Terms of Service for Therapists

These Terms of Service ("Terms") constitute a legally binding agreement between you ("Therapist," "you," or "your") and Aligned Therapy Ltd, trading as Aligned / Aligned Therapy ("Aligned," "we," "us," or "our"). They govern your access to and use of Aligned's online platform (the "Platform") as a registered therapist. By registering, activating, or continuing to participate on the Platform, you (i) acknowledge that you have read, understood, and accept these Terms in full; and (ii) agree to comply with them. If you do not agree with any provision of these Terms, you must not register or must immediately cease using the Platform.

1. Definitions

1.1. "Platform" means Aligned's website and related software, services, and interfaces through which Therapists are matched to prospective clients ("clients").

1.2. "Client" means an individual seeking therapeutic services via the Platform.

1.3. "Session" means any therapeutic meeting — whether in-person, by telephone, or via video — between Therapist and client, which takes place entirely outside the Platform.

1.4. "Activity Report" means the brief weekly report submitted by the Therapist confirming whether referred clients have commenced therapy, whether they are still in therapy, and whether they are available to receive new Leads.

1.5. "Transcript" means a textual record of recorded calls between Aligned and the Therapist (e.g., onboarding or feedback calls).

1.6. "Lead" means the contact information for a prospective client that Aligned provides to the Therapist for the purpose of arranging a therapeutic relationship.

1.7. "Client Leakage" means any attempt by the Therapist to circumvent the Platform by procuring or treating a client outside Aligned's referral and fee structure.

1.8. "Professional Indemnity Insurance" means coverage of at least £1,000,000 per claim (or such higher amount as required by your professional body) on a claims-made basis or equivalent.

2. Scope of Services & Liability

2.1. Matchmaking and Lead Generation Only

2.1.1. Aligned operates solely as a matchmaking and lead generation service to facilitate introductions between Therapists and clients. We do not provide therapeutic services ourselves, nor do we supervise, direct, or control the provision of any therapy.

2.2. No On-Platform Sessions

2.2.1. All therapy Sessions occur entirely outside the Platform. Aligned's role is limited to providing the initial referral and facilitating the introduction.

2.3. Therapist Responsibility & Liability

2.3.1. Once a client's contact details have been transferred to you, you assume full legal responsibility, liability, and duty of care for that client under UK law. Aligned disclaims any liability for the provision of therapy, clinical outcomes, or any acts or omissions by you.

2.4. No Guarantee of Leads or Revenue

2.4.1. You acknowledge that Aligned does not guarantee any minimum volume of Leads or any particular level of income or client engagement. Leads are provided on a reasonable-efforts basis only.

3. Therapist Eligibility, Registration, and Activation

3.1. Professional Registration Requirements

3.1.1. You must hold active registration with at least one UK-recognised professional body (e.g., BACP, BABCP, UKCP) or equivalent, and maintain all qualifications and licensures required to provide therapy legally in the UK.

3.1.2. You must maintain current Professional Indemnity Insurance with a minimum cover of £1,000,000 per claim. Proof of insurance must be provided upon request. Failure to maintain insurance constitutes material breach.

3.1.3. You must operate within the UK, maintain a UK tax residency, and pay any applicable UK taxes on your earnings.

3.2. Registration Information

3.2.1. During your first 30 calendar days on the platform and upon request, you must provide accurate, complete, and up-to-date information, including: (a) Full legal and trading names, professional registration number, and business address; (b) Details of professional accreditation(s) and membership(s); (c) Proof of Professional Indemnity Insurance; (d) A valid UK bank account; (e) Contact email and telephone number.

3.2.2. If any information changes, you must notify Aligned within 20 business days.

3.3. Activation & Discretionary Participation

3.3.1. Activation of your profile and continued participation on the Platform are entirely at Aligned's discretion.

3.3.2. Aligned may, at any time and without notice, suspend, block, or remove your account for reasons including professional misconduct, breach of these Terms, failure to maintain required insurance, or any other conduct deemed detrimental to Aligned.

3.3.3. You must immediately notify Aligned if your professional registration is suspended, revoked, or otherwise restricted.

4. Obligations of the Therapist

4.1. Professional Conduct & Ethics

4.1.1. You must conduct yourself in a manner consistent with your professional body's code of ethics and all applicable UK laws.

4.1.2. You must not discriminate against any client based on protected characteristics.

4.1.3. You must provide therapy only within the scope of your qualifications and competence.

4.1.4. Therapists agree to participate in reasonable onboarding, feedback, or CPD-related sessions with Aligned's team.

4.2. Confidentiality & Data Protection

4.2.1. You must comply with all applicable data protection legislation, including the UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018.

4.2.2. You are solely responsible for collecting, storing, and processing any client data obtained through your therapeutic relationship.

4.2.3. You must ensure that any recording of clients is undertaken only in compliance with UK law and with explicit client consent.

4.2.4. Data Breach Notification — If either party becomes aware of a personal data breach, that party shall notify the other promptly and cooperate to comply with all regulatory notification requirements. Failure to notify within 72 hours constitutes a material breach.

4.2.5. The Therapist acknowledges that client referral data may include special-category personal data and agrees to process such data only as necessary.

4.3. Activity Report

4.3.1. Each week that you are available on the Platform, you must submit an Activity Report confirming, for each assigned Lead, whether therapy has commenced, whether the client remains in therapy, and whether you are available to receive new Leads.

4.3.2. If you fail to complete your Activity Report, your profile may be switched to "off."

4.4. Keeping Availability Up to Date

4.4.1. You must update your availability status to "off" when you will be uncontactable or unable to respond to client referrals.

4.4.2. Therapists may pause participation by switching their availability to "off."

4.5. Client Response Times

4.5.1. You agree to respond to new client Leads within 24 hours, except under exceptional circumstances. Rapid responses (ideally within 6 hours) are strongly recommended.

4.6. Insurance & Liability

4.6.1. You are fully responsible for obtaining and maintaining Professional Indemnity Insurance.

4.6.2. Aligned is not liable for any professional negligence, misconduct, or other acts or omissions by you.

5. Data Use, Transcripts, and Platform Improvement

5.1. Use of Therapist Data — The data you provide will be used by Aligned to match you with prospective clients, to analyse Platform performance, and to refine matching criteria.

5.2. Onboarding & Feedback Call Recordings — Aligned may record onboarding calls, feedback sessions, or other operational discussions with you. These recordings may be transcribed and analysed solely for internal improvement.

5.3. No Client Session Transcripts — Under no circumstances will Aligned request, record, or review any transcripts of therapy sessions between you and clients.

6. Fees, Payments, and Financial Terms

6.1. Referral Fees

6.1.1. Aligned charges a referral fee for each client who commences therapy with you.

6.1.2. The referral fee is equal to the net amount paid by the client for their first Session with you, excluding any VAT you may have charged the client.

6.1.3. If Aligned is VAT-registered at the time of invoicing, VAT will be added to the referral fee at the prevailing UK rate.

6.1.4. You authorise Aligned to charge this fee upon receipt of your Monthly Invoice.

6.1.5. If a referred client cancels or fails to attend their first Session and no payment is received, the referral fee will not be charged.

6.1.6. No referral fee shall be due on any unpaid initial consultations.

6.2. Therapist Fee Schedule

6.2.1. Referral Fee Amount: 100% of the net value of the client's first paid Session.

6.2.2. Changes to Fees: The Therapist must notify Aligned in advance of any changes to their first Session fee.

6.2.3. Billing Cycle: Monthly invoicing, with payment due within 14 days of invoice date.

6.2.4. Late Payment: Outstanding referral fees left unpaid after 14 days may incur interest at the statutory rate and/or lead to account suspension.

6.2.5. Future Fees: Aligned reserves the right to introduce additional or different fees in the future, provided at least 30 days' advance notice.

6.3. VAT

6.3.1. Aligned is not VAT-registered at present.

6.3.2. If Aligned becomes VAT-registered, we will give at least 30 days' notice and begin charging VAT at the prevailing UK rate on all referral fees.

6.4. Trust & Reporting

6.4.1. We rely on self-reporting: you must truthfully confirm whether each client has begun therapy.

6.4.2. Aligned reserves the right to investigate, contact clients directly, impose a penalty of £200 per unreported active client, and pursue legal remedies.

7. Term, Suspension, and Termination

7.1. These Terms commence on the date you first accept them and continue until terminated.

7.2. Termination by Therapist — You may terminate at any time by providing at least 14 days' written notice via liam@aligned.co.uk.

7.3. Termination or Suspension by Aligned — Aligned may suspend or deactivate your account for breach of Terms, Client Leakage, failure to respond to Leads, misrepresentation, professional misconduct, or failure to comply with audit requests.

7.4. Effects — Upon suspension or deactivation, you must immediately stop representing yourself as active on the Platform. Provisions regarding confidentiality, intellectual property, limitation of liability, indemnities, and privacy shall survive.

8. Force Majeure

Neither party shall be liable for any delay or failure to perform its obligations if such delay or failure results from events beyond reasonable control.

9. Intellectual Property & Licenses

9.1. All Platform IP is the exclusive property of Aligned or its licensors.

9.2. You retain ownership of materials you upload but grant Aligned a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide licence to use them for Platform operation.

10. Representations, Warranties, and Disclaimers

10.1. You represent and warrant that you hold all required licences, registration, and insurance, that all information you provide is accurate, that you will comply with all applicable laws, and that you will not engage in Client Leakage.

10.2. Aligned makes no guarantees as to the number or quality of Leads, client attendance, or any clinical outcome.

10.3. Aligned does not warrant that the Platform will be uninterrupted, error-free, or completely secure.

11. Limitation of Liability

11.1. Aligned's aggregate liability shall not exceed the lesser of: (a) Three times the total referral fees paid by you in the twelve months preceding the event; or (b) £1,000. This cap shall not apply to death or personal injury resulting from negligence, fraud, or any liability that cannot be excluded under UK law.

11.2. Aligned shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, punitive, or consequential damages.

12. Confidentiality & Non-Solicitation

12.1. You shall keep strictly confidential all Confidential Information of Aligned.

12.2. During the term and for twelve months thereafter, you shall not directly or indirectly solicit any client referred by Aligned to bypass the referral and fee process.

12.3. You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Aligned from any third-party claims arising from your breach, negligence, or violation of laws.

13. Vetting & Ongoing Monitoring

13.1. Aligned will verify your registration and insurance status at registration.

13.2. Aligned reserves the right to periodically request updated proof of qualifications, insurance, or CPD records. You must comply within 20 business days.

14. Mediation First

In the event of any dispute, the parties shall first attempt in good faith to resolve the dispute through mediation. If mediation is unsuccessful within 30 days, either party may initiate legal proceedings.

15. Governing Law & Jurisdiction

These Terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales. The parties submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.

16. General Provisions

16.1. Force Majeure — As set out in section 8 above.

16.2. Entire Agreement — These Terms constitute the entire agreement.

16.3. Severability — If any provision is held invalid, the remaining provisions continue.

16.4. Waiver — No failure or delay in exercising any right shall operate as a waiver.

16.5. Assignment — You may not assign without Aligned's prior written consent.

16.6. Notices — All notices shall be in writing.

BY REGISTERING FOR, ACTIVATING, OR CONTINUING TO USE THE PLATFORM, YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE READ, UNDERSTOOD, AND ARE BOUND BY THESE TERMS.

For queries, contact Aligned's team at liam@aligned.co.uk.