ETHICS & ACCESSIBILITY COMMITMENT
Back to Discovery
Back to Discovery is committed to providing a website and educational materials that are accessible to as many people as possible, regardless of ability, technology, or support needs.
We aim to meet or exceed the requirements of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, Level AA.
BACK TO DISCOVERY — POLICY TERMS
ETHICS & ACCESSIBILITY COMMITMENT
1) CORE LIABILITY CLAUSES
Non-Therapeutic Disclaimer
All Back to Discovery programs, calls, and courses are non-therapeutic and do not constitute medical, legal, or mental health advice. They are structured for reflection, presence, and personal growth. Participation does not replace therapy, counseling, or medical treatment.
Client Responsibility
Participants are responsible for their own decisions, actions, and emotional management during and after participation. Back to Discovery does not diagnose, treat, or intervene in crisis situations.
Emergency Clause
If you are experiencing emotional distress or thoughts of self-harm, please contact local emergency services or, in the U.S., call or text 988.
Scope Limitation
Back to Discovery offers: Companion Calls, structured programs, workshops, and mentorship. All services are designed for self-inquiry, personal reflection, and support, not therapy, crisis intervention, or professional treatment.
Non-therapeutic listening sessions
No advice, fixing, diagnosis, or treatment
Boundaries clearly outlined before the session
Recording: Optional, must be agreed upon, used for self-reflection only
Cancellation / Refund Policy: 24-hour notice required; non-attendance is non-refundable
Be Advised:
Companion Calls are structured, non-therapeutic conversations. The client assumes responsibility for choices made before, during, and after sessions. These calls are not therapy, counseling, or crisis intervention.
Self-guided or facilitated reflection programs
No live diagnosis or treatment
Participants progress at own pace
Intellectual property protected
Be Advised:
All course content is for educational and reflective purposes only. It does not substitute for professional therapy, medical care, or legal advice. Participants are responsible for implementing insights responsibly.
Limited live interaction
Boundaries maintained via pre-defined exercises
Observers or participants may interact but cannot expect therapeutic guidance
Be Advised:
Workshops are experiential learning sessions. Facilitators provide structured guidance, not mental health or medical treatment. All participants are responsible for their personal reflection and decisions.
6–12 month mentorship
Deep guidance, but non-therapeutic
Advanced participants only, screened for readiness
Confidentiality agreements optional (recommended)
Be Advised:
Mentorship sessions are designed for personal and professional growth within structured boundaries. Mentors do not provide therapy, medical advice, or crisis intervention. Participants must take personal responsibility for application and outcomes.
A. Intellectual Property / Content Usage
All course materials, workbooks, scripts, videos, and recordings are the intellectual property of Back to Discovery.
No redistribution, public sharing, or resale permitted without written consent.
B. Confidentiality
Personal information shared in Companion Calls or Mentorship sessions is confidential.
Facilitator reserves the right to anonymize examples for educational or training purposes.
C. Refund & Cancellation
Clearly define windows for refunds
Limit edge cases: non-attendance, late cancellations, digital downloads non-refundable
D. Jurisdiction
All agreements governed under [Your State / Country] law.
E. Acceptance Clause
Enrollment or booking implies agreement to terms of service, disclaimers, and scope limitations.
4) FOR WEBSITE / Patreon / Marketing
Reinforcing scope without alarm:
“Non-therapeutic, structured personal growth”
“Not therapy, not a substitute for medical or legal advice”
“Focus on reflection, presence, and clarity”
Include a pinned disclaimer in social media or Patreon pages:
Back to Discovery programs are non-therapeutic. If you require treatment, therapy, or crisis support, please contact licensed professionals.
Booking Confirmation / Companion Calls: Include disclaimer, cancellation, and scope in Calendly auto-message.
Program Enrollment / Discovery Path: Terms & Conditions checkbox for enrollment.
Mentorship Agreement: Written contract with scope, confidentiality, boundaries, and intellectual property clauses.
Consistency: Always use the same language across channels.
Visibility: Post disclaimers where participants sign up or interact.
Boundaries: Use scripts or templates to enforce scope during live sessions.
Documentation: Keep copies of agreements, signed forms, and communications.
OUR ETHICAL FOUNDATION
Back to Discovery offers educational and mentoring-based programs, not therapy, counseling, or mental health treatment.
We do not diagnose, treat, or attempt to resolve mental health conditions.
We do not promise healing, transformation, or specific outcomes.
Our work is centered on: • awareness
• emotional literacy
• nervous-system-informed education
• personal choice and pacing
Participants remain responsible for their own care and are encouraged to seek licensed professional support when appropriate.
CONSENT & CHOICE
Participation in all Back to Discovery programs is voluntary and consent-based.
We explicitly uphold the right to:
• pause or stop any exercise
• skip material without explanation
• engage at a self-chosen depth
• decline sharing personal experiences
Emotional intensity is never required, encouraged, or treated as progress.
TRAUMA-AWARE, NON-CLINICAL APPROACH
Our programs are trauma-informed but not trauma-processing.
This means:
• we focus on present-time awareness, not revisiting events
• we avoid memory excavation or reliving
• we prioritize regulation over catharsis
• we emphasize safety, pacing, and containment
Participants with significant or active trauma symptoms are encouraged to participate alongside appropriate professional care.
ACCESSIBILITY COMMITMENT
We are committed to making our website, materials, and learning environments accessible to people with a wide range of sensory, cognitive, and processing needs.
Our design standards include:
• clear, predictable structure
• readable fonts and high contrast
• low-stimulus visual design
• multiple ways to engage with material
• captions and transcripts for audio and video
• materials that can be used with assistive technologies
We aim to meet or exceed WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards where possible.
VISUAL LEGEND & PARTICIPATION GUIDE
Back to Discovery: The Discovery Path
This program uses consistent visual symbols and cues to help you orient how to engage with each section. These symbols are not instructions to feel a certain way. They are navigational aids.
You remain in choice at all times.
LIMITS OF OUR ROLE
Back to Discovery is not a substitute for:
• psychotherapy
• psychiatric care
• crisis intervention
• emergency services
If you are in crisis or feel unsafe, please seek immediate professional or emergency support in your area.
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ENGAGEMENT MODES
AWARENESS MODE
(Notice without changing)
You will see this icon when the task is to:
• observe sensations, emotions, or thoughts
• notice patterns or reactions
• name what is present
• track responses without judgment
How to engage: Stay descriptive. No fixing. No analysis required.
Stopping early is allowed.
Tagline used in materials:
AWARENESS — “Notice what is here.”
INTEGRATION MODE
(Choose how it lives forward)
You will see this icon when the task is to:
• reflect on meaning
• clarify values or identity
• choose a response
• orient toward the future
How to engage: Respond from present capacity, not past intensity.
Insight is optional. Choice is enough.
Tagline used in materials:
INTEGRATION: “Choose how this lives forward.”
PACE & SAFETY CUES
PAUSE ALLOWED
You may stop, slow down, or skip an exercise without explanation.
OPTIONAL DEPTH
Depth is never required. Regulation comes first.
RETURN TO PRESENT
If overwhelmed, orient to breath, body, or environment before continuing.
IMPORTANT ORIENTATION
• Emotional intensity is not a measure of progress
• Insight is not required for completion
• You are responsible for your pacing
• This program is educational and mentoring-based, not therapy
• You are encouraged to use external support as needed
HOW TO USE THIS PROGRAM
Read prompts literally. Do not search for hidden meaning.
Engage only to the depth that feels sustainable.
When unsure, choose awareness over integration.
When activated, pause before proceeding.
Completion is based on participation, not outcomes.
FINAL NOTE
This work is not about fixing yourself.
It is about returning to clarity, capacity, and choice.
Legal Notice — Back to Discovery Companion Calls
Back to Discovery Companion Calls provide non-therapeutic listening and supportive conversation only.
This service is not psychotherapy, counseling, mental health treatment, medical care, or crisis intervention.
No diagnoses are made. No treatment plans are created. No medical, legal, or psychological advice is provided.
Companion Calls are intended for everyday life processing, emotional decompression, reflection, and human connection.
They do not replace licensed therapy, psychiatry, medical services, or emergency care.
Clients remain fully responsible for their own decisions, actions, and wellbeing.
Back to Discovery makes no guarantees regarding outcomes or results.
If you are experiencing severe emotional distress, suicidal thoughts, or a mental health emergency, contact local emergency services immediately. In the United States, call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Back to Discovery reserves the right to pause or terminate any session that moves into clinical, crisis, or unsafe territory.
Sessions are confidential to the extent permitted by law. Information may be disclosed if required by law or if there is risk of harm to yourself or others.
By booking a session, you acknowledge and agree to these terms.
Add this sentence to every booking page:
Companion Calls are non-therapeutic and not intended for crisis support.
Privacy & Confidentiality Policy
Back to Discovery: Companion Calls
Back to Discovery respects your privacy and handles personal information with care.
This policy explains how information is collected, used, stored, and protected.
Information Collected
When you book or participate in Companion Calls, we may collect:
• name
• email address
• phone number (if applicable)
• session preferences
• intake form responses
• payment information (processed securely by third-party providers)
We do not collect unnecessary personal data.
Payment details are handled directly by secure payment processors and are not stored by Back to Discovery.
How Your Information Is Used
Your information is used only to:
• schedule and provide sessions
• communicate about bookings or services
• improve service quality
• meet legal or safety obligations
Your information is never sold or shared for marketing purposes.
Confidentiality of Sessions
Sessions are private and treated as confidential.
Notes, if taken, are minimal and used only for continuity of care (for example: remembering preferences or session themes). These are stored securely.
Confidentiality may be broken only when required by law or when there is concern about immediate risk of harm to you or others.
Companion Calls are not clinical therapy, and therefore do not fall under HIPAA or medical confidentiality standards. However, Back to Discovery applies similar discretion and respect for privacy.
Data Storage & Security
Reasonable technical and organizational measures are used to protect your information, including:
• secure booking platforms
• password-protected systems
• limited access to client data
No system is perfectly secure. By using this service, you acknowledge this inherent risk.
Third-Party Services
Back to Discovery uses third-party tools for scheduling, video calls, and payment processing (such as Zoom, Calendly, Stripe, etc.). These providers maintain their own privacy policies and security practices.
Back to Discovery is not responsible for third-party platforms.
Your Rights
You may request:
• access to your stored information
• correction of inaccurate data
• deletion of your records (where legally permitted)
Requests can be sent to: [backtodiscovery@proton.me]
Policy Updates
This policy may be updated periodically. Continued use of services indicates acceptance of any changes.
Add this final line at the bottom:
By booking a Companion Call, you acknowledge that you have read and agree to this Privacy & Confidentiality Policy.
Back to Discovery: Companion Calls
Client Agreement & Disclaimer
By booking a Companion Call, you acknowledge and agree to the following:
Nature of Service
Back to Discovery Companion Calls provide non-therapeutic listening and supportive conversation. This service is not psychotherapy, counseling, mental health treatment, medical care, or crisis intervention.
No diagnoses are made, and no clinical treatment is provided.
These sessions are intended for everyday life processing, emotional decompression, reflection, and human connection.
Not a Substitute for Professional Care
Companion Calls do not replace licensed therapy, medical care, psychiatric services, or emergency support.
If you are experiencing severe emotional distress, suicidal thoughts, or a mental health crisis, please contact local emergency services or a crisis hotline immediately (in the U.S., call or text 988).
Boundaries to state clearly:
Payment in advance
24-hour cancellation policy
Not a crisis service
Not therapy
Sessions capped at 3 hours max per day
Client Responsibility
You understand that:
• You remain fully responsible for your own decisions and actions.
• Any reflections or perspectives offered are conversational, not professional advice.
• Results are not guaranteed.
Boundaries of Service
The following are outside the scope of Companion Calls:
• crisis intervention
• trauma processing or PTSD treatment
• diagnosis of mental health conditions
• treatment plans
• medication guidance
• legal or medical advice
Sessions may be paused or ended if they move into clinical or crisis territory.
Confidentiality
Sessions are private and confidential to the extent permitted by law. Information may be disclosed if required by law or if there is risk of harm to yourself or others.
ACCESSIBILITY & NEURODIVERGENT:
Back to Discovery:The Discovery Path,
To reduce cognitive load, visual strain, sensory overwhelm, and processing pressure—so participants can engage safely, at their own pace.
ACCESSIBILITY FEATURES
Our site and materials are designed to include:
• Clear, consistent navigation
• High-contrast text and readable fonts
• Compatibility with screen readers and assistive technologies
• Keyboard-navigable pages
• Closed captions and transcripts for video content
• Downloadable materials in accessible formats
• No flashing or time-limited content required for participation
COURSE & PROGRAM ACCESSIBILITY
Our educational programs are designed with:
• predictable structure
• explicit pacing guidance
• multiple ways to engage with material
• permission to pause, skip, or adapt participation
We prioritize clarity, consent, and nervous-system safety in all learning environments.
I. VISUAL ACCESSIBILITY (LOW-VISION SAFE)
Typography:
• Minimum body text: 16–18 pt (print), 18–20 px (digital)
• Headings at least 1.5× body size
• Sans-serif fonts only (e.g., Inter, Source Sans, Atkinson Hyperlegible)
• Avoid decorative or script fonts entirely
Contrast • Minimum contrast ratio: 7:1 for body text
• No light gray text on white
• Avoid colored text for meaning—use icons + labels
• Dark mode option when digital
Layout • Left-aligned text only
• Generous line spacing (1.5–1.7)
• One column preferred
• Avoid justified text
• No dense blocks longer than 6–7 lines
Icons & Symbols • Icons must always be paired with text labels
• Icons cannot be the sole conveyor of meaning
• Consistent placement throughout materials
III. COGNITIVE LOAD REDUCTION
Language • Literal, concrete wording
• Avoid metaphors that require interpretation
• Avoid rhetorical questions
• No spiritualized or poetic abstraction
Instructions • One instruction per line
• No nested instructions
• No “hold this while also doing that” prompts
Choice Visibility • Explicit permission to: – skip
– shorten
– respond in bullet points
– stop mid-exercise
II. NEURODIVERGENT FRIENDLY STRUCTURE
Predictability:
• Every section follows the same pattern: What this is
– How to engage
– When to stop
Chunking
• Exercises broken into steps of 1–3 lines
• Long reflections clearly marked as optional
• No surprise prompts
Explicit Transitions • Clear signals when shifting from: learning → reflection
– awareness → integration
– individual → relational topics
Use transition phrases like: “Pause before continuing.”
“This next section invites reflection, not action.”
IV. SENSORY-SAFE DESIGN
Color • Muted, non-saturated palette
• No high-contrast patterns
• No flashing or animated elements
• Avoid red for emphasis
Imagery • No faces expressing intense emotion
• No trauma-evoking imagery
• Use diagrams, abstract shapes, or neutral nature textures
Audio (for video/workshops) • Stable volume
• No sudden music changes
• Music optional and removable
• Closed captions always available
V. JOURNALING & REFLECTION ADAPTATIONS
Alternative Response Options Participants may: • write single words
• bullet points
• draw shapes or lines
• dictate verbally (if digital)
• skip entirely
Time Boundaries • Clear suggested time limits (e.g., “3–5 minutes”)
• No open-ended “sit with this” language
Regulation Reminder Every journaling section includes: “If activation increases, stop and return to grounding.”
VI. FACILITATOR ACCESSIBILITY PRACTICES
Facilitators are trained to: • read instructions verbatim
• avoid paraphrasing that adds pressure
• allow silence without prompting
• never call on participants unexpectedly
• provide written and verbal instructions simultaneously
Facilitators must never: • interpret participant responses
• equate engagement with depth
• praise emotional intensity
VII. DIGITAL ACCESSIBILITY (WCAG-ALIGNED)
Documents • Tagged PDFs
• Screen-reader-friendly headings
• Alt text for all images
• Logical reading order
Videos • Closed captions
• Transcripts available
• No essential information conveyed only verbally
Forms • Simple fields
• No time-limited completion
• Save-and-return enabled
VIII. PARTICIPANT ORIENTATION STATEMENT
(Placed in onboarding materials)
“This program is designed to be accessible across different sensory, cognitive, and emotional needs. You are encouraged to adapt engagement to your capacity. There is no correct way to participate.”
IX. NON-NEGOTIABLE PRINCIPLES
• Accessibility overrides aesthetics
• Clarity overrides creativity
• Consent overrides completion
• Regulation overrides insight
AUDIO ACCESSIBILITY ADAPTATIONS
Captions & Transcripts Standards
Purpose:
To ensure all audio content is accessible to participants who are deaf, hard of hearing, auditory-sensitive, neurodivergent, or who process information better through reading.
These standards apply to: • audio-guided worksheets
• video lessons
• workshop recordings
• orientation videos
• facilitator training recordings
A. CAPTIONS (REQUIRED FOR ALL AUDIO WITH VIDEO)
Format • Closed captions (CC), not open/burned-in
• User-controlled on/off toggle
• Positioned to avoid covering on-screen text
Accuracy • Verbatim transcription (no summarizing)
• Include pauses when meaningful (e.g., “[pause]”)
• Include facilitator cues such as: “You may pause the recording now.”
– “This prompt is optional.”
Timing • Caption timing must match spoken words
• No delayed or rushed captioning
Style • Sentence case
• No ALL CAPS except acronyms
• Neutral descriptors only
• No emotional labeling
Example: “Take a moment to notice your breath.
[pause]
If nothing stands out, that’s okay.”
B. TRANSCRIPTS (REQUIRED FOR ALL AUDIO)
Availability • Downloadable
• Screen-reader friendly
• Linked directly below the audio/video
Structure • Clear speaker labels (e.g., “Guide:”)
• Line breaks at pauses
• Prompts visually separated
Language • Identical to spoken content
• No additional interpretation or explanation
Formatting Example
Guide:
“This is a guided version of the worksheet.
You may pause or stop at any time.”
[pause]
Guide:
“The first prompt is:
‘What sensation is most noticeable right now?’”
C. OPTIONAL ENHANCEMENTS (NOT REQUIRED)
• Adjustable playback speed
• Highlighted text synced to audio
• Transcript sections linked to timestamps
D. WHAT IS NOT PERMITTED
• Auto-generated captions without review
• Summarized transcripts
• Captions that paraphrase or interpret
• Emotional descriptors added by editors
KNOWN LIMITATIONS
While we strive for full accessibility, some content or third-party platforms may not yet fully meet every accessibility standard. We actively review and improve our systems as resources allow.
REQUESTING ACCOMMODATIONS
If you encounter any accessibility barriers or would like to request reasonable accommodations, please contact us at:
backtodiscovery@proton.me
(include a response time expectation, e.g., “within 3-5 business days”)
FEEDBACK
We welcome feedback on how we can improve accessibility. Input from participants and facilitators directly informs our updates.
OUR COMMITMENT CONTINUES
We review and update our practices as we learn.
Feedback from participants, facilitators, and accessibility advocates informs our evolution.
