Terms of use

Effective November 9, 2026

These Terms of Use ("Terms") govern your use of oceaniccounseling.com and everything on it, including the Activity Zone, the self-check quizzes, the Calm Zone breathing and grounding exercises, the Emotion Wheel, Draw It Out, the Daily Challenge, the Values Compass, articles, and forms (together, the "Site"). The Site is operated by Oceanic® Counseling Group LLC ("Oceanic®," "we," "us"). By accessing or using the Site, you agree to these Terms. If you do not agree, do not use the Site.

These Terms apply to every person who visits or uses the Site, whether or not that person is, was, or becomes a client of Oceanic®. Clients of Oceanic® are also bound by their separate treatment, consent, and financial agreements, which govern the clinical relationship; these Terms govern use of the Site.

1. The Site is not therapy, medical care, or advice

The Site provides general educational and wellness information and self-guided activities. Nothing on the Site is medical, psychological, psychiatric, or other professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and nothing on it is a substitute for care from a licensed professional who knows your situation. Using the Site, taking a quiz, or submitting a form does not create a therapist–client, provider–patient, or any other professional relationship with Oceanic® or any of its clinicians. A professional relationship begins only when you complete intake and are accepted as a client.

Never disregard professional advice, or delay seeking it, because of something you read or did on the Site.

2. Emergencies

The Site is not monitored and is not for emergencies. If you or someone else is in danger or in crisis, call or text 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline), call 911, or go to the nearest emergency room. Do not rely on any part of the Site in an emergency.

3. Self-check quizzes

The quizzes are for awareness and entertainment purposes only. They are not diagnostic instruments, they cannot provide a diagnosis, and their results have no clinical meaning on their own. A comprehensive evaluation is provided only by licensed professionals. Quiz answers are processed in your browser and are not saved or sent to us.

4. Breathing, grounding, and relaxation exercises: assumption of risk

The Calm Zone and similar activities include breathing patterns (some with breath holds), muscle tension and release, grounding exercises, and generated sounds. These are general wellness activities. They are not prescribed to you, and we have not evaluated whether they are appropriate for you.

You use these exercises voluntarily and entirely at your own risk. Breathing exercises and breath holds can cause light-headedness, dizziness, fainting, shortness of breath, increased anxiety, or other effects, and may be unsafe for some people, including people who are pregnant or who have asthma, COPD or another lung condition, a heart condition, a seizure disorder, low blood pressure, or a panic disorder. Consult your physician before using any breathing or relaxation exercise. Stop immediately if you feel unwell. Never use these exercises while driving, operating machinery, swimming, bathing, or in any situation where loss of attention or consciousness could cause harm. By using them, you confirm that you have read the on-screen safety guidance, that you accept these risks, and that you are solely responsible for any decision to use or continue using them.

5. Who may use the Site

The Site is intended for use by adults 18 and older in the United States. If you are under 18, use the Site only with a parent's or guardian's permission and supervision.

6. No warranties

THE SITE AND EVERYTHING ON IT ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE," WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF ACCURACY, COMPLETENESS, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, MERCHANTABILITY, NON-INFRINGEMENT, OR UNINTERRUPTED OR ERROR-FREE OPERATION. WE DO NOT WARRANT THAT ANY INFORMATION OR ACTIVITY ON THE SITE IS SUITABLE FOR YOU OR WILL PRODUCE ANY PARTICULAR RESULT.

7. Limitation of liability

TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, OCEANIC COUNSELING GROUP LLC AND ITS MEMBERS, MANAGERS, OFFICERS, OWNERS, CLINICIANS, EMPLOYEES, CONTRACTORS, AFFILIATED COMPANIES, LICENSORS, SUCCESSORS, ASSIGNS, AND AGENTS (TOGETHER, THE "OCEANIC PARTIES") WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INJURY, LOSS, OR DAMAGE OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, SPECIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, AND INCLUDING PERSONAL INJURY OR EMOTIONAL DISTRESS, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO YOUR ACCESS TO OR USE OF, OR INABILITY TO USE, THE SITE OR ANY ACTIVITY, QUIZ, EXERCISE, OR INFORMATION ON IT, WHETHER BASED IN CONTRACT, TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE), STRICT LIABILITY, OR ANY OTHER THEORY, EVEN IF WE HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. IF ANY LIABILITY IS FOUND NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING, OUR TOTAL LIABILITY TO YOU FOR ALL CLAIMS RELATED TO THE SITE WILL NOT EXCEED ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($100).

Some jurisdictions do not allow certain limitations of warranties or liability, so some of the above may not apply to you. Nothing in these Terms limits liability that cannot be limited by law. These limitations apply to all users of the Site, whether or not they are clients of Oceanic®; for clients, the rights and obligations of the clinical relationship itself are governed by their treatment agreements and applicable law, not by these Terms.

8. Release

To the fullest extent permitted by law, you, whether or not you are a client of Oceanic®, release the Oceanic® Parties from all claims, demands, and damages arising out of or related to your use of the self-guided activities on the Site, including the breathing, grounding, and relaxation exercises.

8A. Indemnification

To the fullest extent permitted by law, you agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless the Oceanic® Parties from and against all claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of or related to (a) your use of the Site in violation of these Terms or of any law, (b) any information you submit through the Site that is false or that you are not entitled to submit, or (c) your infringement of any third party's rights.

9. Third-party sites and services

The Site links to other websites and uses third-party services for forms and scheduling. We do not control those sites or services and are not responsible for their content, availability, or practices. Your use of them is governed by their own terms and policies.

10. Intellectual property

The Site, its design, text, graphics, activities, and code are owned by Oceanic® Counseling Group LLC or its licensors and are protected by copyright and trademark law. Oceanic® is a registered trademark of Oceanic® Counseling Group LLC. You may view and use the Site for personal, non-commercial purposes. You may not copy, reproduce, modify, distribute, or create derivative works from it without our written permission.

11. Acceptable use

You agree not to use the Site in any way that is unlawful, that could damage or impair the Site, that interferes with anyone else's use of it, or that attempts to gain unauthorized access to any system or data. You agree not to submit false information through our forms.

12. Privacy

Our Privacy Policy explains how the Site handles information. Our Notice of Privacy Practices explains how we handle protected health information for clients. The Activity Zone and quizzes run in your browser; nothing you enter in them is saved by us or sent to us.

13. Governing law and disputes

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of South Carolina, without regard to its conflict-of-law rules. Any dispute arising out of or related to these Terms or the Site will be brought exclusively in the state or federal courts located in Horry County, South Carolina, and you consent to the jurisdiction of those courts. Any claim related to the Site must be brought within one (1) year after it arises, or it is permanently barred, to the extent permitted by law.

14. Severability

If any part of these Terms is found unenforceable, that part will be enforced to the maximum extent permitted and the rest of the Terms will remain in full effect.

15. Changes

We may update these Terms at any time by posting the revised version on this page with a new effective date. Your continued use of the Site after a change means you accept the revised Terms.

16. Contact

Questions about these Terms: Oceanic® Counseling Group LLC, P.O. Box 16091, Myrtle Beach, SC 29587, or call (843) 894-0000.