Obsidian Counselling for Mental Health Well-Being Suite 1, Donanby Place, 14 - 22 Howard Street Nambour, QLD 4560 AU
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 Rogers is the Owner and Founder of Obsidian Counselling [MHWB] and it is at her discretion to amend these T,C, & Ps, with the exception of any legal obligations under Australian and State Laws. T,C, & Ps are subject to change.
^ The 'Book Now' button will take you to the external Obsidian Counselling online Booking Portal powered by CorePlus.
New Client, Cancellation, & Fees: Policies & T&Cs
New Client Policy
- New clients are welcome and can book online via the booking portal, by phoning 0424850453, or emailing obsidian.counselling@gmail.com
- Please provide accurate details in the booking portal for legal purposes.
- A non-refundable deposit of 50% is required as confirmation of your appointment (with the exception of online appointments which must be paid in full). The deposit will be deducted from the full fee on the day of consultation. 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.
- If a deposit is NOT received 24 hours prior to the scheduled appointment time, the appointment will automatically be cancelled.
- Confirmation texts will be sent 24 hours prior to your scheduled appointment, if no reply is received within 4 hours, an 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.
Cancellation Policy
- If you are unable to keep your appointment, please contact us via text message on 0424 850 453 as soon as possible.
- Fees may apply depending upon circumstances if less than 24 hours’ notice is received (please Cancellation Fees for more information)
- 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.
Fees Policy
- Obsidian is a private fee-paying service
- All fees must be paid in full prior to session commencement.
- Fees displayed on this website are current from the 1.7.2021 for all new clients or clients who have had a substantial break from counselling (6 months or more since last appointment).
- All prices are inclusive of GST.
- Confirmation texts 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).
- Fees can be paid via, EFTPOS, cash, bank transfer or PayPal
- Failure to show for an appointment with no notification will result in forfeiture of any fees already paid, and or an invoice for the full session fee being sent to you.
- Sliding scale of fees may be available upon request and depending upon individual circumstances. Final decisions on availability of reduced fees is at the discretion of Carolyn Rogers owner and founder Obsidian Counselling [MHWB].
- Rebates may be available from Medibank and ahm private health care funds. Further information is available under Private Health Funds.
- Online Counselling sessions must be paid for in full 24 hours prior to your scheduled appointment. Details on how to pay will be supplied once you have booked your appointment.
- Failure to pay for services provided by Obsidian Counselling [MHWB] may result in legal action.
Cancellation Fees
- A cancellation fee of 50% will be applied if less than 24 hours’ notice of cancellation is received.
- An invoice will be sent to your email address provided and a copy to your phone number supplied
- Failure to show for an appointment will result in an invoice for the full session fee sent to your email address provided and a copy to your phone number supplied.
- Failure to pay may result in legal action.
Booking Policy; Online Counselling; In Person Counselling
Booking and Appointment Policy
- Available only to those residing in Australia
- Bookings are required for all appointment types.
- New client’s are welcome and are usually seen within 7days 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*
- Appointments are available face to face, in person at the Obsidian Counselling Studio in Nambour or Online.
- A deposit is required to secure your appointment from all new clients (see policy above).
- Cancellation fees may apply (see policy above).
- If you cannot find a suitable time, please book the closest day and time then email obsidian.counselling@gmail.com with your preferred time, there is some flexibility between clients due to our Covid-19 response
Online Teletherapy Counselling Policy
- Available only to those residing in Australia
- Is available 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 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 or PayPal prior to commencement of your session (see fees section for further information on fees)
- Days and times available include: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, between 4pm and 8pm. Saturday’s by prior arrangement and for existing client’s only. Saturday can be booked by phoning 0424850453
In Person Counselling
- Is available at our studio in Howard St. Nambour
- Days and times available include: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. Saturday’s by prior arrangement and for existing client’s only. Saturday can be booked by phoning 0424850453
- All sessions are a full 60 minutes
- We can offer early hour or up til 7pm appointments
- Intake and Informed Consent must be completed prior to counselling commencing, these can be emailed prior or filled in before your first appointment
- Please arrive on time for your appointments
- If you are sick, please contact us to reschedule or organise a Zoom appointment
- There are no minimum or maximum sessions
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 Registered Counsellor?
- Professional Counselling is a profession with a strong evidence base. Registered 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.
Registered 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 Registered Counsellor are entirely your own.
NDIS - Policies and T&Cs
NDIS
More information will be added shortly
Covid-19 Response
Physical (Social) Distancing
For appointments at the studio face-to-face in person: physical distancing guidelines, hygiene standards and 4m sq/ person are in place to help assist with clients health and safety. As such there is a minimum of 1 hour between clients to allow for cleaning of the studio. Only 3 people can be in a counselling room at one time and up to 10 in the group room.
Appointments
~ We continue to offer appointments face to face, in person at the studio*.
* May I respectfully ask however if you have recently returned from overseas, and or an identified 'Hotspot' as listed on the Qld Government Health website, or suspect you have been in contact with a known person with Covid-19 (community transmission) OR are feeling unwell in anyway, that you please stay at home and re-schedule your appointment by emailing us, for an online E-counselling session instead.
Qld Government Check-in App
~ It is not mandatory for 'client's attending counselling or groups' to 'check-in' via the app. at this point in time (subject to change) as your appointment times and details are already kept securely. An Obsidian Counselling QR Code is available for scanning for those who wish to use it.
~ Anyone who attends the studio who is not a client, must 'sign in' using the Obsidian Counselling QR Code
~Disclosing your personal information - under the current Qld Health Directive it may be necessary to disclose your personal information to Qld Health if requested. At all times Obsidian Counselling will attempt to contact you prior to releasing this information, but this may not always be the case
Private Health Funds
Rebates are available from private health funds for members with the following funds who have appropriate cover:
Medibank:
~ Do you have 'extras' cover with Medibank?
~ If yes, check your current policy to see if it covers "Mental health support".
~ If yes again, as an eligible provider for Medibank, you may be able to receive a rebate on counselling services provided through Obsidian Counselling. Please check your current policy.
ahm:
~ Do you have 'extras' cover with ahm?
~ If yes, check your current policy to see if it includes "Counselling".
~ If yes again, Obsidian Counselling is now an eligible provider for ahm, and you may be receive a rebate on counselling services provided through Obsidian Counselling.
Please Note:
It is your responsibility to check if your Private Health Fund covers counseling. It is also your responsibility to check the limits from your private health fund may apply. Receipts for services provided by Obsidian Counselling will be emailed usually within 48 hours of your appointment and provided your session has been paid for in full on the day of the appointment. Please check your spam folder if you haven’t received an email, and then contact us via email obsidian.counselling@gmail.com
Mandatory Child Abuse Reporting Laws
Queensland Law
From the 5 July 2021 it is mandatory for any adult in Queensland, who is aware a child is being sexually abused^, to report this to Police. The new law can be found here: https://www.qld.gov.au/law/crime-and-police/types-of-crime/sexual-offences-against-children/failure-to-report?fbclid=IwAR3pUWgnFFMCiX11WqbTRIm9r7qgr4Ks-aZjsDGZcZcyVvn0-Fi1FfWU_vI
How does this affect you as a client at Obsidian?
My first thing I wish to say is, please do not let these new laws stop you from sharing your story and seeking the assistance you or someone close to you may need. Whilst confidentiality of what my clients disclose in session remains a high priority, there are also limits and this new law is one of those limits.
- Please know I will attempt to contact you and discuss breaking your confidentiality with you prior to actually doing so (some limits apply)
- The new law leaves little room for me to not report the information BUT
i) It is strongly recommended if you are aware a child (as defined in the law, a child means a person under 16 or a person under 18 with an impairment of the mind) in Queensland, is being sexually abused^, that you make the phone call yourself to Child Protective Services and or the Queensland Police.
ii) You make the phone call to Police during your session, where I am with you for support.
^ Child Sexual Abuse is defined by Queensland law is:
- Indecent treatment of a child
- Carnal knowledge with or of a child
- Rape
- Incest
- Grooming a child (or their parent or carer)
- Making child exploitation material
- Maintaining a sexual relationship with a child
Please Note: Mandatory reporting laws apply across all other states and territories in Australia, Carolyn will follow the laws and guidelines set out for where my client’s reside as well.
Social Media Policy
Personal Account
Friend Requests:
I do not accept any friend requests sent to my personal social media accounts from current or former clients who attend the studio, in any capacity. This includes fee paying clients, attendees at information nights, group sessions, Meet and Greet appointments, friends and family of current or former clients. This is necessary to maintain: i) your privacy, and confidentiality, ii) my personal privacy and iii) an effective and professional therapeutic relationship between us.
Message Requests:
As above, message requests to my personal accounts will be deleted. If you need to contact me the preferred method is via SMS to the Obsidian phone 0424 850453. Messages will be responded to during studio opening hours.
Professional social media accounts:
You are welcome to ‘like’ or ‘follow’ the professional pages for Obsidian Counselling for Mental Health and Well-Being, however please be mindful that because these pages are ‘public’ anyone may see when you have ‘liked’ or ‘commented’ on a post which may indirectly impact your privacy and confidentiality. If you comment on a post, I will not reply.
Please note:
1) there is no expectation that you visit these pages; and 2) if you follow the pages, I will not follow you back.
Private messaging:
Please do not use messaging on social networking sites such as Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn, as these sites are not secure and I may not read these messages in a timely fashion. Engaging with me this way could compromise your confidentiality, the preferred method of contact is on the business email: obsidian.counselling@gmail.com or via SMS on 0424 850 453
Welcome to Obsidian Counselling
At Obsidian our passion is supporting your Mental Health Wellbeing. We provide professional counselling for anxiety, depression, grief & loss, addictions, stress
We recognise that speaking with someone sooner rather than later is the best option when you are in distressed, anxious or depressed.
All new clients can be seen within
7days of initial contact with us.
~ Book directly with us, no GP referral required ~
~ New clients welcome ~
~ NO Waiting List ~
Online Therapy Australia wide or In Person, Sunshine Coast