Terms and Conditions

Dr. Antonio D'Costa - EMDR Therapy Practice

Last Updated: October 22, 2025
Effective Date: October 22, 2025

1. Introduction

These Terms and Conditions ("Terms") govern your use of EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy services provided by Dr. Antonio D'Costa ("I," "me," "my," or "the Practice"), a licensed medical practitioner registered with the Goa Medical Council (Registration No. 3764). By booking and using my services (whether paid or complimentary), you agree to these Terms, the Privacy Policy, and all applicable Indian laws including the National Medical Commission Telemedicine Practice Guidelines, 2020, the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, and the Information Technology Act, 2000.

These services are provided via teletherapy/video consultation to clients in India and internationally from my practice location in Goa, India.

⚖️ Agreement to Terms

By completing the booking process and checking the required consent boxes, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions. If you do not agree, you may not use these services.

2. Services Provided

2.1 Scope of Services

I provide EMDR therapy services via teletherapy/video consultation for the treatment of trauma, anxiety, and related conditions. EMDR services are provided under clinical supervision in accordance with EMDRIA (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing International Association) training standards.

Services include:

2.2 Eligibility Requirements

To receive EMDR therapy services from this practice, you must meet the following requirements:

2.3 Service Limitations

EMDR therapy provided by this practice is an adjunctive treatment and is not a substitute for comprehensive mental health care, psychiatric treatment, or emergency services. I do not provide:

⚠️ Emergency Situations

This service is NOT appropriate for emergencies. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, suicidal thoughts, or medical emergency, immediately contact:

I am not responsible for providing emergency services or crisis intervention.

3. Booking and Payment

3.1 Booking Process

Appointments must be booked in advance through the online booking system or by direct communication via email, phone, or WhatsApp. Payment is required at the time of booking to confirm your appointment. Your booking is not confirmed until payment is successfully processed. You will receive a confirmation message with appointment details once payment is complete.

3.2 Payment Terms

Payment is required at the time of booking and must be completed before your appointment is confirmed. Your booking is not finalized until payment is successfully processed through our secure payment system.

Accepted payment methods:

For online bookings through the website, payment must be completed during the booking process. For manual bookings arranged via email, phone, or WhatsApp, payment details will be provided and must be completed immediately to secure your appointment slot.

3.2.1 Payment Processing and Confirmation

Your appointment booking is complete only when:

  1. You have submitted all required booking information
  2. Payment has been successfully processed
  3. You have received a booking confirmation message from us

Payment authorization does not guarantee appointment confirmation. In rare cases where technical issues occur or the time slot becomes unavailable during payment processing, you will be contacted immediately to arrange an alternative time or process a refund.

3.3 Fees and Pricing

Session fees are displayed on the website and communicated during the booking process. Fees are subject to change at any time, but changes will not affect bookings already confirmed and paid for.

3.4 Non-Refundable Policy

All session fees paid at the time of booking are non-refundable once payment is processed, regardless of reason. This includes:

Exception: If I need to cancel or reschedule your appointment, you will be offered a full refund or rescheduling option at your choice.

4. Technology Requirements

To participate in teletherapy sessions, you must have and maintain the following technology requirements:

You are responsible for:

I am not responsible for technology failures, internet connectivity issues, or device problems on your end. Sessions interrupted or shortened due to your technology issues are non-refundable.

5. Cancellation and Rescheduling

5.1 Client Cancellation/Rescheduling

You must provide at least 72 hours advance notice if you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment. Notice must be provided via email (support@drantoniodcosta.com) or WhatsApp (+91-8806965342).

With 72+ hours notice: I will make reasonable efforts to reschedule your session to another available time slot. However, due to scheduling constraints, I may not always be able to accommodate rescheduling requests. If rescheduling is not possible, your session fee (already paid at booking) is forfeited and non-refundable.

Without 72 hours notice: Late cancellations or rescheduling requests with less than 72 hours notice will result in forfeiture of your session fee with no refund or rescheduling option, except in cases of documented medical emergency or other extraordinary circumstances at my sole discretion.

5.2 No-Show Policy

If you fail to attend your scheduled appointment without prior notice ("no-show"), your session fee is immediately forfeited with no refund. Repeated no-shows (3 or more) may result in termination of services and refusal of future bookings.

5.3 Provider Cancellation

If I need to cancel your appointment due to illness, emergency, or unforeseen circumstances, you will be notified as soon as possible and offered:

6. Client Responsibilities

By using these services, you agree to the following responsibilities:

Failure to meet these responsibilities may result in termination of services as described in Section 7.

7. Termination of Services

7.1 Termination by Provider

I reserve the right to refuse service or terminate the therapeutic relationship at any time if, in my professional judgment, continuing services would be inappropriate, unethical, or unsafe. Grounds for termination include, but are not limited to:

If services are terminated due to your actions or non-compliance, all paid fees are forfeited and non-refundable. I will provide appropriate referrals to other providers when termination occurs for clinical reasons.

Please understand that while I will provide this information, I cannot guarantee availability or ensure you will receive services from these resources. The quality and outcomes of care from other providers are beyond my control. You remain responsible for following up on referrals and accessing appropriate care for your needs.

7.2 Termination by Client

You may discontinue services at any time for any reason by notifying me via email or WhatsApp. However, all fees for sessions already paid are non-refundable, even if you choose not to attend future scheduled sessions.

8. Informed Consent and Session Recording

By completing the booking process, you provide explicit informed consent for the following, as documented through the required checkboxes on the booking form:

These consents are documented electronically through required checkboxes that must be selected before booking can be completed. Session recordings are handled in accordance with the Privacy Policy and retained temporarily for clinical purposes before secure deletion.

If you do not consent to session recording, you cannot proceed with booking or attend sessions.

9. Confidentiality and Privacy

Your personal and health information is protected in accordance with the Privacy Policy, which forms an integral part of these Terms. Please review the Privacy Policy for detailed information about how your data is collected, used, stored, and protected.

Limits of confidentiality: As required by Indian law and professional ethics, confidentiality may be breached without your consent in the following limited circumstances:

10. Limitation of Liability

10.1 No Guarantee of Outcomes

While EMDR therapy has been shown to be effective for many individuals, I make no guarantees or warranties regarding therapeutic outcomes. Mental health treatment outcomes depend on many factors including client engagement, severity of symptoms, co-occurring conditions, and individual circumstances.

10.2 Technology Limitations

Teletherapy involves inherent technological limitations and risks including internet connectivity issues, platform failures, security vulnerabilities, and technical difficulties. I am not responsible for:

By using these services, you acknowledge and accept these technological risks and limitations.

10.3 Maximum Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by Indian law, my total liability for any claims arising from these services shall not exceed the amount paid by you for the specific session(s) giving rise to the claim.

10.4 Professional Indemnity Insurance

This practice maintains professional indemnity insurance coverage for medical negligence and malpractice claims as required by Indian law.

11. Intellectual Property

All content on this website, including text, graphics, logos, images, and materials provided during therapy (worksheets, resources, etc.) are the intellectual property of Dr. Antonio D'Costa or used with permission. You may not reproduce, distribute, or create derivative works from this content without written permission.

Session recordings and clinical documentation are created for clinical purposes only and remain my property as part of your medical record. You may request copies of your clinical records as outlined in the Privacy Policy.

12. Dispute Resolution and Governing Law

12.1 Governing Law

These Terms and Conditions, your use of these services, and any disputes arising therefrom shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of India, including:

12.2 Jurisdiction

Any disputes, claims, or legal proceedings arising from or related to these services shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts in Goa, India.

12.3 International Clients

If you are accessing services from outside India, you acknowledge that:

13. Changes to Terms

I reserve the right to modify these Terms and Conditions at any time. When significant changes are made, I will:

Your continued use of services after changes to these Terms constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms. If you do not agree with changes, you may discontinue services (subject to the non-refundable policy for sessions already paid).

14. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.

15. Entire Agreement

These Terms and Conditions, together with the Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and Dr. Antonio D'Costa regarding the use of these services and supersede any prior agreements or understandings.

16. Contact Information

If you have any questions about these Terms and Conditions, please contact me:

Dr. Antonio D'Costa
MD Pediatrics (India) | EMDR Therapy Practice
Goa Medical Council Registration: 3764

Practice Address:
Happy Kids Clinic
Cottar Wado, behind Primary Health Centre
Cansaulim, Goa 403712, INDIA

Email: support@drantoniodcosta.com
Phone/WhatsApp: +91-8806965342
Website: https://drantoniodcosta.com