Contacting a counsellor for professional guidance is a big and brave step. It is worth investing a bit of time into it to make sure that you are with the right person: someone who has expertise with the issue you seek help for, a person you warm up to early in the relationship, and whom you believe you may grow to trust and openly confide in in due time.
Fee and Payment
My fee is $130 per hour (55 minutes of session time, allowing 5 minutes for transitions at the beginning and end of the appointment). Payment is required for each session by cash or internet banking. I can provide a receipt on request, emailed to you after our session.
Preliminary phone contact
Before we make an appointment, I will call you at a convenient time so that we can discuss the issue that is bringing you to counselling. This conversation will give you a sense of my personality and the opportunity to decide if you want to go ahead with making an appointment with me, and will help me make sure that I am a good fit for your problem. This conversation typically lasts 15 to 20 minutes, and is free of charge.
What to Expect from Our First Appointment
This is the start of our working relationship. It is the time when you tell me in depth about your problem, its history and its manifestations in your day-to-day life. We will probably also touch on the current structure of your life, your family and your support systems for me to get a more comprehensive picture of your situation. We will also discuss your goals and hopes in coming to counselling. Towards the end of the session, I will offer a review of what you have shared with me, the insights that we have gained thus far, as well as suggest a plan for future work if required. You can at this point decide if you would like to continue working with me.
I offer face-to-face, phone and online (Skype, Zoom, WhatsApp video call) appointments for clients for whom it is impractical to travel to sessions, either regularly or on a one-off basis.
Appointments cancelled within 24 hours of the appointed time incur the full cost of the session.
I understand that unplanned issues can come up and you may need to cancel an appointment. If that happens, I ask for scheduled appointments to be cancelled at least 24 hours in advance. This will enable another person who is waiting for an appointment to be scheduled at that time.
Privacy and Confidentiality
As a Member of the New Zealand Association of Counsellors, I abide to the NZAC Code of Ethics advocating confidentiality, respect and integrity. This means that the content of our sessions is of a privileged nature and will remain private and confidential.
Exceptions to Confidentiality
There are however exceptions to confidentiality, outlined as follow by the NZAC Code of Ethics, Section 6.2: “(c) Exceptions to confidentiality occur when:
there is serious danger in the immediate or foreseeable future to the client or others,
the client’s competence to make a decision is impaired,
legal requirements demand that confidential material be revealed,
responding to a complaint about counselling practice.
(d) Wherever possible, the decision to make an exception to confidentiality is made: § after seeking the client’s co-operation, unless doing so would further compromise the safety of the client or others, § after consultation with a supervisor.” Ongoing supervision is also a requirement for membership of NZAC. Supervisors are bound by the same code of ethics and confidentiality as I am. Disclosure is limited to what is useful for supervision and anonymity is maintained as per section 6.1 (b) of the Code of Ethics: “Counsellors may discuss, in supervision, information received in counselling as part of the normal management of confidentiality.