to read it, and voluntarily agrees to the applicable terms.

Acceptance of this Agreement does not, by itself, guarantee acceptance as a Client, guarantee the availability of a particular service, create a specific appointment, reserve a particular date or location, or require Dr. Francis to provide a service that he determines would be inappropriate or outside the scope of services offered.

2. PROFESSIONAL ROLE, QUALIFICATIONS AND SCOPE OF SERVICES

Dr. Michael Francis holds an earned Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Clinical Psychology from Drexel University. His professional background also includes counseling, education, behavioral and developmental studies, Christian ministry, faith-based counseling, community leadership, continuing education, and service to individuals, families, schools, religious institutions, and community organizations.

The title “Dr.” reflects Dr. Francis's earned doctoral degree. It does not represent that he is a physician or medical doctor.

Services may include, depending upon the circumstances and needs of the Client, individual counseling, couples and relationship counseling, family guidance, adolescent and youth guidance, parenting consultation, grief and loss support, assistance with stress and life transitions, behavioral change, personal development, mentoring, educational consultation, faith-based or pastoral counseling, spiritual guidance, wellness and lifestyle discussions, home and environmental consultation, and assistance identifying other professional or community resources.

Services are individualized. A service appearing on Dr. Francis's website does not necessarily mean that the service is appropriate for every Client or circumstance.

Dr. Francis may determine that a Client's needs fall outside the appropriate scope of the services he provides. When appropriate, he may recommend that the Client obtain assistance from a physician, psychiatrist, California-licensed mental-health professional, attorney, educational specialist, substance-use treatment provider, emergency service, environmental specialist, or another appropriately qualified professional.

Nothing contained on the website, in this Agreement, during an appointment, in correspondence, or in educational materials should be interpreted as representing that Dr. Francis is providing a California professionally licensed service that he does not hold the applicable license to provide.

3. SERVICES OUTSIDE THE SCOPE OF THIS AGREEMENT

Unless separately provided by an appropriately licensed or credentialed professional, services under this Agreement do not constitute medical treatment, psychiatric treatment, prescription or medication management, emergency psychiatric services, hospitalization, formal psychological or neuropsychological testing, forensic psychological evaluation, custody evaluation, court-ordered evaluation, or another specialized professional service requiring credentials, licensure, facilities, or testing procedures outside the services being offered.

Dr. Francis does not prescribe medication.

Clients requiring medical diagnosis or treatment, psychiatric treatment, medication management, emergency intervention, formal psychological testing, or another specialized professional service should obtain assistance from an appropriately qualified provider.

The fact that medical, psychological, psychiatric, legal, educational, environmental, or other matters may be discussed does not transform counseling, consultation, education, mentoring, or faith-based guidance into a separately regulated professional service.

4. INDIVIDUALIZED NATURE OF SERVICES

Human behavior, relationships, families, grief, personal development, spirituality, decision-making, behavioral change, and responses to adversity are complex.

Services are therefore individualized rather than formulaic.

Information or recommendations appropriate for one Client may not be appropriate for another. Dr. Francis may modify his approach according to the Client's circumstances, objectives, age, developmental considerations, family situation, personal beliefs, environment, and the nature of the service requested.

No particular method, frequency of appointments, duration of services, or course of action is guaranteed to be appropriate for every individual.

5. NO GUARANTEE OF RESULTS

Dr. Francis does not guarantee any particular psychological, behavioral, emotional, relational, educational, spiritual, occupational, financial, medical, family, or other outcome.

Counseling and related services can provide perspective, education, guidance, accountability, support, and opportunities for reflection and change. The results, however, depend upon numerous circumstances beyond the control of any counselor or consultant.

A Client's dissatisfaction with an outcome does not, by itself, establish that a service was improperly provided.

No statement made by Dr. Francis should be interpreted as a promise or warranty of a particular result unless expressly stated in writing as such.

6. CLIENT PARTICIPATION AND PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY

Clients are encouraged to participate honestly, provide reasonably accurate information, ask questions, communicate concerns, and thoughtfully consider information and recommendations provided during services.

Dr. Francis may offer observations, alternatives, perspectives, educational information, recommendations, or questions intended to assist a Client in evaluating circumstances.

The Client nevertheless remains responsible for his or her own decisions, conduct and actions.

The purpose of counseling is not to create dependence upon a counselor. In many circumstances, successful counseling involves helping an individual develop sufficient judgment, confidence, skills, and independence to make decisions without continued reliance upon counseling.

Accordingly, Dr. Francis may recommend reducing or concluding regular sessions when he believes continued counseling is no longer necessary or beneficial.

7. VOLUNTARY PARTICIPATION AND RIGHT TO DISCONTINUE

Except where participation results from an independent legal, parental, institutional, employment, educational, or other requirement, participation in services is voluntary.

A Client may ask questions about the service, express disagreement with a recommendation, decline a particular recommendation, or discontinue voluntary services.

Likewise, Dr. Francis reserves the right to decline or discontinue services when circumstances reasonably indicate that the service is inappropriate, outside his role, no longer productive, requires specialized assistance, presents safety or boundary concerns, or cannot responsibly be continued.

Where appropriate, reasonable referral information may be provided.

8. EMERGENCIES AND CRISIS SITUATIONS

THE SERVICES DESCRIBED IN THIS AGREEMENT ARE NOT A 24-HOUR EMERGENCY OR CRISIS RESPONSE SERVICE.

Dr. Francis's website, email, text messaging, voicemail, payment system, appointment-request system, and other routine methods of communication should not be used as substitutes for emergency services.

Sending a message, leaving a voicemail, submitting an appointment request, completing an electronic agreement, or submitting payment does not mean that the communication has been immediately received or reviewed.

A person experiencing an immediate medical emergency, imminent risk of suicide or serious self-harm, immediate threat of violence, or another potentially life-threatening emergency should seek immediate assistance through appropriate emergency resources.

In the United States, emergency assistance may be obtained by calling 911. Individuals experiencing a suicide or mental-health crisis may also call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

Dr. Francis may recommend emergency, medical, psychiatric, or specialized intervention whenever circumstances appear to require services beyond those he provides.

9. CONFIDENTIALITY, PRIVACY AND DISCRETION

Dr. Francis recognizes that counseling and related services may involve personal, sensitive, or private information and endeavors to treat information shared during services with appropriate discretion and respect.

Clients should nevertheless understand that confidentiality is not unlimited and that the precise legal protections applicable to information may depend upon the nature of the service, the setting, the professional relationship, applicable law, and whether other persons or organizations are involved.

A Client should not assume that every communication occurring in counseling, educational, pastoral, consultative, family, environmental, or other services carries precisely the same statutory privilege or confidentiality protections applicable to treatment provided by a California-licensed psychotherapist or medical provider.

Information may be disclosed when authorized by the Client or when disclosure is required or permitted by applicable law.

Nothing in this Agreement is intended to create a statutory privilege, confidentiality obligation, or reporting duty where the law does not otherwise create one.

10. LEGALLY REQUIRED OR PERMITTED DISCLOSURES

There are circumstances in which information may be required or permitted to be disclosed under applicable law.

These may include valid legal process, court orders, legally applicable reporting requirements, safety-related circumstances, suspected abuse or neglect when a reporting requirement applies, or other circumstances recognized by law.

Because the precise legal requirements can depend upon the nature of the professional relationship, Client, service, and circumstances, this Agreement does not attempt to predict every situation in which disclosure may or may not be legally required.

When reasonably possible and legally appropriate, questions concerning confidentiality may be discussed with the Client.

11. COUPLES, FAMILY AND MULTIPERSON SERVICES

Services involving couples, parents, families, or multiple participants present additional privacy considerations.

Information disclosed in the presence of another participant will ordinarily become known to that participant. Dr. Francis cannot guarantee that another participant will maintain the confidentiality of information learned during a joint meeting.

Participants are expected to treat personal information disclosed during joint services respectfully.

Dr. Francis may establish reasonable expectations regarding communications outside joint sessions, private communications from individual participants, participation by additional family members, and circumstances under which joint services should be modified or discontinued.

Payment for another person's participation does not automatically entitle the person making payment to confidential information concerning that participant.

12. SERVICES INVOLVING MINORS

Services involving children and adolescents require special consideration.

The legal authority to arrange or consent to services for a minor may depend upon the child's age, custody arrangements, legal status, nature of the service, and applicable law.

A parent, guardian, or other person arranging services for a minor is responsible for accurately representing his or her relationship to the minor and legal authority to arrange the requested service.

Nothing in this Agreement is intended to eliminate any independent right that a minor possesses under applicable law.

Where custody, guardianship, or parental authority is disputed, Dr. Francis may postpone or decline services until appropriate authority has been established.

13. CHILD EDUCATIONAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL GUIDANCE

When assisting families with concerns involving a child's education, behavior, development, learning, school performance, or possible need for evaluation, Dr. Francis may assist parents in organizing concerns, identifying appropriate questions, communicating with educational institutions, understanding available resources, and determining possible next steps.

Dr. Francis may also direct families toward school-district, state, community, or private resources capable of providing formal assessment or specialized assistance.

Such guidance is not itself a formal psychological, neuropsychological, medical, educational, or special-education evaluation unless such evaluation is separately conducted by an appropriately qualified professional.

14. FAITH-BASED AND CHRISTIAN COUNSELING

Dr. Francis is a recognized Christian minister and Board Certified Christian Counselor. Clients specifically seeking faith-based counseling may request that Christian principles, Scripture, prayer, spiritual reflection, religious tradition, moral reasoning, or other elements of faith be incorporated into their services.

Faith-based counseling is intended to respect the Client's circumstances and beliefs.

Dr. Francis may also work with individuals from religious traditions other than Christianity, individuals exploring or questioning their faith, and individuals who do not identify with a particular religious tradition.

Unless the Client specifically requests Christian counseling, the professional relationship does not require the Client to adopt Dr. Francis's religious beliefs.

Questions concerning God, faith, doubt, morality, religious identity, spiritual conflict, or a crisis of faith may themselves be appropriate subjects for discussion without predetermined conclusions being imposed upon the Client.

15. SERVICES AT RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS

When practical and appropriate, faith-based counseling may occur at a Client's church, parish, congregation, or other religious institution.

Such arrangements are dependent upon the institution's permission, availability, scheduling, security requirements, facilities, and policies.

Dr. Francis cannot guarantee that a particular religious institution will permit or accommodate an appointment.

When an institution cannot accommodate services, another appropriate location may be arranged, including one of Dr. Francis's available office locations or, where appropriate, the Client's residence or another mutually acceptable setting.

16. IN-HOME AND MOBILE SERVICES

Certain services may be offered in private residences or other mutually agreed locations.

Clients receiving in-home services are responsible for providing accurate location information and a reasonably safe and appropriate environment.

Dr. Francis reserves the right to decline to enter or remain at a location that reasonably appears unsafe, threatening, excessively disruptive, unsanitary, inaccessible, or otherwise inappropriate for the intended service.

The Client understands that privacy within a residence can be affected by family members, visitors, caregivers, household employees, security systems, electronic devices, or other circumstances outside Dr. Francis's control.

17. SERVICES WITHIN MEDICAL, NURSING AND RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES

Where permitted, services may be provided in hospitals, nursing homes, assisted-living facilities, residential-care environments, or similar locations.

All such services remain subject to the facility's rules, access requirements, security procedures, visiting restrictions, scheduling, infection-control policies, and authorization requirements.

Dr. Francis does not control the availability of private meeting space within a third-party facility.

Providing services within a medical or residential facility does not, by itself, make Dr. Francis an employee, agent, physician, medical provider, or member of that facility's clinical staff.

18. HOME SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTATIONS

Dr. Francis may provide observational home-safety and environmental consultations intended to assist individuals and families in identifying potential conditions within their living environment that warrant attention.

Discussions or observations may concern indoor air, water, moisture, visible conditions potentially associated with mold, ventilation, lighting, household noise, heating and cooling conditions, window coverings, general household safety, and other environmental considerations.

These services are consultative and observational.

Unless expressly represented otherwise, Dr. Francis is not acting as a licensed home inspector, environmental engineer, industrial hygienist, laboratory, mold-testing professional, HVAC contractor, electrician, plumber, building-code inspector, or other technical specialist.

An observation concerning a potential condition is not a laboratory finding, engineering determination, building certification, environmental diagnosis, or guarantee that a property is safe or free from hazards.

Where formal testing, inspection, remediation, repair, laboratory analysis, or technical determination is warranted, the Client should retain an appropriately qualified professional.

19. MEDICAL, HEALTH AND WELLNESS MATTERS

Counseling may include discussion of sleep, nutrition, exercise, medications, physical health, environmental influences, alcohol or substance use, stress, and other health-related subjects because these matters can affect daily functioning and personal well-being.

Such discussions do not constitute medical diagnosis or medical treatment.

Clients should seek appropriate medical advice from qualified healthcare professionals concerning diagnosis, treatment, medication, laboratory testing, or other medical concerns.

A Client should not discontinue, begin, or modify prescribed medication or medical treatment solely because of a counseling discussion with Dr. Francis.

20. SUBSTANCE USE, GAMBLING AND BEHAVIORAL CONCERNS

Services may address alcohol use, drug use, gambling, compulsive behavior, decision-making, relationships, accountability, consequences, and behavioral change.

The severity of such concerns varies considerably.

Some circumstances may require medical detoxification, psychiatric treatment, licensed substance-use treatment, residential treatment, hospitalization, emergency intervention, or another specialized service.

Dr. Francis may recommend specialized assistance whenever circumstances appear to exceed the appropriate scope of the services being provided.

21. GRIEF, TRAUMA, ASSAULT AND DIFFICULT PERSONAL EXPERIENCES

Services may involve discussion of grief, bereavement, traumatic experiences, sexual assault, abuse, divorce, family conflict, childhood experiences, relationship difficulties, or other painful subjects.

Clients ordinarily control the degree to which they disclose personal experiences, subject to information reasonably necessary for the service being provided.

Discussing difficult experiences may sometimes produce temporary emotional discomfort.

Clients are encouraged to communicate when a particular discussion or approach feels overwhelming, inappropriate, or unproductive.

22. REFERRALS TO OTHER PROFESSIONALS

Dr. Francis may recommend another professional, organization, agency, treatment program, educational resource, religious institution, contractor, specialist, or community service.

Unless expressly stated otherwise, a referral is provided as a resource and does not constitute a warranty or guarantee concerning the independent person or organization.

Independent providers remain responsible for their own services, conduct, qualifications, licensure, fees, recommendations, scheduling, and results.

Clients remain free to select another appropriately qualified provider.

23. ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS

Telephone calls, email, text messages, website forms, and other electronic communications may be used for scheduling and administrative purposes when appropriate.

Electronic communications have inherent security and privacy limitations.

Clients should exercise discretion when transmitting highly sensitive information through ordinary email, text messages, or website forms.

Electronic communications are not emergency communications.

A communication should not be assumed to have been received or reviewed merely because the Client's device indicates that it was transmitted or delivered.

24. VIDEO-ONLY RECORDING OF SESSIONS

For purposes of safety, security, accountability, documentation, and the mutual protection of both the Client and Dr. Francis, certain counseling, consultation, or other service sessions may be subject to video recording by Dr. Francis.

Such recordings are intended to be visual recordings only, without audio, and are not intended to record the substance of confidential verbal communications between the Client and Dr. Francis.

The Client understands that the purpose of video-only recording is protective rather than promotional. A recording may provide an objective visual record of the circumstances surrounding a meeting should a safety concern, complaint, allegation, misunderstanding, dispute, or other legitimate issue subsequently arise.

Video recordings are not intended for entertainment, advertising, social-media content, marketing, public display, or unrelated commercial use.

Access to any retained recording shall be limited to legitimate purposes associated with safety, security, administration, legal compliance, responding to a complaint or allegation, protecting the rights or interests of persons involved, or as otherwise required or permitted by applicable law.

Reasonable measures will be used to protect retained recordings from unauthorized access.

The Client's acceptance of this Agreement includes acknowledgment that video-only recording without audio may occur during sessions.

Because this provision is significant, the Client will also be required to provide a separate affirmative electronic acknowledgment of this provision before proceeding.

Clients, accompanying persons, and third parties may not photograph, audio-record, video-record, livestream, or otherwise electronically capture a private session without prior authorization from Dr. Francis and the consent of any other person whose consent is legally required.

25. PROFESSIONAL BOUNDARIES AND APPROPRIATE CONDUCT

The service relationship is professional.

Professional boundaries protect both Client and Provider and may require Dr. Francis to decline requests or arrangements that create inappropriate expectations, conflicts, dual relationships, or circumstances inconsistent with the purpose of services.

Threatening, violent, abusive, harassing, sexually inappropriate, destructive, discriminatory, or seriously disruptive conduct may result in immediate termination of an appointment or discontinuation of services.

Nothing in this Agreement requires Dr. Francis to enter or remain in an environment that he reasonably considers unsafe.

26. PERSONAL DECISION-MAKING

Clients remain responsible for decisions involving relationships, marriage, divorce, employment, finances, education, religion, parenting, housing, medical treatment, legal matters, and other significant areas of life.

Dr. Francis may assist Clients in examining alternatives, consequences, values, priorities, and potential courses of action.

Such assistance does not transfer responsibility for the Client's ultimate decisions to Dr. Francis.

Legal, financial, medical, or other specialized advice should be obtained from an appropriately qualified professional when necessary.

27. APPOINTMENTS AND AVAILABILITY

Submitting an appointment request does not guarantee an appointment.

Likewise, submitting payment does not independently establish an appointment date, time, duration, location, or particular service.

An appointment is established when the applicable arrangements have been confirmed.

Clients are responsible for providing accurate contact information and monitoring communications concerning appointments.

28. FEES AND PAYMENT

Fees vary according to the service, duration, location, travel requirements, circumstances, and other applicable considerations.

Clients should review the price associated with the service selected on the website or any individually established arrangement before submitting payment.

Where the electronic payment system permits the Client to enter a payment amount, the Client is responsible for entering the correct amount.

Payment does not expand the scope of services or require Dr. Francis to provide a service that would otherwise be inappropriate or unavailable.

29. CANCELLATIONS, RESCHEDULING AND MISSED APPOINTMENTS

Appointment time reserved for one Client may not be available to another person.

Clients are therefore expected to provide reasonable notice when cancellation or rescheduling becomes necessary.

Any cancellation, rescheduling, late-arrival, or missed-appointment policy displayed for the applicable service or otherwise communicated to the Client is incorporated into the service arrangement.

Repeated missed appointments or late cancellations may result in discontinuation of services or advance-payment requirements.

30. INSURANCE, GRANTS, EMPLOYER PROGRAMS AND THIRD-PARTY FUNDING

Eligibility for insurance reimbursement, employer benefits, grants, charitable assistance, workers' compensation arrangements, or other third-party funding depends upon the applicable program and individual circumstances.

Reference to an insurance program, employer program, grant, governmental system, charitable resource, or other funding mechanism does not guarantee coverage or eligibility.

Unless another arrangement has expressly been made, Clients are responsible for determining applicable benefits, eligibility, authorization requirements, deductibles, reimbursement procedures, and other conditions imposed by third-party programs.

31. THIRD-PARTY PAYERS

Another person or organization may sometimes pay for services provided to a Client.

Payment by a parent, spouse, family member, employer, religious institution, organization, or other third party does not automatically give that payer access to private Client information or authority over the service relationship.

Information will not be provided to a third-party payer merely because that person or organization paid for services when disclosure would otherwise be inappropriate or unauthorized.

32. ACCURACY OF INFORMATION

Clients are responsible for providing reasonably accurate information relevant to services.

Dr. Francis may reasonably rely upon information supplied by a Client unless circumstances indicate otherwise.

Clients should promptly correct materially inaccurate information, particularly information involving identity, age, custody, guardianship, medications, emergencies, service location, contact information, or safety.

33. EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS, BOOKS AND WEBSITE CONTENT

Books, articles, website content, handouts, presentations, educational resources, and other materials produced or distributed by Dr. Francis are generally intended for educational and informational purposes.

Reading a publication, visiting the website, receiving educational materials, attending a presentation, or communicating generally with Dr. Francis does not, by itself, create an individualized counseling or service relationship.

Educational materials should not be used as substitutes for individualized medical, psychiatric, legal, psychological, or other specialized professional assistance when such assistance is required.

34. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

Original books, written materials, educational resources, presentations, forms, website content, and other materials created by Dr. Francis remain subject to applicable intellectual-property protections.

Materials provided to a Client may ordinarily be retained for the Client's personal use.

They may not be falsely attributed, commercially reproduced, sold, published, or distributed without authorization where applicable rights prohibit such use.

35. TERMINATION OR CONCLUSION OF SERVICES

Services may conclude because objectives have been achieved, the Client has developed sufficient independence, services are no longer productive, another professional is better suited to the Client's needs, appointments are repeatedly missed, payment obligations are not met, professional boundaries cannot be maintained, safety concerns arise, or other circumstances make continuation inappropriate.

Dr. Francis may recommend concluding services even when a Client is willing to continue attending if he believes continued reliance upon counseling would no longer serve the Client's development or independence.

Where appropriate and reasonably practicable, referral information may be provided.

36. PAYMENT DOES NOT CREATE A SERVICE RELATIONSHIP BY ITSELF

The website's electronic payment system is provided as a convenience.

SUBMITTING PAYMENT ALONE DOES NOT GUARANTEE ACCEPTANCE AS A CLIENT, CREATE AN APPOINTMENT, RESERVE A PARTICULAR DATE OR LOCATION, OR ENTITLE THE PAYER TO A PARTICULAR SERVICE.

If money is submitted for a service that cannot appropriately be provided, the matter will be addressed according to the applicable circumstances and payment policies.

37. THIRD-PARTY WEBSITES, PAYMENT PROCESSORS AND TECHNOLOGY

The website may utilize independent services for payment processing, hosting, communications, scheduling, or other functions.

Those services operate under their own terms, privacy practices, technology, and security systems.

Technical interruptions, internet failures, payment-processing interruptions, device problems, email failures, or other circumstances outside Dr. Francis's control may occur.

Clients should avoid placing unnecessary sensitive counseling or personal information into third-party payment-reference fields.

38. CHANGES TO SERVICES AND POLICIES

Services, policies, procedures, fees, and website information may change over time.

When a material change affects an existing service relationship and renewed acknowledgment is appropriate, the Client may be asked to review and accept an updated version of this Agreement.

The version of the Agreement accepted electronically should be associated with the Client's acceptance record whenever reasonably practicable.

39. NO WAIVER OF NONWAIVABLE RIGHTS

Nothing in this Agreement is intended to waive, restrict, eliminate, or disclaim any right or responsibility that applicable law does not permit the parties to waive, restrict, eliminate, or disclaim.

Nothing in this Agreement authorizes conduct prohibited by law.

If a provision is determined to exceed a limitation imposed by applicable law, it should be interpreted to the maximum lawful extent rather than being construed to invalidate otherwise lawful portions of the Agreement.

40. INDEPENDENT THIRD PARTIES

To the extent permitted by applicable law, Dr. Francis is not responsible for the independent acts or omissions of third-party professionals, schools, hospitals, medical facilities, religious institutions, governmental agencies, laboratories, contractors, environmental specialists, residential facilities, insurers, payment processors, transportation providers, or other independent persons or organizations.

A recommendation or referral does not make an independent provider an employee or agent of Dr. Francis.

41. QUESTIONS, CONCERNS AND GOOD-FAITH RESOLUTION

Clients are encouraged to raise questions or concerns concerning services promptly.

Clear communication can often resolve misunderstandings before they become significant disputes.

Nothing in this provision prevents a Client or Dr. Francis from exercising any right or remedy available under applicable law.

42. GOVERNING LAW

Except where federal law or another jurisdiction's law necessarily governs a particular issue, this Agreement is intended to be interpreted according to the laws of the State of California.

Services provided in another jurisdiction, if any, may be subject to additional legal requirements.

43. SEVERABILITY

If a provision of this Agreement is determined by an authority of competent jurisdiction to be unlawful, invalid, or unenforceable, that provision should be interpreted or limited to the extent reasonably necessary to make it enforceable where legally permissible.

The remaining provisions shall continue to apply to the extent permitted by law.

44. NO IMPLIED WAIVER

A decision not to enforce a particular provision on one occasion does not necessarily waive that provision on another occasion or constitute a waiver of another provision.

45. ADDITIONAL OR SERVICE-SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS

This Agreement establishes the general terms applicable to services.

Certain circumstances may require additional disclosures, parental permissions, releases, facility documents, service-specific agreements, authorizations, or other documentation.

Acceptance of this Agreement does not eliminate a document or authorization independently required by applicable law or necessary for a particular service.

When a specific written agreement expressly modifies a general provision of this Agreement for a particular service, the more specific provision will govern that matter to the extent permitted by law.

46. ENTIRE AGREEMENT AND ELECTRONIC ACCEPTANCE

This Agreement represents the general understanding governing services described herein, together with any applicable service-specific terms separately accepted by the Client.

The Agreement is intentionally provided electronically.

By affirmatively selecting the acceptance controls below, the Client indicates an intention to accept the applicable terms electronically.

The Client is encouraged to retain a copy of this Agreement for future reference.

CLIENT ACKNOWLEDGMENT & ELECTRONIC ACCEPTANCE

Please review the following acknowledgments before continuing.

I acknowledge that I have been provided access to the Client Service Agreement, Informed Consent & Terms of Service and the opportunity to read it before proceeding.

I understand the nature and limitations of the services described in this Agreement. I understand that the title “Dr.” refers to Dr. Michael Francis's earned doctoral degree and does not represent that he is acting as a physician or medical doctor.

I understand that these services are not emergency services and that website forms, emails, text messages, voicemail, appointment requests, and payment submissions should not be relied upon for emergency assistance.

I understand that no particular outcome has been guaranteed and that I remain responsible for my own decisions and actions.

I understand that additional permissions or documentation may be necessary for certain services or circumstances.