Welcome to my practice. This contains important information about my professional services and business policies. Please read it carefully and jot down any questions you might have so that we can discuss them at our meeting. I will also provide you with a copy of these details in our professional services contract.

PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES
Psychotherapy is not easily described in general statements. It varies depending on the personalities of the psychologist and patient, and the particular problems you bring forward. There are many different methods I may use to deal with the problems that you hope to address. Psychotherapy is not like a medical doctor visit. Instead, it calls for a very active effort on your part. In order for the therapy to be most successful, you will have to work on things we talk about both during our sessions and at home.

Psychotherapy can have benefits and risks. Since therapy often involves discussing unpleasant aspects of your life, you may experience uncomfortable feelings like sadness, guilt, anger, frustration, loneliness, and helplessness. On the other hand, psychotherapy has also been shown to have benefits for people who go through it. Therapy often leads to better relationships, solutions to specific problems, and significant reductions in feelings of distress. But there are no guarantees of what you will experience.

Our first few sessions will involve an evaluation of your needs. By the end of the evaluation, I will be able to offer you some first impressions of what our work will include and a treatment plan to follow, if you decide to continue with therapy. You should evaluate this information along with your own opinions of whether you feel comfortable working with me. Therapy involves a large commitment of time, money, and energy, so you should be very careful about the therapist you select. If you have questions about my procedures, we should discuss them whenever they arise. If you are unhappy with my treatment, I can refer you to another clinical psychologist, depending on your preferences.

MEETINGS
I normally conduct an evaluation that will last from 1 to 2 sessions. During this time, we can both decide if I am the best person to provide the services you need in order to meet your treatment goals. If psychotherapy is begun, I will usually schedule one 50-55 minute session per week or fortnight at a time we agree on, although some sessions may be longer or more frequent.

CANCELLATIONS
If you cannot attend an appointment, please provide at least 24 hours notice. The first time a client makes a cancellation with less than 24 hours notice will incur fee that’s 50% of the standard fee. The second and following instances where a client cancels with less than 24 hours notice will incur the full standard fee. However, if you are unwell I would be happy to reschedule to another time rather than risk catching something!

CONTACTING ME
I am often not immediately available by telephone. However you are free to call my mobile number and leave a voice message, or alternatively send a text. I will make every effort to return your call on the same day you make it, with the exception of weekends and holidays. If you are difficult to reach, please inform me of some times when you will be available. If you are in distress and feel unable to reach me and/or feel that you can’t wait for me to return your call, please contact these following numbers:

·         Your GP/Psychiatrist

·         Mental Health Emergency Response Line: 9224 8888

·         Lifeline: 13 11 14

·         Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467

Alternatively go to your nearest emergency room and ask for the psychologist/psychiatrist on call. If I will be unavailable for an extended time, I will provide you with the name of a colleague to contact, if necessary.

PROFESSIONAL RECORDS
The laws and standards of my profession require that I keep treatment records. If you make a request to see your records, I will make a decision whether to provide you with a summary or have you review the records in my presence. Because these are professional records, they can be misinterpreted and/or upsetting to untrained readers. Patients will be charged an appropriate fee for any professional time spent in responding to information requests.

Your details and records will be kept securely on a password-protected computer and within a locked cabinet. I am required by law to keep these records for a minimum of seven years. If you are a child, I am required to keep these records until you reach 25 years of age.

 MINORS
If you are under eighteen years of age, please be aware that the law may provide your parents the right to examine your treatment records. I will provide them with general information about our work together, unless I feel there is a high risk that you will seriously harm yourself or someone else. In this case, I will notify them of my concern. I will also provide them with a summary of your treatment when it is complete. Before giving them any information, I will discuss the matter with you, if possible, and do my best to handle any objections you may have with what I am prepared to discuss.

CONFIDENTIALITY
In general, the privacy of all communications between a patient and a psychologist is protected by law, and I can only release information about our work to others with your written permission. But there are a few exceptions. In most legal proceedings, you have the right to prevent me from providing any information about your treatment. In some proceedings involving child custody and those in which your emotional condition is an important issue, a judge may order my testimony if he/she determines that the issues demand it. My records may also be subpoenaed and I will have to comply with this request.

There are some situations in which I am legally obligated to take action to protect others from harm, even if I have to reveal some information about a patient’s treatment. For example, if I believe that a child is being abused, I may be required to file a report with the appropriate agency. If I believe that a patient is threatening serious bodily harm to another, I am required to take protective actions. These actions may include notifying the potential victim, contacting the police, or seeking hospitalization for the patient. If the patient threatens to harm himself/herself, I may be obligated to seek hospitalization for him/her or to contact family members or others who can help provide protection. If a similar situation occurs, I will make every effort to fully discuss it with you before taking any action.

I may occasionally find it helpful to consult other professionals or talk to my supervisor about a case. During a consultation, I will keep your personal details confidential and will make every effort to avoid revealing the identity of my patient. The consultant is also legally bound to keep the information confidential. If you don’t object, I will not tell you about these consultations unless I feel that it is important to our work together. While this written summary of exceptions to confidentiality should prove helpful in informing you about potential problems, it is important that we discuss any questions or concerns that you may have at our meeting.