Privacy & Confidentiality Policy

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

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. 

Online counselling services

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

Client records

Client records are held confidentially and safely in either 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. 

Fees

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

The fee of $150 is based on up to 1 hour sessions, and longer sessions are available on a different fee structure.

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.

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.

Out-of-session therapy activities

At times, the counsellor may suggest therapy-related tasks for you to perform between sessions, referred to as out-of-session therapy activities. These activities are voluntary and optional and, with consent, will be emailed to you. They are NOT compulsory homework. 

Cancellation/re-schedule, Late Arrival, and Non-Attendance

Sessions can be rescheduled where there is 48 hours or more notice.

Where 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. 

Referrals

When you have been referred to the counselling service by a health professional, for example, a GP, doctor, psychologist, psychiatrist, hospital or agency) Or you want me to convey information to your health professional, with your permission, I would email an acknowledgement to the service and may provide a brief clinical assessment.

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).

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.

Why do we collect personal information?

The sharing of personal information by a client with Counselling With Helen enables us to assess and support the client in addressing their identified concerns. Personal information is retained to enable us to provide a relevant and informed service. Within our practice, and in accordance with our duty of care, clients cannot remain anonymous. A client may request to use a pseudonym, but a name as listed on ID’s is required.

How do we collect personal information?

We collect personal information through a variety of means, including:

• the information you verbally share with us

• written communication received from you via email, SMS or letter

• our online booking system

• our intake form

• social media

• the guardian of those under 18 years of age

• a referral from your GP or another treating practitioner or service.

Our storage of personal information

To protect the personal information we hold from misuse or loss, we store it in several secure ways, all of which can only be accessed by authorised individuals. The method of storage varies between types of information and includes both hard copies and digital copies (either on a secure server or offline).

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

We also strive to avoid retaining unnecessary information, securely disposing of it periodically, based 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.

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.

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 as required by the Privacy Act.

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