Cerebral Terms of Service

Item: Cerebral
Rating: 28
Author: Terms.Law Editorial Team

Last updated: November 2024 | Reviewed: February 2026

Online psychiatry platform that faced FTC action over data practices and controlled substance prescribing. Terms heavily favor the company.

Grade D

Regulatory Warning: In 2024, the FTC took action against Cerebral for allegedly sharing sensitive mental health data with third parties for advertising and failing to honor cancellation requests. Consider this regulatory history when evaluating this platform.

Bottom Line: Cerebral's terms are among the most concerning in the mental health space. The platform combines broad data usage rights, difficult cancellation processes, and limited liability for treatment outcomes. Given the FTC action and ongoing regulatory scrutiny, users should proceed with extreme caution.

Category Scores

Subscription & Cancellation 18/100

Therapy Data Sharing 15/100

Treatment Limitations 32/100

Dispute Resolution 35/100

Crisis Protocol 38/100

Key Findings

⚠ Difficult Cancellation Process

Cerebral has faced regulatory action for allegedly making cancellation difficult. Users report being charged after requesting cancellation and difficulty reaching support to stop services.

"To cancel your subscription, you must contact our support team. Cancellation requests made within 48 hours of your billing date may not be processed until the following billing cycle."

⚠ Broad Data Sharing for Marketing

The FTC alleged Cerebral shared sensitive mental health data with advertising platforms. While terms have been updated, the broad data usage rights remain concerning.

"We may share information with third-party partners to improve our services and provide you with relevant information about mental health resources and treatments."

⚠ Limited Treatment Liability

Cerebral extensively limits liability for treatment outcomes, medication side effects, and provider decisions. This is particularly concerning for a platform prescribing controlled substances.

"Cerebral is not responsible for the clinical decisions made by healthcare providers. You acknowledge that medication carries inherent risks and release Cerebral from liability for adverse effects."

⚠ Crisis Protocol Limitations

The terms explicitly state Cerebral is not equipped to handle mental health emergencies. Users in crisis are directed elsewhere, despite the platform treating serious conditions like depression and anxiety.

"Cerebral is not an emergency service. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, you should call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room. Cerebral cannot provide crisis intervention."

Comparison: Online Psychiatry Platforms

Feature	Cerebral	Talkspace	BetterHelp
Cancellation Ease	Difficult	Moderate	Moderate
FTC Actions	Yes (2024)	No	Yes (2023)
Controlled Substances	Yes	No	No
Crisis Support	External only	Limited	Limited
Data Transparency	Poor	Average	Poor

Recommendation

Strong Caution: Given the FTC action and concerning terms, consider alternative platforms for mental health care. If you need medication management, traditional in-person psychiatry offers better consumer protections.

If You Must Use: Document all interactions, save cancellation confirmations, and monitor your bank statements closely for unauthorized charges. Consider using a virtual credit card with spending limits.