Privacy & Cancellation Policy

Payment & Cancellation Policy

Cancellations & Fee Policy

If you need to cancel or postpone your appointment, please provide Coast Therapy (Julie Bell) with a minimum of least 24 hours’ notice, otherwise you will be charged half the cost of the session (no discounts applied). If you do not show up (with no contact), you will be charged the full price of the session.

From 1st January 2019, cancellation fees will be calculated as follows:

1. For appointments cancelled more than 24 hours prior to the appointment -No Charge

2. For appointments cancelled less than 24 hours prior to the appointment – Half Fee

3. Non-attendance without notice – Full Fee

We recognise that there are exceptional circumstances where this fee may not apply. Please advise if this is the case ASAP.

NOTE: Coast Therapy (Julie Bell) reserves the right to waitlist future bookings when clients have had two or more cancellations with less than 24 hours’ notice.

Fee Payment

If payment is not made on the day of an appointment, or if a cancellation fee is owing, an invoice will be emailed to you. All outstanding fees must be paid prior to the provision of further services from Coast Therapy (Julie Bell). Outstanding invoices over 3 days (payment terms) may be followed up by official payment collection services.

Third-Party Fee Payment

If payment is not made on the day of an appointment, or if a cancellation fee is owing, an invoice will be emailed to the agreed Third-Party Payer. All outstanding fees must be paid prior to the provision of further services from Coast Therapy (Julie Bell). Payment terms will be as agreed with the third-party payer. Outstanding invoices over 3 days (payment terms) may be followed up by official payment collection services. Third-Party Payment does not give payer rights to access private client clinical notes, however, attendance records for payment are considered to be acceptable. Where possible, all aspects of confidentiality shall be maintained as per individual agreements.

Late Attendance to Appointments Policy

We understand that there are times when individuals arrive late for appointments. In order to respect clients with subsequent appointments in the day, your appointment must finish on time, and the full appointment fee charged.

Counselling Agreement for Parents/Guardians

As a professional practice, Coast Therapy (Julie Bell) adheres to the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA, 2017) Code of Ethics regarding Confidentiality (Section 5. A-H). This states that client confidentiality must be maintained, with specific exceptions relating to duty of care and legal obligation. As a PACFA member, this practice (Coast Therapy), also abides by PACFA Ethical Guidelines when it comes to working with children and young people under the age of 18. This means that counselling therapy remains confidential unless permission is granted by the client (engaged in therapy – not payee) to discuss information disclosed during therapy sessions.

Confidentiality between a young person (under the age of 18) and their treating practitioner is essential for treatment to be successful. Your practitioner will always encourage the young person to talk with their parent/guardian, but confidentiality can only be breached when safety is a risk. Parental/guardian consent will always be obtained for external assessments, therapy and/or any other information to be provided to any third party.

All personal information gathered by the practitioner during the provision of the therapeutic relationship/ service will remain confidential and secure except where:

1. It is subpoenaed by a court; or

2. Failure to disclose the information would place the client, or another person at serious and imminent risk; or

3. Prior approval has been obtained to discuss the material with another person, e.g. parent or guardian, or if disclosure is otherwise required or authorised by law.

Parents or guardians do have the right to general information, such as information on how therapy is going. They need to be able to make well-informed decisions about therapy, and Coast Therapy (Julie Bell) highly encourages close communication in this regard.

PACFA code of ethics can be viewed online here:

https://www.pacfa.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PACFA-Code-of-Ethics-2017.pdf

Counselling Agreement for Adults (over 18)

As a professional practice, Coast Therapy (Julie Bell) adheres to the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA, 2017) Code of Ethics regarding Confidentiality (Section 5. A-H). This states that client confidentiality must be maintained, with specific exceptions relating to duty of care and legal obligation. As a PACFA member, this practice (Coast Therapy), also abides by PACFA Ethical Guidelines when it comes to working with adults over the age of 18. This means that counselling therapy remains confidential unless permission is granted by the client (engaged in therapy – not payee) to discuss information disclosed during therapy sessions.

Confidentiality between a client (over the age of 18) and their treating practitioner is essential for treatment to be successful. Your practitioner will always maintain complete confidentiality, and this will only be breached when safety is a risk. Consent will always be obtained for external assessments, therapy and/or any other information to be provided to any third party.

All personal information gathered by the practitioner during the provision of the therapeutic relationship/ service will remain confidential and secure except where:

1. It is subpoenaed by a court; or

2. Failure to disclose the information would place the client, or another person at serious and imminent risk; or

3. Prior approval has been obtained to discuss the material with another person, or if disclosure is otherwise required or authorised by law.

3rdParty payers may sometimes have the right to general information, such as information on how therapy is going. This arrangement would need to be clarified in writing, with a full disclosure agreement from all involved parties before therapy begins.

PACFA code of ethics can be viewed online here:

https://www.pacfa.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PACFA-Code-of-Ethics-2017.pdf

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