Before counselling
Informed Consent for Online Counselling
This consent explains the nature, limits and responsibilities associated with online counselling through EDHA.
1. Nature of the service
Online counselling may take place by video, audio or secure chat with the independent mental health professional you select. Counselling can support emotional wellbeing, coping, insight and decision-making, but outcomes cannot be guaranteed.
2. EDHA's role
EDHA facilitates professional discovery, booking, payment and the online session experience. The selected professional provides counselling independently and is responsible for professional judgement, competence, confidentiality and appropriate referral or escalation.
3. Benefits and possible limitations
Online counselling may offer convenience and access, but it may not be suitable for every person, concern or level of clinical need. Difficult emotions may arise during counselling. Your professional may recommend a different professional, in-person care, medical/psychiatric assessment or another service where appropriate.
4. Privacy and recording
Standard EDHA video/audio sessions are not recorded by EDHA and recording is off by default. Private counselling chat is designed so it is not readable through EDHA's normal admin tools. Limited operational metadata such as booking status and join/leave times may be retained to operate the service.
5. Confidentiality and exceptions
Your professional is expected to maintain confidentiality subject to applicable law, professional duties and limited exceptions, including lawful requirements or circumstances involving serious risk of harm where disclosure may be professionally or legally required.
6. Technology risks
Internet, device, power or provider failures can interrupt a session. EDHA may support video, audio or chat fallback where available, but uninterrupted connectivity cannot be guaranteed.
7. Emergency and crisis limitations
EDHA is not an emergency or crisis response service and online counselling through EDHA should not be relied upon for immediate emergency intervention. If there is immediate risk or urgent medical or mental-health need, seek local emergency/in-person care or the nearest hospital. Government of India Tele-MANAS is available 24x7 at 14416 or 1800-89-14416.
8. Your responsibilities
Provide accurate booking information, join from a reasonably private environment, use a secure device/network where possible, do not secretly record or redistribute the session, share only documents you are authorised to share and inform the professional if the online format no longer feels appropriate.
9. Contact and rescheduling
After successful payment and confirmed booking, EDHA may share registered contact details between you and the professional for legitimate session coordination. Any mutually agreed reschedule should also be updated inside EDHA.
10. Voluntary participation
Participation in counselling is voluntary. You may choose whether to proceed with a booking and may discuss questions about the counselling approach with the professional. Cancellation and refund consequences remain subject to EDHA's displayed policy.
11. Concerns about professional conduct
If you feel uncomfortable, unsafe or concerned about a professional's conduct, you may discontinue the interaction where appropriate and write to ask@edha.life with your booking reference and a factual description. EDHA may conduct a platform-level review. This does not replace emergency, police, statutory or regulatory reporting where appropriate.
12. Consent record
EDHA may record your acceptance of the applicable consent version before the first relevant counselling booking and again when a material change requires renewed consent.