Terms of Use

Last Updated: May 2026

By visiting and using www.made-whole-counseling.com (hereinafter the “website”), you accept and agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions, including our Disclaimer, Privacy Policy, and HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices posted on the website and incorporated herein by reference.

The term “you” refers to anyone who uses, visits, and/or views the website. Cristine Steele, LMFT (“Company,” “we,” or “us”) reserves the right to amend or modify these terms and conditions at its sole discretion at any time without notice. By using the website, you accept those amendments. It is your responsibility to periodically check the website for updates.

1. Professional Disclaimer & No Client-Therapist Relationship

The information and content provided on this website—including text, graphics, articles, social media posts, and downloadable resources—are for educational and informational purposes only.

CRITICAL NOTE: Accessing, viewing, or interacting with this website, or submitting an inquiry through our contact forms, does not constitute or create a client-therapist relationship between you and Cristine Steele, LMFT. A formal clinical relationship is only established after an initial intake assessment, verification of state residency, and a mutually signed Clinical Informed Consent agreement.

2. Jurisdictional Limitations (Licensing)

Cristine Steele is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) licensed to practice psychotherapy exclusively in the states of Washington (WA) and Tennessee (TN).

  • Psychotherapy and clinical tele-health services are strictly limited to residents currently located within WA or TN.

  • If you reside or are located outside of these states, any digital products, courses, or informational content you consume from this website are strictly educational and do not constitute psychological treatment.

3. Medical & Emergency Disclaimer

The content on this website is not a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Do not disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking treatment because of something you read on this website.

IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING A MENTAL HEALTH EMERGENCY OR INTENT TO HARM YOURSELF OR OTHERS, PLEASE:

  • Call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

  • Call 911 or go to the nearest hospital emergency room.

  • Text HOME to 741741 to connect with the Crisis Text Line.

4. Intended Age

All information and content on this website are intended for individuals over the age of 18. Children, as defined in our Privacy Policy, are prohibited from using this website independently.

5. Privacy, Electronic Communications, & HIPAA

We are dedicated to respecting the privacy of your personal information. Your acceptance of our Privacy Policy is expressly incorporated into these Terms.

Please note that while our formal client portal is secure, standard email communications (including messages sent to Cristine@made-whole-counseling.com or submitted via public website contact forms) may not be fully encrypted. Please limit the disclosure of highly sensitive clinical information via public web forms.

6. Intellectual Property

All content on this website—including but not limited to text, blog posts, logos, graphics, worksheets, digital downloads, course materials, videos, and audio (collectively, the “Content”)—is owned by us and is protected by copyright, trademark, and intellectual property laws.

You are granted a limited, revocable, non-transferable license to print or download Content from the website for your own personal, non-commercial, informational, and educational use only.

You agree not to:

  • Copy, duplicate, modify, publish, distribute, or display any part of the Content without our prior written consent.

  • Sell, rent, redistribute, or license our free or paid products/courses to any third party.

7. User Content and Lawful Use

For any comments, feedback, or content you submit to us on the website or via our official social media channels, you warrant that you own the rights to that content. You grant us a royalty-free, perpetual, worldwide license to format, display, or edit that information for operational or marketing purposes (always strictly subject to our Privacy Policy and patient confidentiality regulations, where applicable).

You agree not to upload or transmit any material that is illegal, defamatory, abusive, or contains malicious computer code (viruses, spyware), or to make unauthorized attempts to hack or disrupt the website's security.

8. Paid and Free Products (Courses & Downloads)

We may offer free downloadable resources or sell digital products, online courses, and educational programs. All such products are subject to copyright protection. Purchasing or downloading a product does not grant you clinical therapeutic treatment, nor does it transfer ownership of the intellectual property. No particular outcomes or results are guaranteed.

9. Third-Party Links

The website may contain links to third-party resources or affiliate links. We do not control or assume responsibility for the accuracy, safety, or policies of external websites. Once you leave our domain, you are bound by that specific third party's terms.

10. Limitation of Liability

Under no circumstances shall Cristine Steele, LMFT, or any associated employees or independent contractors, be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, or consequential damages resulting from your use of this website. This includes errors or omissions, website downtime, system failures, cyber-attacks, or your reliance on the educational information provided. Your use of this website is at your sole risk.

11. Mandatory Arbitration, Governing Law, & Venue

In the event of a dispute, claim, or controversy arising from or relating to your use of this website, these Terms and Conditions shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the states of Washington and Tennessee, without regard to conflict of law principles.

  • You agree to first attempt to resolve any dispute through mandatory, binding arbitration before pursuing litigation.

  • You consent to submit to the jurisdiction of the courts and arbitration venues located in Washington or Tennessee, depending on the legal domicile of the practice at the time of the dispute.

  • You agree to bear the full cost of your participation in arbitration, to the extent permitted by law.

12. Waiver of Class Actions

You agree that any dispute arising from or related to this Agreement will be resolved solely on an individual basis. You waive your right to bring a class action against us, or to participate as a plaintiff or class member in any purported class or representative proceeding.

13. Severability & Entire Agreement

If any provision of these Terms is deemed invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, that specific provision shall be omitted, and the remainder of the Agreement shall remain in full force and effect. These Terms, along with the Privacy Policy and Disclaimer, constitute the entire agreement regarding website usage.

14. Contact

For any questions, concerns, or technical issues regarding these Terms, please contact us at: