Frequently asked questions
Counselling approach
I believe that my clients have the desire and the capacity to grow towards fulfilling their true potential, and that they are the experts on their own lives. As such, I will not give you advice or offer solutions, but will work with you to help you understand yourself more fully and to find your own ideas and answers. I will also help you develop skills and strategies to help you make positive changes. With greater self-awareness and trust in yourself, I hope that you will be able to make constructive changes, leading to a more satisfying and meaningful life. If you have service needs beyond my practice scope, I will endeavour to help you identify appropriate referral options.
I will keep information relevant to your counselling services, including the forms you have filled in and notes for each session. These are critical to helping me keep track of our progress together and for the purposes of accountability. These notes will be stored in a private and secure location (refer Privacy and Confidentiality). You have the right to view the records I keep about you upon request. I will keep all records relating to our work together for a period of at least seven (7) years from the date of your last contact with the service. Under some circumstances I may be required to keep records for a longer period.
Sessions, payments and cancellations
Each counselling session is 60 minutes and costs $150, payable at the end of your appointment. Some private health insurers may provide rebates for counselling services, depending on your insurer and level of cover. Please contact your insurer directly to confirm your availability. Please note that counselling services provided by Second Life Counselling are not eligible for Medicare rebates and cannot be claimed under a Mental Health Treatment Plan. If you have any questions about fees or payment, I’m always happy to discuss them with you before your first appointment.
I understand that life can be unpredictable. If you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment, I kindly ask for at least 24 hours’ notice. This allows me to offer the appointment to someone else who may be waiting. Appointments cancelled with less than 24 hours’ notice, or missed without notice, may incur the full session fee.
Contact between sessions
You’re welcome to contact me between sessions for practical matters such as booking, rescheduling or payment enquiries. However, counselling support is generally provided during scheduled appointments, and I may not be able to respond immediately. If you need urgent or crisis support, please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, call 000 in an emergency, or attend your nearest hospital emergency department.
Ending counselling
In general, the counselling relationship ends by mutual agreement. However, you have the right to end your counselling service at any time. I would appreciate you letting me know if you decide not to return to counselling, particularly if you need to cancel an appointment. If at any time I feel that our counselling is no longer appropriate for you, I will discuss this with you; I may suggest discontinuation or a referral to a more appropriate service.
Privacy and confidentiality
Confidentiality and record keeping
In general, the information that you share with me will remain confidential. This means that I must protect your privacy and not share information about you with others. This applies whether the information is given to me verbally or in written form and extends to the fact that you have attended or are going to attend counselling with me. I have a legal obligation to protect this information, and I do so by ensuring that all paper records are kept in a secure filing cabinet to which nobody else has access; that all electronic records are kept in secure documents to which nobody else has access; and that I keep information with your identity (such as you intake form) separate from your session/contact notes.
I will keep your counselling records for at least seven (7) years, and in some cases I may be required by law to retain records for a longer period.
Limits of confidentiality
It is important that you understand, however, that there are certain circumstances under which I will share information about you or about what you have told me. These situations are:
- Where you have explicitly given me permission to share information, such as informing your emergency contact of an emergency situation or when you have signed your permission for a referral.
- Where I consider you to be at risk of harming yourself or someone else.
- Where I consider a child to be at risk.
- In some cases where a significant crime may be or has been committed.
- Where your counselling records, or part thereof, have been requested by a court of law.
At times, I may also discuss aspects of our work together with my professional supervisor. This is an important part of meeting my professional responsibilities. I will not provide information that could identify you in the course of these discussions.
Confidentiality agreement
Before we commence counselling, you must sign the counselling contract and the confidentiality agreement to indicate your understanding of the information above. If you have any questions or concerns about privacy or confidentiality, you are most welcome to raise them with me.
We acknowledge Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognise the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past and present.
Second Life Counselling 