Counselling Information Terms & Conditions

1. Counselling Approach

Counselling provides a safe and supportive environment to explore personal, relational, and family concerns.

Sessions may focus on:

• Clarifying issues, goals, and desired changes

• Strengthening self-awareness, communication, and coping skills

• Exploring relationships and systemic patterns

• Developing strategies for healthier ways of relating and living

Services may include assessment, identifying therapy goals, recommending ongoing counselling, providing referrals, or suggesting activities or reading between sessions.

While every effort is made to facilitate insight and growth, the counsellor does not guarantee outcomes. Clients are fully responsible for the decisions they make in their lives and relationships.

2. Counselling Format

The counsellor offers:

• Individual Counselling - focused on personal goals, wellbeing, and self-development.

• Couples Counselling - focused on the relationship as the primary client, with both partners participating in the process.

• Family Counselling - focused on the family unit as the client, supporting communication, understanding, and healthy family dynamics.

The counsellor may recommend joint or individual sessions within the counselling process as therapeutically appropriate.

3. Confidentiality

Confidentiality is fundamental to counselling and is upheld within professional and legal boundaries.

Information discussed in sessions is kept confidential except in the following circumstances:

• When there is a risk of harm to self or others

• When a child is at risk of abuse or neglect

• When records are subpoenaed by a court of law

• When information is shared during professional supervision for ongoing professional development (without identifying details)

• When you give explicit permission for disclosure

3.1 Shared Confidentiality in Couples and Family Counselling

When working with more than one participant, confidentiality applies to the group as a whole.

• The relationship or family unit is considered the client, not each individual.

• Any information shared in joint sessions may be revisited in future sessions if relevant to the therapeutic goals.

• Individual sessions may be conducted as part of the process, but are not private therapy.

• No Secrets Policy: The counsellor will not hold confidential information shared by one participant that is withheld from others when it impacts the therapeutic process.

• If one participant requests that information not be shared with others, the counsellor may determine that joint counselling cannot ethically continue.

4. Record Keeping

• For individual counselling, one file is maintained per client.

• For couples or family counselling, a shared file is maintained for the unit as a whole. Access to records requires the written consent of all adult participants named in the file. Records are retained for seven (7) years from the date of last consent.

NovoNote is an automated tool designed to assist with taking session notes. Below is an explanatory statement about the technology and an indication of your consent.

Purpose of the automated note taker: The use of an AI enhanced note taker is to enable the counsellor to focus more on communication and your care during sessions, rather than being distracted by manual note-taking.

What is saved: Notes of our contact with you are kept to help serve you better. The AI note taker, NovoNote, helps by transcribing the session and then providing a summary of that session. Typically, the transcript of the session will be deleted and will not make up part of your file, while the summary is saved as part of your file. Audio of the session is never saved.

Compliance and Security: NovoNote complies with the Australian Privacy Principles and is compliant with AHPRA, PACFA, and ACA standards. It adheres to industry encryption and security protocols. NovoNote operates on a secure server in Australian and your data does not contribute to training AI models. For more detailed information on the security measures and protocols of NovoNote, please visit the Security Page.

Communication & Crisis Support

Between sessions, communication is limited to administrative matters such as scheduling, rescheduling, payment, or brief clarifications.

To maintain healthy professional boundaries and ensure therapeutic integrity:

• Email or text contact is not a substitute for therapy.

• Therapeutic conversations, updates, or emotional disclosures will be best addressed in your next scheduled session.

• The counsellor is not a crisis service and may not be available to respond immediately outside of session times.

If you are in emotional distress or require urgent support between sessions, please contact one of the following services:

Lifeline: 13 11 14

Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467 (counselling & support)

Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636 (mental health support)

Mental Health Emergency Response Line (WA): 1300 555 788 (Metro) or 1800 676 822 (Rural)

If life is in danger: call 000 or go to your nearest emergency department

Your wellbeing matters, and reaching out to these services ensures you receive immediate support when needed.

6. Fees, Payments & Cancellations

Counselling fees are as follows:

• Individual Counselling $120 per 60min session

• Couples & Family Counselling $180 per 60min session

(as at 2026 and subject to change)

Full payment is required 24 hours prior to session to confirm the booking. Cancellations or reschedules with less than 24 hours' notice incur the full session fee.

Standard payment terms apply for clients who are NDIS funded.

Fee reviews occur annually and clients will be advised of any adjustments in advance.

7. Ending Counselling

You may choose to end counselling at any time.

The counsellor may also decide to conclude counselling if it is not in the best interest of the client(s) to continue, or if a referral is more appropriate.

In couples or family work, if one member withdraws, the counsellor may not be able to continue seeing the remaining member(s) to preserve therapeutic neutrality.

8. Spiritual Integration (Optional)

Upon request, spirituality may be included in counselling as part of a holistic approach to wellbeing.

Any spiritual practice or discussion will align with the client's own worldview and belief system.

9. Agreement