Counselling Agreement & Terms

Nature of Counselling

Counselling is a collaborative and reflective process focused on understanding patterns, values, relationships, decision-making, and personal experience. It aims to support clarity, insight, and emotional understanding.

Counselling is not medical, psychiatric, legal, or emergency care, and does not provide diagnosis or crisis intervention. The client remains responsible for their own decisions and actions.

Age Requirement

Counselling services are provided to adults aged 18 years and over only. This practice does not provide counselling to persons under 18.

Informed Consent

Participation in counselling is voluntary. You may pause, decline to answer questions, or end counselling at any time.

Counselling may involve discussing emotionally activating material. While many clients find counselling helpful, outcomes cannot be guaranteed, and decisions made outside sessions remain your responsibility.

By booking a session, you confirm you understand the nature and limits of this service and consent to participate voluntarily.

Confidentiality, Safety & Mandatory Reporting

All information shared during counselling is treated as confidential and managed in accordance with professional, ethical, and legal obligations.

Confidentiality may be limited where there are reasonable grounds to believe:

• There is serious risk of harm to yourself or another person
• Disclosure is required by law, subpoena, or court order
• Safety concerns require protective action

Where appropriate and safe, this will be discussed with you before disclosure. The purpose of any disclosure is safety and protection.

Anonymous Sessions

Anonymous sessions allow the use of an alias and limited identifying information. However, complete anonymity cannot be guaranteed. If serious safety concerns arise, you may be asked for identifying or location information. If safety cannot be supported, the session may be paused or ended and appropriate services recommended.

Scope of Practice

This service does not provide crisis or emergency mental health care, psychiatric assessment, medical treatment, forensic reporting, or legal advice. Referral may be recommended if your needs fall outside scope.

Session Format & Hours

Sessions are approximately 50 minutes and delivered via secure video or in person where available.

Telehealth requires a stable connection and private environment. While secure platforms are used, electronic communication cannot be guaranteed completely secure.

Fees & Payment

All sessions are prepaid at the time of booking. Fees may be updated with notice.

Payments, Cancellations & Rescheduling

All bookings are prepaid and non-refundable, as your appointment time is reserved exclusively for you.

Appointments may be rescheduled with at least 24 hours notice.

If a session cannot proceed due to technical failure or circumstances on our side, a reschedule or refund will be offered.

Emergency & Crisis Situations

This service is not a crisis or emergency service and does not provide 24/7 support.

If you are at immediate risk of harm, contact emergency services or a crisis support service immediately.

Communication Between Sessions

Communication outside scheduled sessions is limited to administrative matters such as scheduling or billing. Therapeutic support is provided during booked sessions only.

Records & Privacy

Personal information and counselling notes are stored securely in accordance with Australian Privacy Principles. Information is not shared without consent except where required by law or safety obligations.

You may request access to your records in writing. Electronic communication carries some privacy risk.

Telehealth Limitations

Telehealth may be affected by technical disruption, connection failure, or environmental privacy limitations. If a session cannot continue safely, it may be rescheduled.

In-Person Safety

In-person sessions must occur in a safe and appropriate environment. Sessions may be declined or ended if safety concerns arise.

Professional Supervision

Professional supervision is undertaken in accordance with Australian Counselling Association standards. Client material may be discussed in a de-identified manner to maintain safe and ethical practice.

Right to Refuse, Pause, or End Service

Counselling may be declined, paused, or ended where:

• Safety cannot be maintained
• Needs fall outside scope
• The service is not therapeutically appropriate
• Ethical or legal obligations require

Referral to appropriate services may be recommended.

Client Responsibility

You remain responsible for your decisions, actions, and choices outside counselling. Counselling supports reflection and understanding but does not direct behaviour or outcomes.

Consent

By booking and attending counselling, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agreed to this Counselling Agreement and Terms.