TERMS OF SERVICE FOR PATIENTS

Effective date: 1 July 2025

These Terms of Service ("Terms") set out the basis on which L J Hyde Ltd, trading as Aligned Therapy (“Aligned,” “we,” “us,” or “our”), provides its free therapy-matching service to individual users (“you,” “your,” or “Client”). By using our website, AI MatchBot, or accepting a referral to a therapist, you agree to these Terms and our Privacy Policy.

Key things to know:

  • Aligned is a free therapist-matching service, not a therapy provider.

  • You’ll only be referred to accredited, independent UK therapists.

  • We don’t see your sessions or handle payments — that’s all between you and the therapist.

  • Your data is private and protected under GDPR.

  • Therapy isn’t guaranteed, and we don’t offer crisis support.

1. Nature of the Service

  • Aligned is a private referral and matching service only. We are not a healthcare provider and we do not deliver therapy ourselves.

  • Our role is to help suggest UK-based therapists who are members of recognised professional bodies (such as BACP, UKCP, HCPC, etc.), based on the information you provide. All therapists are vetted and verified by us before joining the platform.

  • All therapy takes place entirely outside the Aligned platform. We are not involved in the scheduling, delivery, or oversight of therapy sessions.

2. No Clinical or Legal Liability

  • All therapists work independently and are not employees or agents of Aligned. Any therapeutic relationship you enter into is solely between you and the therapist.

  • Aligned does not guarantee any specific outcome from therapy, nor that any suggested therapist will be appropriate, available, or a good fit.

  • Aligned is not responsible for the acts, omissions, quality of care, or professional conduct of any therapist.

  • By using the service, you agree that Aligned shall not be liable for any clinical outcome, personal injury, financial loss, or other consequence arising from your use of the Platform or engagement with a therapist.

  • To the fullest extent permitted by law, you agree that Aligned is not liable for any clinical, emotional, financial, or other outcomes of your therapy.

3. Fees & Payments

  • Aligned’s matching service is free for clients. You pay your therapist directly based on their fees and policies.

  • Aligned does not handle, process, or get involved in any payments between you and your therapist.

  • We are not responsible for cancellations, refunds, missed sessions, or disputes relating to payment.

  • Fees vary between therapists. You will always be informed of a therapist’s session fee before you agree to contact them.

4. Use of AI & Human Matching

  • Our AI MatchBot uses large language models (LLMs) to interpret your answers and suggest potential therapists. This tool does not provide medical advice or a diagnosis, and it may occasionally make mistakes. It is intended as a supportive guide, not a substitute for clinical judgement.

  • If the AI cannot confidently suggest a therapist, a trained human matcher may review an anonymised summary to help find a match.

  • If human review is required, only trained members of our internal team will access anonymised summaries to help find a suitable match.

  • We will only share your personal contact details with a therapist if and when you explicitly consent.

5. Data Privacy

  • Your data is processed in line with UK GDPR. We only collect and use your health data when you have explicitly consented.

  • Your data is never sold or shared for advertising. We may use anonymised data to improve our service.

  • We will never share your identifiable health data without your explicit consent. You may request access, correction, or deletion of your data at any time, in line with your rights under UK GDPR.

  • See our full Privacy Policy for details on how we collect, use, and protect your data.

6. Your Responsibilities

  • You agree to provide accurate, honest information when using the service.

  • You understand that Aligned’s recommendations depend on the information you give, and no guarantee of suitability can be made.

  • You must not use the service for unlawful, fraudulent, exploitative, or misleading purposes.

7. Age Restriction

  • This service is strictly for adults aged 18 and over. If you are under 18, you are not permitted to use this service, even with the involvement or consent of a parent or guardian.

  • We do not knowingly collect or store data from users under 18. If we become aware of such data, we will delete it promptly.

8. Right to Decline Matching

  • Aligned reserves the right to refuse to match or refer a therapist at our sole discretion.

  • We may decline or terminate matching if the request is incomplete, outside our scope, or raises concerns about safety, suitability, or service misuse.

  • Aligned is not an emergency service and cannot support individuals in immediate crisis. If you are in immediate crisis or feel unsafe, please contact 999 or reach out to NHS 111 or Samaritans on 116 123.

9. Ending Use of the Service

  • You may withdraw from the matching process at any time by contacting us at liam@aligned.co.uk. If you withdraw from the service, you may request deletion of your data. Please specify in your email that you wish us to do so.

  • We may suspend or terminate your access to the service at any time, particularly in cases of suspected misuse or legal/regulatory risk.

10. Governing Law & Legal Jurisdiction

These Terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales. By using the service, you agree that any legal claim or dispute must be brought in the courts of England and Wales. You also agree that Aligned shall not be held liable for any dispute or harm arising from your use of therapy services recommended by us.

Contact us:
If you have any questions about these Terms, email liam@aligned.co.uk.