Clinical Disclaimer

Important Notice

What Settle and Source™ Is

Settle and Source™ is a daily self-led practice tool designed to support personal awareness and nervous system regulation. It is grounded in the following evidence-based frameworks:

• Internal Family Systems (IFS), a model of psychotherapy developed by Dr Richard Schwartz that recognises the mind as made up of multiple sub-personalities or parts
• Polyvagal theory, developed by Dr Stephen Porges, which describes how the autonomic nervous system responds to safety and threat
• Attachment theory, which describes how early relational experiences shape patterns of relating and self-protection
• Somatic nervous system science, which recognises that psychological patterns are held in the body as well as the mind

The app is designed to help users develop greater self-awareness, recognise protective patterns before acting from them, and build a regular self-led practice that supports their wellbeing over time.

What Settle and Source™ Is Not

We want to be clear and honest about the boundaries of what Settle and Source™ can offer. This is not a limitation of the app. It is an honest description of what it is designed to do and what it is not designed to do.

Settle and Source™ does not provide therapy. The parts-led framework, somatic tools, and IFS meditations within the app are educational and practice-based resources. They are not a therapeutic intervention and their use does not constitute a therapeutic relationship between the user and Settle and Source™ or Angela M Carter.

Settle and Source™ does not provide clinical advice. Nothing within the app should be interpreted as advice about your mental health, your diagnosis, your medication, or your treatment. If you have concerns about your mental health please speak with a qualified professional.

Settle and Source™ does not replace professional support. If you are currently working with a therapist, counsellor, psychiatrist, or other mental health professional, please continue to do so. This app is designed to complement professional support, not replace it.

The Wise Self Feature

The Wise Self is an AI-assisted reflective feature within the app. It is designed to offer a space to share what you are carrying, what you cannot make sense of, or what has just happened. It reflects back what you share and asks one question at a time.

The Wise Self is not a therapist, a counsellor, or a clinical tool. It does not diagnose, advise, or treat. It is a reflective companion grounded in IFS principles, designed to help you access your own clarity and perspective.

• The Wise Self will not provide clinical advice or diagnoses
• The Wise Self will not recommend or comment on medication or treatment
• The Wise Self does not replace human therapeutic support
• Conversations with the Wise Self are processed by an AI system and are not reviewed by human staff

The Wise Self includes a safety feature that recognises when a user may be in acute distress or a suicidal crisis. If this is detected the app will gently ask what country you are in and provide direct links to crisis support services in your region. This is a safety measure and does not constitute a clinical assessment.

If You Are in Crisis

If you are experiencing thoughts of suicide or self-harm, or are in immediate distress, please reach out to one of the following services. You do not need to be in immediate danger to call a crisis line. They are there for any moment when you need to talk.

For Professional Practitioners

Settle and Source™ is used by mental health practitioners, IFS therapists, coaches, and other professionals both for their own personal practice and as a resource they may recommend to clients.

If you are a practitioner using this app with or alongside clients, please note the following:

• Settle and Source™ is a self-led practice tool and does not constitute a clinical intervention. It does not replace the therapeutic relationship or professional clinical judgement
• You remain responsible for assessing the suitability of this app for individual clients in accordance with your professional obligations and ethical guidelines
• The IFS-informed content within the app is designed for self-led use and is not a substitute for IFS therapy delivered by a trained practitioner
• If recommending this app to clients please ensure they understand its nature and limitations as described in this disclaimer
• The app includes a crisis detection feature in the Wise Self. This is a safety measure and does not constitute a clinical risk assessment

The Evidence Base

Settle and Source™ is grounded in established, evidence-informed frameworks. The following is a brief overview of the foundations the app draws on.

• Internal Family Systems (IFS) was developed by Dr Richard Schwartz and is recognised by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in the UK and has a growing evidence base for use with trauma, anxiety, and depression
• Polyvagal theory was developed by Dr Stephen Porges and describes the role of the vagus nerve in regulating the autonomic nervous system. It is widely used in trauma-informed practice
• The 90-second neurochemical response identified by neuroscientist Dr Jill Bolte Taylor describes the time it takes for a stress-triggered chemical response to flush through the body once you stop feeding it with thought. This is the foundation of the Pause feature
• Somatic approaches to nervous system regulation are supported by a growing body of research in trauma-informed care, including the work of Peter Levine, Bessel van der Kolk, and others

While these frameworks are evidence-informed, Settle and Source™ itself has not been subject to clinical trials or peer-reviewed research. The app draws on established frameworks but does not claim clinical efficacy as a standalone intervention.

Contact Us

If you have questions about this disclaimer, about the clinical foundations of the app, or about the suitability of Settle and Source™ for your situation or your clients, please contact us.