Counseling Disclaimer

Effective Date: July 21, 2026

This Counseling Disclaimer applies to the Looking Glass Counseling LLC website, including its written content, contact forms, scheduling links, educational information, resources, and links to third-party services.

By accessing or using this website, you acknowledge and agree to the following.

1. General Information Only

The information provided on this website is intended for general educational, informational, and administrative purposes.

Website content may provide general information about:

  • Looking Glass Counseling LLC

  • JoAnn Ristau, LPC

  • Counseling services for children, teens, and families

  • Common emotional, behavioral, parenting, and family concerns

  • The counseling process

  • How to contact the practice

  • How to schedule an initial consultation

Website information is not individualized counseling, assessment, diagnosis, treatment, medical advice, legal advice, or crisis intervention

2. No Therapist-Client Relationship

Visiting this website, reading its content, submitting a contact form, sending an email, or scheduling an initial consultation does not create a therapist-client relationship with JoAnn Ristau, LPC, or Looking Glass Counseling LLC.

A therapist-client relationship begins only after:

  • Services are determined to be appropriate and available

  • The prospective client or legally authorized representative completes the required intake process

  • Applicable consent and financial documents are completed

  • Looking Glass Counseling LLC formally accepts the individual as a client

  • Counseling services begin

Submitting an inquiry or scheduling a consultation does not guarantee that counseling services will be offered.

3. Not a Substitute for Professional Evaluation or Care

General website information should not be used as a substitute for individualized evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, or advice from an appropriately qualified professional.

Do not rely solely on this website when making decisions concerning:

  • A child’s or adult’s mental health

  • Diagnosis

  • Medication

  • Treatment

  • Safety

  • Medical care

  • Legal rights

  • School services

  • Custody or visitation

  • Insurance coverage

A qualified professional should be consulted regarding individual circumstances and needs.

4. Emergencies and Crisis Situations

Looking Glass Counseling LLC does not provide emergency assistance through this website, regular email, Calendly, the website contact form, or SimplePractice messaging.

These communication methods are not monitored continuously, and an immediate response cannot be guaranteed.

In an immediate or life-threatening emergency:

  • Call 911

  • Go to the nearest emergency department

  • Contact an appropriate emergency service

For mental-health or suicide-crisis support in the United States, individuals may call or text 988. The 988 Lifeline advises calling 911 when someone is in immediate harm or danger.

5. Contact Forms, Email, and Calendly

The public contact form, regular email, and Calendly are intended only for general inquiries and initial consultation scheduling.

Do not submit:

  • Medical or counseling records

  • Mental-health diagnoses

  • Medication information

  • Detailed trauma or treatment histories

  • Crisis or emergency information

  • Social Security numbers

  • Insurance identification numbers

  • Complete financial information

  • Other highly sensitive or confidential information

Electronic communication may not be fully secure. Visitors should provide only the limited information reasonably necessary for the initial inquiry.

6. Adults Completing Website Forms

Looking Glass Counseling LLC provides counseling services to children, teens, and families. However, the website contact form and initial consultation scheduling process are intended to be completed by:

  • A parent

  • A legal guardian

  • Another legally authorized or responsible adult

  • An adult prospective client

Children and teens should not independently submit personal information or schedule an initial consultation without appropriate adult involvement.

7. Initial Consultations

An initial consultation is intended to provide a general opportunity to discuss services, availability, and whether the practice may be an appropriate fit.

An initial consultation is not:

  • A counseling session

  • A diagnostic evaluation

  • Crisis intervention

  • Treatment

  • A guarantee of future appointments

  • A guarantee that Looking Glass Counseling LLC will accept the prospective client

A referral to another provider or resource may be recommended when services are unavailable or do not appear appropriate for the prospective client’s needs.

8. Active Clients and SimplePractice

Once an individual becomes an active client, Looking Glass Counseling LLC may use SimplePractice for intake forms, records, secure messages, scheduling, billing, payments, insurance administration, and telehealth.

Active clients should use the SimplePractice client portal for routine clinical communication instead of the public contact form or regular email.

Although SimplePractice provides a method for secure routine communication, its messaging system is not an emergency or crisis-response service.

9. Privacy and Clinical Records

The Website Privacy Policy explains how information submitted through the public website, Google Drive, email, Calendly, cookies, and related website services may be handled.

Protected Health Information and active-client clinical records are governed separately by the Looking Glass Counseling LLC Notice of Privacy Practices and applicable client agreements.

Submitting information through the public website does not convert that communication into an established counseling record or create a therapist-client relationship.

10. Counseling and Telehealth Location

Counseling services, including telehealth services, are provided only when the client is physically located in South Carolina at the time of the counseling session, unless another arrangement is specifically permitted and approved in accordance with applicable licensing and professional requirements.

Accessing this website or scheduling a consultation from another location does not establish eligibility to receive counseling services.

11. Counseling Risks and Results

Counseling is an individualized process. Experiences and outcomes vary based on many factors, including a client’s needs, circumstances, participation, goals, consistency, readiness, and available supports.

Looking Glass Counseling LLC does not guarantee:

  • A particular diagnosis

  • A particular treatment recommendation

  • Improvement within a particular period

  • A specific counseling outcome

  • Insurance approval, coverage, or reimbursement

  • Acceptance as a client

Descriptions of possible benefits are educational and are not promises of individual results.

12. Website Accuracy

Looking Glass Counseling LLC makes reasonable efforts to provide useful and accurate information. However, website information may become outdated, incomplete, unavailable, or affected by technical errors. Information concerning fees, insurance participation, appointment availability, services, office hours, policies, and technology may change. Visitors should contact the practice directly to confirm current information.

13. External Links and Third-Party Services

The website may link to or use third-party services, including:

  • Squarespace

  • Google and Google Drive

  • Gmail

  • Calendly

  • SimplePractice

  • Payment or billing services

  • Professional directories

  • Educational resources

  • Other websites or technology providers

Looking Glass Counseling LLC does not control the privacy, security, accuracy, availability, content, or operation of independent third-party services.

A link to an outside resource does not necessarily represent an endorsement of all information, opinions, services, or practices found there.

Visitors use third-party services subject to those providers’ own terms and privacy policies.

14. Website Materials

Unless otherwise stated, website text, graphics, logos, branding, photographs, illustrations, resources, and original materials are owned by or licensed to Looking Glass Counseling LLC.

Website materials are provided for personal, noncommercial informational use.

They may not be copied, sold, republished, distributed, modified for commercial use, or used to create another website, publication, service, or program without written permission.

15. Limitation Relating to Website Use

To the fullest extent permitted by law, Looking Glass Counseling LLC is not responsible for indirect, incidental, special, punitive, or consequential losses arising from:

  • Use of or inability to use the public website

  • Reliance on general website information

  • Website interruptions or technical errors

  • Third-party links or services

  • The inappropriate submission of sensitive information

  • Decisions made solely from general website content

This section applies to use of the public website. It does not alter professional duties, legal rights, or responsibilities arising from an established therapist-client relationship, applicable professional standards, or liability that cannot legally be limited.

16. Changes to This Disclaimer

Looking Glass Counseling LLC may revise this Counseling Disclaimer to reflect changes in:

  • Website content

  • Practice operations

  • Technology providers

  • Communication practices

  • Legal, licensing, ethical, or professional requirements

The updated Disclaimer will be posted on this page with a revised effective date.

17. Contact Information

Questions about this Counseling Disclaimer may be directed to:

Looking Glass Counseling LLC
JoAnn Ristau, LPC
289 Highway 90 E, Unit H
Little River, SC 29566-9298
Email: jristaulpc@gmail.com
Phone: 843-274-5010
Website: lookingglass-counseling.com