All the details about counselling with us...

Aim of Counselling

 

Counselling is based on the nurturing, trusting relationship between you and your counsellor. Counselling takes place in direct response to your needs and supports you to find your own solutions. It helps you identify and explore the options open to you in facing your challenges.

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Role of a counsellor

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A counsellor provides a safe, supportive, non-judgmental and confidential space to help you explore the challenges you are facing.

 

The counsellor’s work is not about giving advice or directing you to take a particular course of action, but enabling you to find the most healthy, empowered way to navigate your life.

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Access to Client Information

 

Any information I gather is used to measure your progress and to provide consistent support. Only I see it. You can request that my mind maps / notes be sent to you after each session.

 

If you discontinue counselling with us, your information will be securely archived for a period of seven years. This is standard practice required by law.  At the end of the seven years, the information will be permanently destroyed.

 

 

Confidentiality

 

This is a key aspect of the counselling relationship.  Everything discussed in the counselling sessions is kept in the strictest confidence. I work under regular supervision. This means that I may have to discuss some of the information from your sessions with a supervisor. Your identity is never revealed to the supervisor.

 

 

Confidentiality can only be broken when:

 

• My case notes are subpoenaed by a court.

• You’re highly likely to put yourself or someone you’re in contact with at risk of serious injury or death. (ie if you are suicidal and/or homicidal). In this case I would contact the appropriate emergency / mental health crisis services. You will be informed in advance, and only in the case of an imminent threat might the counsellor make this decision without consulting you.

• A child in your care is being abused or neglected.

• You’ve given me your approval to provide a written or oral assessment to another person (e.g. family member, case worker, doctor etc)

 

 

Sessions

 

Sessions are one hour long.  They can be face to face, via phone or via online video.

 

If either of our circumstances change and the session time/day are no longer suitable, we can reschedule. However, if you change a session with less than 24 hours’ notice, it may incur the full fee unless otherwise negotiated.

 

 

It’s your responsibility to:

 

• Conduct your sessions in a way that will maximise your ability to benefit from them (ie – not be under the influence of alcohol or other drugs),

• Provide me with any relevant information in order for them to help you,

• Behave in a respectful manner.

 

 

Fees

 

Please contact me to talk about my fees. They’re aligned to the going rate in Australia for counselling.

 

 

Payment options

 

You can pay by cash at the beginning of each face-to-face session. For advance payment and remote sessions, please pay before your appointment by internet transfer.

 

 

Duration of Counselling

 

This will depend on how difficult and/or complex your circumstances are. Some people prefer to work with an open contract, whereas others prefer to work with a fixed number of sessions followed by a review. In any case, we’ll regularly review the therapeutic process together. This allows both of us to assess whether your needs are being met and, if required, carry out the necessary adjustments and/or establish new goals for the process. 

 

It’s important that you know that it’s your decision whether to continue with the counselling or not. It’s also important to bear in mind that painful feelings may arise during counselling, which may make your doubt the benefit of the work. However, this is in fact a good sign - these emotions may be arising in order for healing to take place.

 

 

The end of counselling

 

Indications and signs that the therapeutic process is coming to an end may include: Recovered inner balance, greater confidence, capacity to make decisions and face situations when previously feeling overwhelmed, being in touch with your own resources and strengths. You may not have met all your goals at this point, but you may feel more confident to achieve them by yourself.

 

Sometimes you may feel that counselling is not helping. In these circumstances it’s best to discuss the difficulties rather than abruptly end counselling.

 

Please give one week’s notice before ending counselling - to have the chance to discuss the decision and to complete our work together adequately. You’re always in charge of the decision to continue or stop, and will never be under any pressure to continue if you don’t want to.

 

You can choose to return to counselling at any time.

 

 

Contact outside the sessions

 

The phone number and email address provided are to be used for cancellations, changes in information or appointment times, or in case of emergency.  Please note that messages will be monitored regularly but not continuously. Therefore, in case of an emergency, please call the appropriate public service/s, such as Lifeline, local mental health crisis team, local suicide-call-back service etc. I will, however, reply to any messages as soon as they are able.