PRactice Information

 Your privacy is treated with the utmost respect, in accordance with the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) Code of Ethics and the NSW State Privacy Acts. NSW Victims Services have the right to request counselling documentation at their discretion (only applicable to VS clients), however this is a rare occurrence. All interactions are considered confidential, including discussions via telephone, text message, email and any case notes. You will be asked to sign a consent form before any personal information can be shared with another person or service provider. Any requests for information from another agency or a court of law will be discussed with you in the first instance and written consent obtained before your information is shared. In the case that the counsellor is bound by law to provide information such as in the case of a legal subpoena, this will be discussed with you and legal advice sought if needed before  complying with the request. In the circumstance that you may share information that yourself or a child is at risk of serious harm, the counsellor is mandated by law to share this information to relevant authorities. This will be discussed with you first.

 I have made a personal and conscious decision not to use AI for notetaking and session summary in my practice.  Session notes are taken by hand and securely stored off site. Referral letters and reports etc are securely stored electronically. All notes and documentation will be stored for a period of 7 years.  Therapy sessions will not be recorded by either the therapist or the client. If you do wish to record your therapy session, please seek permission from Linda beforehand. If it is discovered that therapy sessions have been recorded without permission, sessions will be suspended and legal advice sought.

 Sessions can be held in person in my Lismore rooms, on- line via the ‘Zoom’ platform and via the telephone. Walk and talk sessions are also available if preferred and pre- arranged, usually along the river walk in central Lismore. 

 Medicare may fund a rebate on up to 10 sessions per year via an approved Mental Health Treatment Plan from your GP. You are welcome to attend more than 10 sessions per year if needed, however these extra sessions will not attract a rebate. Sessions are usually weekly, fortnightly or monthly depending on need and circumstance. Sessions can be 1 hour duration up to 1.5 hours, however the maximum Medicare rebate will only cover the first hour. You will be emailed an invoice after the session & you will have 1 week to pay via EFT. Once paid, Linda will process your Medicare rebate. 

NSW Victims Services will fund a total of 22 hours of counselling per act of violence. Session length is usually 1 hour, however may be 1 hour 15 mins or 1.5 hours if needed. VS may approve further funded hours depending on your therapeutic needs and the nature of the act of violence. Linda will discuss this with you once 4 hours are remaining. If you decide that further hours would be beneficial, Linda will apply to VS for further hours if you are eligible.

 Supervision and consultancy is offered on a contractual basis either fortnightly, monthly, 6 weekly or 8 weekly depending on need or particular requirements. An invoice will be emailed to you after the session and you will have 1 week to pay it via EFT. 

 For NSW Victims Services clients, an attendance sheet with date, time, and mode of delivery of each appointment will be kept. This is a formal requirement of NSW VS and the attendance sheet may be requested by VS during an audit process. You will be asked to sign the attendance sheet at the end of each session if you attend in person. For clients who attend via Telehealth, the attendance sheet will still be completed, and Linda will email it to you for signing periodically or at the end of the therapeutic engagement. The attendance sheets are stored securely off site for a period of 7 years post engagement.

 Linda will always send you an appointment reminder via text message at least 1 - 2 days prior to your scheduled appointment. Please reply to this reminder the same day to confirm your attendance. It is very much appreciated if you can provide at least 48 hours notice if you are unable to attend your scheduled appointment. This allows Linda to plan ahead and potentially offer the appointment time to another person waiting. For NSW Victims Services funded clients, if you are unable to provide 48 hours notice of a cancellation, 30 mins will be deducted from your available counselling hours. NSW Victims Services will permit this to happen up to 2 times only. If you miss more than 2 appointments without adequate notice, counselling may be suspended until you are in a position to attend more regularly. This will be discussed with you. For private paying, Medicare funded or Supervision clients, please note that 50% of your consultation fee will be charged if you do not provide at least 48 hours notice to cancel or reschedule an appointment. In the case of unforeseen illness, medical emergency or any other urgent circumstance which may require an appointment cancellation at short notice, please text or email Linda at your earliest convenience. It is of course, recognised and understood that unexpected things do happen, so please reach out if you need to reschedule your appointment. Thank you for your co-operation with this.

 Linda will let you know at least 2 weeks prior to going on annual leave. If Linda will be unavailable for your scheduled appointment due to illness or other reasons, she will let you know as soon as possible and will contact you via text message to either reschedule or offer you an on- line or telephone counselling appointment as an alternative. Linda is not available for crisis support or telephone counselling outside of appointment times. 

If you are in an immediate mental health crisis, please call the Mental Health Access Line on 1800 011 511 or attend your local hospital’s Emergency Department.  

If you are unsafe or in danger, please call the Police on Triple 000. Other useful crisis support contacts include: 1800 Respect- 1800 737 732 ( free, 24 hour, support, information and counselling for people affected by family, domestic and sexual violence via phone or on line). 

Full Stop Australia: 1800 385 578 (24 hour, free trauma specialist counselling for people who have experienced family, domestic and sexual violence via phone or on- line). 

Lifeline: 13 11 14 (call), 0477131114 (text) or lifeline.org.au (for live chat).

 Your rights as a client include but are not limited to:

•  The right to be treated with care and respect, 
• The right to receive a clear explanation of your counsellor’s therapeutic approach, 
•  The opportunity to ask any questions you may have, 
• The right to be involved in the development of your therapeutic goals and treatment plans, 
• The right to make a complaint,
•  The right to change counsellors if you wish, 
• The counsellor has the right to be treated with courtesy and respect and to cease the provision of counselling if deemed necessary.

 Due to an ongoing high demand for services, Linda does keep a waiting list. If you have requested a spot on the waiting list, please note that you will be contacted via text message or email once an opening becomes available. Please respond within 48 hours otherwise this spot will be offered to the next person on the waitlist. If you no longer require therapeutic support, or if you have found another therapist to work with, it is appreciated if you can please send Linda a text message or email to advise this and your details will be deleted from the waitlist.