Terms - Conditions - Policies
Now for the fine print and legal stuff. Please read this section prior to making an appointment. By booking an appointment it is taken that you have read the Terms, Conditions and Policies of Obsidian Counselling for Mental Health Well-Being, also referred to as Obsidian Counselling [MHWB], Obsidian, and Obsidian Counselling. Carolyn A Rogers is the Owner and Founder of Obsidian Counselling [MHWB] and it is at her discretion to amend these TC&Ps, with the exception of any legal obligations under Australian and State Laws. TC&Ps are subject to change.
As we are a fully online counselling service and most correspondence will be via email, please check your spam/junk folder
New Client, Cancellation, & Fees: Policies & T&Cs
Fees Policy
- Obsidian Counselling is fee-for-service privately run business
- All fees must be paid in full prior to session commencement.
- Fees displayed on this website are current from the 1 July 2024 for all new clients and or previous clients who have had a substantial break from counselling (6 months or more since last paid appointment).
- Online Counselling sessions must be paid in full and monies received 24 hours prior to your scheduled appointment. (Please allow for the 3-4 days of a first transaction between bank transfers).
- Fees are to be be paid via bank transfer, details will be provided on the invoice sent once your appointment time is booked.
- Confirmation emails will be sent 24 hours prior to your booked appointment, if a confirmation reply is not received the appointment will be automatically cancelled and a cancellation fee may apply (see below).
- Failure to show for an appointment with no notification will result in forfeiture of all fees already paid, or for long-term or NDIS clients an invoice for the full session fee being sent to you.
- Failure to pay for services provided by Obsidian Counselling [MHWB] may result in legal action and/or debt collectors being engaged.
Please Note: that fees are reviewed every 6 months on the 1st July and 1st of December. Any fee increases will be published 4 weeks prior to these dates and will implemented for all client's after these dates if an increase is applicable.
Cancellation Fees
We appreciate that circumstances change and you may not be able to keep your scheduled appointment. We would appreciate contact ASAP if things change and you need to change your appointment time.
However if you do not keep us informed:
- A cancellation fee of 100% will be applied if less than 24 hours’ notice of cancellation is received.
- For long-term or NDIS clients an invoice will be sent to your email address provided and a copy sent via text to your phone number supplied if less than 24 hours notice of cancellation received or failure to show for an appointment
- Failure to pay may result in legal action and/or engagement of a debt collector. If Obsidian is required to engage these services to recover monies owed, their fees will paid by the debtor. Interest may also be added to the outstanding amount.
- If you are unable to keep your appointment, please contact us via email as soon as possible.
- It is at the discretion of Obsidian Counselling [MHWB] owner and founder if an invoice and fee will be issued if less than 24 hours notice is given for a cancellation.
As we are a fully online counselling service and most correspondence will be via email,
please check your spam/junk folder
New Client Policy
As we are a fully online counselling service and most correspondence will be via email,
please check your spam/junk folder
- New clients are welcome and can enquire by emailing carolyn@obsidian-counselling.au When booking you will be asked to provide your name, date of birth, correct phone and email details, and your address.
- A non-refundable deposit of 100% is required as confirmation of your appointment. An email invoice will be sent to the email addressed supplied within 24 hours of receiving your booking with details on how to pay the deposit, please check your spam folder.
- If a deposit is NOT received 24 hours prior to the scheduled appointment time, the appointment will automatically be cancelled.
- Confirmation emails will be sent 24 hours prior to your scheduled appointment, if no reply is received within 4 hours, another email will be sent, if there is still no response then the appointment will be automatically cancelled. Please check your spam folder.
- Failure to show for the appointment will result in forfeiture of the deposit or full paid fee.
Booking Policy for Online Counselling
Booking and Appointment Policy
As we are a fully online counselling service and most correspondence will be via email,
please check your spam/junk folder
- Available only to those residing in Australia
- Available Monday's or Saturday's only
- Bookings are required for all appointment.
- New client’s are welcome and are usually seen within 14 days of making initial contact with us.
- Self-referrals accepted.
- You DO NOT need a mental health treatment plan from your doctor to make an appointment.
- We are a private fee-paying-service, working outside of the 'Medicare Model' which allows us to maintain your privacy & confidentiality*
- All Appointments are available Online via telehealth.
- All fees must be paid in full prior to confirmation of appointment Cancellation fees may apply (see policy above).
- To book please email carolyn@obsidian-counselling.au with your preferred time and we will see what is available. A booking is not guaranteed until a confirmation response has been received by you from Obsidian and until such time as the deposit is paid.
Online Teletherapy Counselling Policy
- Available only to those residing in Australia (proof may be requested)
- All sessions are via Zoom
- All sessions are a full 60 minutes
- Please log on a couple of minutes prior to the scheduled start time to test your microphone and video connection
- Intake and Informed Consent Forms must be completed prior to counselling commencing, these will be emailed to you prior to your appointment, please allow time between scheduling your appointment to complete them and email back (please check your spam/junk folder).
- The Zoom link will be sent once confirmation and payment of your session is received (check your spam folder)
- Please be aware that you privacy and confidentiality cannot be guaranteed if you are using an unsecure network to access this service
- Please be aware of your surroundings whilst on a Zoom session that you will not be disrupted for the full 60 minutes and that you will not be overheard by anyone else in the vicinity
- Try to make sure you have a stable internet connection and data available
- Be mindful that data charges may apply from your provider if you are on a metred connection
- Find a comfy spot, have water with you and tissues
- All sessions must be paid in full via bank transfer prior to commencement of your session (see fees section for further information on fees)
- Days and times available include: Monday, and Saturday Appointments can be booked by email carolyn@obsidian-counselling.au
Privacy and Confidentiality Policy
Privacy and Confidentiality (PACFA, 2017)
- Counsellors protect clients’ privacy and confidentiality. This is paramount to create a psychologically safe environment and to maintain the trust clients place in their counsellor .
- Counsellors inform clients of the confidential nature of counselling and psychotherapy services and explain the limits to confidentiality.
Limits of confidentiality
- Counsellors do not disclose personally identifiable and sensitive information about their clients and take steps to prevent unauthorised disclosure. Disclosure of your information may be authorised in the following circumstances:
- i) by client consent;
- ii) where there are risks to the safety of the client or
- iii) the safety of a third party (if the circumstances are serious enough to justify disclosure); or
- iv) when required by the law and Queensland Health or Australian Federal Government Directive .
Exceptions and legal limits to privacy and confidentiality
- i) Where the counsellor believes you may be of significant harm to yourself or to others and you are unable to give informed consent;
- ii) When required by law
- When making an authorised disclosure of a client’s personal information, counsellors inform their clients of the actions they will take, to the extent that this is practicable. If possible, they obtain consent in writing prior to making the disclosure.
- Counsellors protect clients’ right to confidentiality during supervision by ensuring information that could enable personal identification of the client is appropriately disguised.
Further information on privacy and confidentiality are contained in the informed consent form and available upon request
What is Counselling with a Registered Counsellor
What is Counselling, Therapy and Psycho-social
support with a Certified Practising Counsellor?
- Professional Counselling is a profession with a strong evidence base. Certified Practising Counsellors use empirically supported interventions and specialised interpersonal skills to facilitate change and empower clients.
- Professional counselling is a safe and confidential (see privacy and confidentiality section for more information) collaboration between the Registered Counsellor and the client to promote mental health and emotional wellbeing, enhance self-understanding, and resolve identified concerns.
- Clients are active participants in the counselling process at every stage. Changes facilitated by counselling include: change in perspective, new insight, new ways of thinking about situations, new awareness of feelings, enhanced capacity to tolerate and regulate feelings, new actions or behaviours, and new decisions about life.
Certified Practising Counsellors do not:
- Diagnose or provide psychological testing.
- We do not offer advice, we listen and reflect back to you what you have said, which enables you to see and hear what is affecting you more clearly. Any decisions, actions, discoveries or realisations you make whilst receiving counselling, therapy or psycho-social support from our Certified Practising Counsellor Carolyn are entirely your own.
NDIS - Policies and T&Cs
NDIS
- Available for self-managed and plan managed NDIS clients only.
- Providing psycho-social support for gender and or sexual orientation diverse NDIS participants.
- Further information will be provided in the Service Agreement.
- Fees are as per Obsidians current schedule of fees for individual clients. Payment terms strictly 7 days.
- Please Note: All sessions are fully online, this may impact some individuals accessing our services
More information available by contacting carolyn@obsidian-counselling.au