Terms of Service

These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your use of GuidedNarratives mobile application and services (the "Service"), operated by GuidedNarratives ("we," "us," or "our"). By using our Service, you agree to these Terms and our Privacy Policy.

1. Acceptance of Terms

By downloading, installing, or using GuidedNarratives, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree with these Terms, please do not use our Service.

Age Requirements

• Minimum Age: You must be at least 13 years old to use GuidedNarratives
• Parental Consent: Users under 18 may require parental consent depending on local laws
• Mental Health Services: Users seeking professional mental health care should consult licensed providers
• Capacity to Contract: You represent that you have the legal capacity to enter into this agreement

Legal Compliance

• Applicable Laws: Your use of the Service must comply with all applicable local, state, and federal laws
• International Use: If accessing from outside the United States, you are responsible for compliance with local laws
• Prohibited Jurisdictions: We may restrict access in certain jurisdictions where the Service is not legally available

2. Description of Service

GuidedNarratives provides a digital platform for mental wellness through journaling, mood tracking, and evidence-based therapy exercises.

Core Features

• Daily Journaling: Private space for written reflection, photos, and voice notes
• Mood Tracking: Tools to monitor emotional patterns and wellness trends
• Therapy Tracks: Self-guided exercises based on ACT, CBT, DBT, and other therapeutic approaches
• Calming Soundscapes: Audio environments for relaxation and focus
• Weekly Insights: AI-powered analysis of your wellness patterns and progress
• Secure Storage: Encrypted storage of your personal wellness data

Service Availability

• Platform Access: Available on iOS and Android mobile devices
• Internet Connection: Most features require internet connectivity
• Device Requirements: Compatible devices and operating system versions as specified
• Service Updates: We may modify, update, or discontinue features with notice

3. User Accounts and Registration

Creating an account allows you to access personalized features and sync your data across devices.

Account Creation

• Required Information: Valid email address and secure password
• Accurate Information: You must provide truthful and complete information
• One Account Per Person: Each person may maintain only one active account
• Account Security: You are responsible for maintaining the security of your account credentials

Account Responsibilities

• Password Security: Use a strong, unique password and enable two-factor authentication when available
• Unauthorized Access: Notify us immediately if you suspect unauthorized account access
• Account Sharing: Do not share your account credentials with others
• Account Activities: You are responsible for all activities that occur under your account

Account Suspension and Termination

• Policy Violations: Accounts may be suspended for violations of these Terms
• Data Preservation: We may preserve your data during temporary suspensions
• Appeal Process: You may appeal account actions through our support channels
• Permanent Deletion: Terminated accounts and associated data may be permanently deleted

4. Subscription and Billing

Subscription Terms

• Free Tier: Limited journal entries, basic mood tracking, and one therapy track
• Monthly Subscription: $6.99/month with unlimited access to all features
• Yearly Subscription: $65.99/year (22% savings) with all premium features
• Lifetime Access: One-time payment of $129.99 for permanent access to all features

Billing and Payments

• App Store Billing: All subscriptions are processed through Apple App Store or Google Play Store
• Automatic Renewal: Subscriptions automatically renew unless cancelled before the renewal date
• Price Changes: We may change subscription prices with advance notice to existing subscribers
• Taxes: You are responsible for applicable taxes as determined by app stores

Cancellation and Refunds

• Cancellation Process: Cancel through your App Store or Google Play account settings
• Service Access: You maintain access to premium features until the current billing period ends
• Refund Policy: Refunds are handled according to App Store and Google Play policies
• Pro-rated Refunds: We do not offer pro-rated refunds for partial subscription periods

5. User Content and Data

You retain ownership of all content you create using GuidedNarratives, including journal entries, voice notes, and personal reflections.

Your Content Rights

• Ownership: You own all journal entries, mood data, photos, and voice recordings you create
• Data Control: You can access, export, modify, or delete your content at any time
• Privacy Protection: Your personal content is never shared publicly or used for advertising
• Data Portability: Export your data in standard formats if you choose to leave the service

License to Use Your Content

• Service Provision: You grant us a limited license to store, process, and display your content to provide services
• AI Processing: Anonymous, aggregated data may be used to improve AI insights and recommendations
• No Commercial Use: We never sell or commercially exploit your personal content
• Termination: This license terminates when you delete your account or remove specific content

Content Guidelines

• Personal Use: Use GuidedNarratives for personal wellness and self-reflection purposes
• Lawful Content: Do not store illegal, harmful, or infringing content
• Respectful Use: Content should not be hateful, discriminatory, or harmful to others
• Crisis Content: If expressing thoughts of self-harm, please seek immediate professional help

6. Acceptable Use Policy

You may use GuidedNarratives for personal mental wellness purposes in accordance with these guidelines:

Permitted Uses

• Personal Wellness: Journaling, mood tracking, and self-reflection for mental health
• Therapy Supplement: Using guided exercises to supplement professional mental health care
• Educational Learning: Learning about evidence-based mental wellness practices
• Data Export: Sharing your own data with healthcare providers for treatment purposes

Prohibited Uses

• Medical Practice: Do not use the app to provide mental health services to others
• Data Scraping: No automated data collection or reverse engineering of the service
• Account Abuse: No creation of multiple accounts or sharing credentials
• System Interference: No attempts to disrupt, hack, or compromise service security
• Commercial Use: No using the service for commercial purposes without permission

Crisis Situations

• Emergency Services: If experiencing a mental health crisis, contact emergency services (911) immediately
• Professional Help: Seek immediate professional help for thoughts of self-harm or suicide
• Crisis Resources: Use national crisis hotlines and professional mental health services
• Service Limitations: GuidedNarratives is not equipped to provide crisis intervention

7. Intellectual Property Rights

GuidedNarratives and its content are protected by intellectual property laws.

Our Intellectual Property

• App Design: The GuidedNarratives interface, features, and user experience
• Therapy Content: Guided exercises, prompts, and wellness methodologies
• AI Technology: Algorithms for insights, mood analysis, and recommendations
• Trademarks: GuidedNarratives name, logos, and distinctive branding elements

Your Usage Rights

• Personal Use License: Use the app for personal mental wellness purposes
• Content Access: Access therapy exercises and wellness content included in your subscription
• Feature Utilization: Use all available features according to your subscription tier
• No Redistribution: You may not copy, distribute, or create derivative works

Copyright Protection

• DMCA Compliance: We respond to valid copyright infringement notices
• User Content: You retain copyright to your original journal entries and content
• Third-Party Content: Respect intellectual property rights when using the service
• Fair Use: Appropriate fair use of copyrighted material is permitted

8. Privacy and Data Security

Your privacy and data security are fundamental to GuidedNarratives. Please review our Privacy Policy for complete details.

Data Protection Commitment

• End-to-End Encryption: All sensitive data encrypted during transmission and storage
• No Data Sales: We never sell your personal information or mental health data
• GDPR Compliance: Full compliance with European data protection regulations
• CCPA Compliance: California residents have additional privacy rights

Data Security Measures

• 256-bit Encryption: Military-grade encryption for data storage and transmission
• Secure Infrastructure: HIPAA-compliant hosting and security protocols
• Access Controls: Strict employee access controls and audit trails
• Security Monitoring: Continuous monitoring for threats and vulnerabilities

9. Disclaimers and Limitations

Service Disclaimers

• No Medical Advice: The service does not provide medical, psychiatric, or psychological advice
• No Treatment Guarantees: We make no claims about mental health outcomes or treatment efficacy
• Personal Responsibility: Users are responsible for their own mental health and safety
• Professional Care: Seek professional help for serious mental health concerns

Technical Disclaimers

• Service Availability: We strive for high availability but cannot guarantee uninterrupted service
• AI Accuracy: AI-generated insights are estimates and may not always be accurate
• Data Loss: While we implement strong backup systems, no system is 100% guaranteed
• Third-Party Services: We are not responsible for third-party services or integrations

Limitation of Liability

• Maximum Liability: Our liability is limited to the amount you paid for the service
• No Consequential Damages: We are not liable for indirect, incidental, or consequential damages
• Force Majeure: Not liable for failures due to circumstances beyond our control
• User Responsibility: Users assume responsibility for their use of wellness tools and content

10. Termination

Either party may terminate this agreement under certain circumstances.

Termination by User

• Account Deletion: Delete your account at any time through the app settings
• Subscription Cancellation: Cancel subscriptions through your app store account
• Data Export: Export your data before account deletion
• Immediate Effect: Termination takes effect immediately upon account deletion

Termination by Us

• Terms Violation: We may terminate accounts for violations of these Terms
• Illegal Activity: Accounts involved in illegal activity will be terminated
• Service Abuse: Accounts that abuse or misuse the service may be suspended or terminated
• Notice Period: We will provide reasonable notice except in cases of serious violations

Effects of Termination

• Service Access: All access to GuidedNarratives services will cease
• Data Deletion: Your data will be deleted according to our retention policy
• Survival Clauses: Certain provisions survive termination, including intellectual property rights
• No Refunds: Termination does not entitle you to refunds for unused subscription time

11. Dispute Resolution

We prefer to resolve disputes amicably through customer support before pursuing formal legal action.

Informal Resolution

• Customer Support: Contact our support team to resolve most issues
• Good Faith Effort: Both parties will make good faith efforts to resolve disputes
• 30-Day Period: Allow at least 30 days for informal resolution attempts
• Documentation: Keep records of communication for dispute resolution

Formal Legal Proceedings

• Governing Law: These Terms are governed by the laws of [Jurisdiction]
• Jurisdiction: Legal disputes will be resolved in courts of [Jurisdiction]
• Arbitration: Certain disputes may be subject to binding arbitration
• Class Action Waiver: Disputes must be resolved individually, not as part of class actions

12. Changes to Terms

We may update these Terms to reflect changes in our services or legal requirements.

Notification Process

• Advance Notice: At least 30 days notice for material changes
• In-App Notification: Prominent notifications about terms updates
• Email Alerts: Email notifications to all active users
• Version Archive: Previous versions available for reference

Your Options

• Review Period: Time to review changes before they take effect
• Continued Use: Using the service after changes indicates acceptance
• Termination Option: Terminate your account if you disagree with changes
• Grandfathering: Some existing terms may remain unchanged for current users

13. Contact Information

These Terms of Service were last updated in January 2025 and are effective immediately upon your use of the GuidedNarratives service. By using our app, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these terms. Remember, GuidedNarratives is a wellness tool designed to support your mental health journey alongside professional care.