Terms of Service and Payment Policy
Purposeful Path Counseling
127 E William Street
Kendallville, IN 46755
Call or Text: 260-368-3091
www.purposefulpathcounseling.org
Effective Date: August 24, 2026
These Terms of Service & Payment Policy ("Terms") apply to the use of Purposeful Path Counseling's website, online payment services, and electronic payment links.
These Terms supplement Purposeful Path Counseling's separate Informed Consent for Treatment, Financial Agreement, cancellation and attendance policies, Notice of Privacy Practices, and other applicable clinical or administrative agreements. These Terms do not replace those documents.
1. Services
Purposeful Path Counseling provides professional mental health counseling and related services to children, adolescents, and adults.
Services may be provided:
In person by appointment in Kendallville, Indiana
Through telehealth within Indiana when clinically appropriate and legally permitted
Services are provided by appointment.
Purposeful Path Counseling does not sell or ship physical goods through its online payment system.
Submitting a payment, visiting this website, or contacting Purposeful Path Counseling does not, by itself, establish a therapist-client relationship.
A therapist-client relationship is established only after Purposeful Path Counseling has agreed to provide services and applicable intake, consent, and other required documentation has been completed.
2. Payment Authorization
By submitting payment information and completing an electronic payment, the person making the payment ("Payer"):
Represents that they are authorized to use the payment method provided
Authorizes the amount displayed at checkout to be charged
Acknowledges that third-party payment-processing services may be used to complete the transaction
Agrees to these Terms as they relate to the payment transaction
A one-time payment does not authorize future or recurring charges unless a separate authorization for future or recurring payments has been provided.
Any separately authorized card-on-file or recurring-payment arrangement is governed by the applicable payment authorization and Financial Agreement.
3. Clients and Third-Party Payers
The person receiving counseling services ("Client") and the person making a payment ("Payer") may not always be the same person.
A parent, guardian, spouse, family member, or other third party may make a payment when legally and appropriately authorized to do so.
Making a payment on behalf of a Client does not, by itself:
Establish a therapist-client relationship with the Payer
Provide the Payer access to the Client's mental health records
Grant authority to consent to or direct treatment
Establish or modify legal custody, guardianship, or decision-making authority
Authorize disclosure of the Client's confidential health information
Access to Client information is determined by applicable federal and Indiana law and any valid legal authority or authorization.
4. Fees and Financial Responsibility
Clients are responsible for fees and balances assigned to them in accordance with Purposeful Path Counseling's Financial Agreement, applicable insurance requirements, provider agreements, and law.
Payments may include, when applicable:
Copayments
Coinsurance
Deductibles
Self-pay fees
Non-covered services
Outstanding Client balances
Other amounts lawfully owed under the applicable Financial Agreement
The amount shown on a payment page represents the amount requested for that particular transaction.
5. Insurance
Verification of insurance eligibility or benefits does not guarantee payment by an insurance company.
Final Client responsibility may not be known until the applicable insurance claim has been processed.
Clients may be responsible for deductibles, copayments, coinsurance, non-covered services, or other amounts designated as Client responsibility, but only to the extent permitted by:
The applicable health plan
Purposeful Path Counseling's provider agreement
The Client's Financial Agreement
Applicable federal and Indiana law
If an insurance carrier later denies, reprocesses, adjusts, or recoups a claim, the Client's account may be adjusted as permitted by the applicable insurance agreement and law.
Purposeful Path Counseling will not knowingly collect amounts that it is prohibited from collecting under an applicable provider agreement or law.
Nothing in these Terms authorizes prohibited balance billing.
6. Self-Pay and Reduced-Fee Services
Clients who do not use insurance are responsible for the agreed-upon fee for services.
Any sliding-scale, reduced-fee, or other alternative fee arrangement must be approved by Purposeful Path Counseling.
An approved reduced-fee arrangement applies according to the terms of that arrangement and does not permanently change Purposeful Path Counseling's standard fees unless specifically agreed otherwise.
7. Good Faith Estimates
Individuals who do not have health insurance or who choose not to use their insurance to pay for services may have rights under the federal No Surprises Act, including the right to receive a Good Faith Estimate of expected charges in circumstances required by federal law.
If a provider's bill is at least $400 more than the amount listed for that provider on the applicable Good Faith Estimate, the individual may be eligible to use the federal patient-provider dispute resolution process.
These Terms are not themselves a Good Faith Estimate.
Purposeful Path Counseling will provide Good Faith Estimates when required by applicable federal law.
8. Delivery of Counseling Services
Counseling services are delivered at the date and time of the Client's scheduled appointment.
In-person services are provided by appointment at:
Purposeful Path Counseling
127 E William Street
Kendallville, IN 46755
Telehealth services may be provided to Clients located within jurisdictions in which the treating clinician is legally permitted to provide services.
Because Purposeful Path Counseling provides professional services rather than physical merchandise:
No physical shipping is required
No shipping fees apply to counseling services
Completing a payment does not automatically schedule or guarantee an appointment
Appointment availability is subject to clinician availability, scheduling requirements, clinical appropriateness, and applicable Practice policies.
9. Cancellations and Missed Appointments
Appointment cancellations, late cancellations, rescheduling, and missed appointments are governed by Purposeful Path Counseling's current Financial Agreement and cancellation and attendance policies.
Submitting a payment through an online payment link does not create or modify a cancellation or missed-appointment fee.
Any such fee will be assessed only when permitted under the applicable agreement, Practice policy, payer requirements, and law.
Clients should contact Purposeful Path Counseling as directed by the Practice when they need to cancel or reschedule an appointment.
Sensitive communications should be sent through Purposeful Path Counseling's secure Spruce messaging system.
10. Refunds, Credits, and Overpayments
Payments for professional services that have already been appropriately provided and billed are generally not refundable solely because a Client is dissatisfied with the therapeutic outcome.
Purposeful Path Counseling will review circumstances involving:
Duplicate payments
Accidental payments
Billing errors
Insurance adjustments
Overpayments
Credit balances
Other circumstances in which a refund or account adjustment may be appropriate or legally required
When a refund is appropriate, Purposeful Path Counseling may return the applicable amount to the original payment method or through another legally permissible method.
Insurance processing, contractual requirements, outstanding balances, and other account activity may affect the amount of a refund or credit.
Questions regarding a payment, billing error, or refund may be directed to Purposeful Path Counseling at 260-368-3091.
11. Payment Disputes
If a Payer believes a transaction was processed incorrectly, the Payer is encouraged to contact Purposeful Path Counseling promptly so the transaction and account can be reviewed.
Initiating a dispute or chargeback through a bank or card issuer does not, by itself, determine whether an underlying balance for properly provided services remains legally due.
Nothing in these Terms limits any rights available under applicable federal or state law, payment-card rules, or financial-institution requirements.
12. Third-Party Services and Payment Processing
Purposeful Path Counseling uses third-party services to support its website, practice operations, client communications, scheduling, and electronic payments.
These services may include:
Website hosting services
TherapyAppointment
Finix
Financial institutions
Credit and debit card networks
Digital-wallet providers
Other vendors necessary to process or administer electronic transactions
Third parties involved in a payment may receive or process information reasonably necessary to authorize, complete, settle, document, secure, or reconcile the transaction.
Third-party services may maintain their own terms of service, privacy policies, security practices, and legal obligations.
Purposeful Path Counseling remains responsible for its own obligations under applicable healthcare privacy and confidentiality laws.
13. Information Collected and Used
Information collected or processed in connection with use of the website or an electronic payment may include:
Name
Contact information
Billing address
Payment amount
Payment method information
Transaction date
Transaction status
Transaction identifiers
Technical information associated with use of the website or payment platform
Other information reasonably necessary to provide services, process payments, maintain records, prevent fraud, or comply with legal obligations
Payment-card or bank-account information may be submitted directly to a third-party payment processor rather than stored directly by Purposeful Path Counseling.
Purposeful Path Counseling may maintain billing and transaction information as necessary for:
Payment and billing
Insurance claims
Accounting
Recordkeeping
Health care operations
Fraud prevention
Legal compliance
Regulatory requirements
14. HIPAA and Protected Health Information
Purposeful Path Counseling handles protected health information in accordance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), its implementing regulations, and other applicable federal and Indiana privacy laws.
When permitted by HIPAA, protected health information may be used or disclosed for purposes including:
Treatment
Payment
Health care operations
Other uses or disclosures may require a valid written authorization unless otherwise permitted or required by law.
Accepting these Terms or submitting an electronic payment does not constitute a HIPAA authorization and does not authorize disclosure of protected health information beyond what is otherwise permitted or required by law.
15. Notice of Privacy Practices
Purposeful Path Counseling maintains a separate Notice of Privacy Practices that describes how protected health information may be used and disclosed, the Practice's legal responsibilities, and the privacy rights available to Clients.
Notice of Privacy Practices:
The Notice of Privacy Practices is separate from these Terms and governs Purposeful Path Counseling's HIPAA privacy practices.
Acceptance of these Terms does not waive any right provided under HIPAA or other applicable privacy law.
16. Indiana Mental Health Record Confidentiality
Mental health records receive additional confidentiality protections under Indiana law.
Purposeful Path Counseling handles mental health records in accordance with applicable Indiana law, including Indiana Code Article 16-39.
Under Indiana Code § 16-39-2-3, a patient's mental health record is confidential and may be disclosed only with the patient's consent except when disclosure is otherwise permitted or required by applicable law.
Submitting a payment does not authorize disclosure of a Client's mental health records.
Nothing in these Terms expands Purposeful Path Counseling's legal authority to disclose confidential mental health information.
17. Psychotherapy Notes
If Purposeful Path Counseling creates and maintains information that meets HIPAA's legal definition of psychotherapy notes, those notes receive additional protections under federal law.
A separate authorization is generally required for uses or disclosures of psychotherapy notes unless an exception under applicable law applies.
Submitting a payment or accepting these Terms does not authorize disclosure of psychotherapy notes.
18. Substance Use Disorder Records
Certain substance use disorder records may be protected by additional federal confidentiality requirements, including 42 U.S.C. § 290dd-2 and 42 C.F.R. Part 2, when those laws apply.
Part 2 does not automatically apply to every mental health record containing information related to substance use.
When information is subject to Part 2, Purposeful Path Counseling will handle that information in accordance with applicable federal requirements.
Submitting a payment does not constitute authorization or consent to disclose records protected by Part 2.
19. Confidentiality and Disclosures Required or Permitted by Law
Client confidentiality is protected by federal and Indiana law but is subject to legally recognized exceptions.
Purposeful Path Counseling may use or disclose confidential information without written authorization when the use or disclosure is permitted or required by applicable law.
The legal requirements applicable to the particular circumstances will control.
Nothing in these Terms creates additional authority to disclose confidential information.
20. Sensitive Information
Clients and Payers should not include unnecessary confidential or clinical information in payment notes, payment descriptions, or ordinary website forms.
Do not include information such as:
Diagnoses
Symptoms
Trauma history
Therapy-session content
Treatment-plan information
Other unnecessary protected health information
in payment notes or other nonclinical payment fields.
Purposeful Path Counseling directs Clients to use secure Spruce messaging for sensitive communications.
21. Cookies and Website Technology
Purposeful Path Counseling's website and third-party services used in connection with the website may use cookies, device information, or similar technologies for functions such as:
Website operation
Security
Fraud prevention
Session management
Payment processing
Analytics, when enabled
Third-party website, hosting, and payment providers may collect or process technical information according to their own privacy practices.
Users may be able to control certain cookies through their browser settings or any cookie-management tools made available on the website.
Protected health information is governed separately by Purposeful Path Counseling's Notice of Privacy Practices and applicable healthcare privacy laws.
22. Electronic Payment Security
Electronic payments are processed using third-party technologies designed to facilitate secure transactions.
No internet-based technology can be guaranteed to be completely free from service interruptions, unauthorized access, or security incidents.
Purposeful Path Counseling will comply with applicable privacy, security, breach-notification, and other legal obligations concerning information within its possession or control.
Nothing in these Terms limits any privacy, consumer-protection, payment, or data-security rights provided by law.
23. Website Information
Information provided on Purposeful Path Counseling's website is intended for general informational purposes and does not constitute individualized mental health treatment, diagnosis, medical advice, emergency intervention, or other professional advice specific to an individual's circumstances.
Use of the website does not establish a therapist-client relationship.
24. Emergencies
Purposeful Path Counseling's website, payment links, and routine electronic communication methods are not emergency-response services and should not be used to obtain emergency assistance.
Individuals requiring immediate emergency assistance should contact an appropriate emergency service or seek emergency medical care.
25. No Guarantee of Clinical Outcome
Mental health treatment outcomes vary among individuals.
Payment for counseling services does not guarantee any particular diagnosis, treatment result, clinical outcome, recommendation, or resolution of symptoms.
Nothing in this section limits Purposeful Path Counseling's professional responsibilities or duties under applicable law.
26. Governing Law
These Terms are governed by applicable federal law and the laws of the State of Indiana.
Professional counseling services remain subject to applicable federal and Indiana healthcare, professional licensing, privacy, confidentiality, insurance, and consumer-protection requirements.
If a provision of these Terms conflicts with a law, payer contract, or other controlling requirement that cannot legally be waived, the controlling requirement will govern.
Nothing in these Terms is intended to waive any right that cannot lawfully be waived.
27. Severability
If any provision of these Terms is determined to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue in effect to the fullest extent permitted by law.
28. Changes to These Terms
Purposeful Path Counseling may update these Terms to reflect changes in Practice operations, technology, payment-processing requirements, insurance requirements, or applicable law.
The Effective Date at the top of this page identifies the current version.
29. Contact Information
Questions regarding services, payments, refunds, billing, cancellations, or these Terms may be directed to:
Purposeful Path Counseling
127 E William Street
Kendallville, IN 46755
Call or Text: 260-368-3091
Website: www.purposefulpathcounseling.org
General questions and appointment inquiries are welcome.
Sensitive or confidential communications should be sent using Purposeful Path Counseling's secure Spruce messaging system.
Questions regarding privacy rights may also be directed to the privacy contact identified in Purposeful Path Counseling's Notice of Privacy Practices.
30. Acceptance of Terms
By completing an electronic payment transaction, the Payer acknowledges that:
The Payer has been provided access to these Terms
The Payer authorizes the payment amount displayed at checkout
These Terms govern the electronic payment transaction and related administrative matters
These Terms do not replace Purposeful Path Counseling's Informed Consent for Treatment, Financial Agreement, cancellation policies, or Notice of Privacy Practices
Acceptance of these Terms does not waive any privacy, healthcare, billing, insurance, consumer-protection, or other right that cannot legally be waived