Privacy & Confidentiality Policy

This privacy and confidentiality policy helps build your trust by informing you of applicable laws regarding confidentiality and privacy. 

Aim

The aim of counselling is to talk about matters concerning you to achieve clarity, insight, improvement, development, and resolution. My role as a counsellor is to provide you with a safe, secure, supportive and confidential space and to assist you through this process in a non-judgmental manner.

Confidentiality

Everything discussed in counselling sessions is private and highly confidential. I am extremely discreet. 

Privacy and confidentiality exceptions

There are three privacy and confidentiality exceptions:

1. If you are talking of harm to yourself, harm to others or from others, about a serious unresolved crime, or at-risk child/children under age 18, then we will discuss an approach given my legal obligation for safety for disclosure to authorities. 

2. If my notes are subpoenaed or called upon through a Court process.

3. There may be occasions where I de-identify you and, as part of my professional registration requirements, discuss my counselling with my Clinical Supervisor. 

Client records and storage of personal information

Client records are held confidentially and safely in either encrypted electronic soft or paper hard copy formats. Two sets of professional records are kept: Client Intake  Record, which is administrative information and requires your signed informed consent, and Clinical Record with counselling notes, which may include mental health and medical information that you have provided. 

We do not retain any credit card or banking details once the payment is finalised.

We avoid retaining unnecessary information and securely dispose of it periodically, depending on the type of information and our legal obligations. If we become aware of a security breach, we will promptly investigate and, where appropriate, take remedial action and notify the individual affected in accordance with the Privacy Act.

Mode of counselling session - in-person or online

Counselling sessions are face-to-face/in-person or via an online telehealth platform accessed on your mobile phone, computer, tablet, or iPad. 

For online sessions, simply click the link https://doxy.me/helenmurphy on your phone, computer, tablet or iPad.

Online counselling services

Online counselling services are provided through an encrypted telehealth platform Doxy.

Sessions

A counselling session is up to 1 hour in duration.

Sessions are usually held weekly, initially, and may then transition to fortnightly.

Session bookings, reminders, updates, and out-of-session therapy activities are sent to you via sms, email, or phone.

Out-of-session therapy activities

At times, the counsellor may suggest therapy-related tasks for you to complete between sessions, known as out-of-session therapy activities. These activities are voluntary and, with your consent, will be sent to you via SMS or email. They are NOT compulsory homework. 

Fees

Session fees are $150 and are due at the time of booking. This will secure a counselling session at the time you want. Fees are paid by payID or bank transfer.

The $150 fee applies to up to 1-hour sessions; longer sessions are available under a different fee structure.

Cancellation/reschedule, Late Arrival, and Non-Attendance

Sessions can be rescheduled with 48 hours' notice.

If you are late, the session will commence as soon as you arrive; however, no more than 15 minutes after the session is due to commence. When possible, the full session time will be given.

Sessions cancelled or not attended with less than 48 hours' notice are non-refundable. 

Disclosure of your personal information

We will not disclose personal information about you to third parties without your consent, except when the disclosure is required by law.

It is unlikely that we will disclose any information to a recipient outside of Australia.

Referrals

With your express consent and instruction, if you require, I can email an acknowledgement of the service and provide a brief clinical summary to another health professional, for example, a GP, doctor, psychologist, psychiatrist, hospital or agency or your lawyer.

Accessing your personal information

You may request access to personal information we hold about you. We may ask you to specify the information you require and may charge a fee for providing access to it.

We deal with all requests for access to personal information as required by the Privacy Act. We may refuse to provide access if the Privacy Act allows us to do so.

Integrity of your personal information. 

We strive to ensure that the personal information we collect is accurate and up-to-date. You may request an update or correction to the personal information we hold about you, and we will handle all such requests in accordance with the Privacy Act.

What is personal information?

Personal information is any information about an individual that can be used to identify them directly or indirectly, such as name, address, phone number, email address, and date of birth. Sensitive information is a type of personal information which includes details, for example, about a person’s racial or ethnic origins, political or religious beliefs, sexual orientation, health or genetic information, family court orders or criminal record. The breach of sensitive information is likely to leave people open to discrimination or embarrassment.

Boundaries

If the counsellor meets the client outside of counselling, by prior agreement, the counsellor may acknowledge the client. However, the nature of the relationship will remain confidential.

Code of Ethics

As a counsellor registered with the ACA, PACFA, ARCAP, and AHPA,  I adhere to the ethics and code of conduct of these professional associations.

Privacy policy

This policy outlines how Counselling With Helen handles the personal information of our clients.

We take privacy seriously and are committed to complying with the Australian Privacy Principles in the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth).

Complaints

If you believe your personal information has not been handled in accordance with the Privacy Act, please contact us initially. We will investigate your complaint and endeavour to resolve it promptly and directly with you.

If you are not satisfied with the outcome, then you may make a complaint to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC). For information about how to make such a complaint, please refer to the OAIC website http://www.oaic.gov.au/

Changes to this privacy policy

We reserve the right to modify this privacy policy from time to time. In such cases, we will notify clients via email or on our website.

Contact us

If you have any questions related to privacy matters, please contact us by email at counsellingwithhelen@outlook.com.au or visit our website, https://CounsellingWithHelen.com.au