What We Don't Do
Domain boundaries for therapy data systems
The Refusal List
1. Mental Health Diagnoses
Therapy data systems do not diagnose any mental health condition.
This includes:
- Depression (major depressive disorder, dysthymia, etc.)
- Anxiety disorders (GAD, panic disorder, social anxiety, etc.)
- PTSD (Post-traumatic stress disorder)
- Bipolar disorder
- Schizophrenia
- OCD (Obsessive-compulsive disorder)
- Eating disorders (anorexia, bulimia, binge eating)
- Personality disorders
- Any DSM-5 psychiatric diagnosis
Why: Mental health diagnosis requires clinical training, comprehensive evaluation, and professional judgment. Mood tracking ≠ diagnosis.
Zero tolerance: Not even "this might indicate depression" or "you may have anxiety."
2. Replacing Therapy
We do not position as a substitute for licensed professional therapy.
This includes:
- AI therapy chatbots that "replace" therapists
- "Talk to our AI instead of a therapist"
- "Cheaper than therapy" positioning
- Claims to provide equivalent help to therapy
- "Therapeutic relationship" with an AI
Why: Therapy involves trained professionals providing evidence-based treatment in the context of a therapeutic relationship. An app cannot replicate this.
3. Crisis Intervention
We do not provide suicide prevention or crisis counseling.
This includes:
- Suicide risk assessment or prediction
- Crisis counseling or de-escalation
- Self-harm intervention
- "We'll keep you safe" claims
- Determining if someone is "at risk"
Why: Crisis intervention requires specialized training and immediate human connection. Apps cannot and should not attempt this.
We DO: Prominently display 988, Crisis Text Line, and 911. Always.
4. Medications
We do not recommend, manage, or comment on psychiatric medications.
This includes:
- Antidepressants (SSRIs, SNRIs, etc.)
- Anti-anxiety medications (benzodiazepines, etc.)
- Mood stabilizers
- Antipsychotics
- Dosage suggestions or changes
- "You should stop/start medication"
Why: Medication decisions require medical supervision (psychiatrist, doctor). Even "commonly prescribed" medications have risks and require professional management.
5. Therapeutic Techniques
We do not prescribe or guide clinical therapeutic techniques.
This includes:
- CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) protocols
- DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) skills
- Exposure therapy for phobias or PTSD
- EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)
- Psychodynamic interpretation
- Clinical mindfulness protocols (vs. general mindfulness)
Why: These are professional techniques requiring training to deliver safely and effectively.
We DO: Support general self-reflection, journaling, and gratitude practices—not clinical interventions.
6. Trauma Processing
We do not guide trauma work or PTSD treatment.
This includes:
- Trauma narrative work
- Exposure to traumatic memories
- Processing childhood trauma
- PTSD symptom treatment
- Trauma-focused interventions
Why: Trauma work can be destabilizing and requires professional oversight. Attempting this via app risks retraumatization.
7. Relationship/Couples Counseling
We do not provide relationship therapy or couples counseling.
This includes:
- Couples communication techniques
- Relationship problem diagnosis
- "Fixing" relationship issues
- Mediation between partners
- Marriage counseling
Why: Relationship dynamics are complex and require trained therapists who can work with multiple people.
8. Eating Disorder Support
We do not provide eating disorder treatment or recovery guidance.
This includes:
- Meal planning for ED recovery
- Body image work
- ED symptom tracking (purging, restricting, etc.)
- Treatment protocols for anorexia/bulimia
- "Pro-recovery" content without professional oversight
Why: Eating disorders are serious medical conditions requiring specialized treatment. Apps can unintentionally trigger or enable harmful behaviors.
9. Substance Abuse Treatment
We do not provide addiction treatment or recovery support.
This includes:
- Sobriety tracking (can be risky without professional context)
- Relapse prevention techniques
- Detox guidance
- Substance use disorder treatment
- "Trigger" management for addiction
Why: Addiction treatment requires medical and psychological expertise. Withdrawal can be medically dangerous.
10. Child/Teen Mental Health
We do not provide mental health support for minors without extreme caution.
This includes:
- Teen-specific mental health diagnosis
- Parenting advice for child mental health
- School-related emotional issues
- Developmental/behavioral assessments
Why: Minors require special protections, parental involvement, and developmentally appropriate care.
If serving minors: Mandatory parental consent, professional mental health consultation requirements, and heightened safeguards.
What We DO Instead
| We Don't... | We Do... |
|---|---|
| Diagnose depression | Track personal mood patterns and suggest professional evaluation if concerning |
| Replace therapy | Support self-reflection and complement professional treatment |
| Assess suicide risk | Display 988 prominently and direct to crisis resources |
| Prescribe medications | Remind users to consult doctors about medication questions |
| Provide CBT | Offer general journaling prompts and gratitude practices |
| Process trauma | Recognize concerning patterns and refer to trauma specialists |
| Couples counseling | Support individual wellbeing; refer couples to therapists |
| Treat eating disorders | Avoid ED content; refer to specialized treatment |
The Bottom Line
Therapy data systems:
- ✅ Observe personal emotional patterns
- ✅ Support self-awareness and reflection
- ✅ Connect users to professional help
- ✅ Track mood/wellbeing for personal insight
They do not:
- ❌ Diagnose mental health conditions
- ❌ Replace professional therapy
- ❌ Intervene in crises
- ❌ Prescribe treatments or medications
If a feature isn't clearly on the "do" list, assume it's on the "don't" list until confirmed safe.