Counselling

Cancellation Policy

This policy explains how counselling works at Coastal Mind Matters, including confidentiality, privacy, and your rights and responsibilities. Counselling is a process that supports personal growth, emotional wellbeing, and positive change. While many people find counselling helpful, specific outcomes cannot be guaranteed. Counsellor Responsibilities include: Provide a safe, respectful, and non‑judgmental environment. Work within my professional qualifications, competence, and ethical guidelines. Respect your dignity, values, and personal choices. Maintain confidentiality within the limits outlined below. Encourage open communication about your goals and concerns. Client Responsibilities include: Participate actively and honestly in the counselling process. Provide accurate information relevant to counselling. Treat the counsellor respectfully. Notify the counsellor if you need to cancel or reschedule an appointment. Confidentiality Information shared in counselling is confidential and will not be disclosed without your consent, except where required by law or ethical obligations. Confidentiality may be limited when: There is a serious and imminent risk of harm to you. There is a serious and imminent risk of harm to another person. Disclosure is required by law, court order, subpoena, or mandatory reporting obligations. Information relates to abuse, neglect, or exploitation where reporting is legally required. Professional consultation or supervision is needed to support quality of care (your identifying details are protected wherever possible). Where practical and appropriate, these limits will be discussed with you before any disclosure. Privacy Coastal Mind Matters collects personal information needed to provide counselling services. This may include: Contact details Relevant medical or mental health information Session notes Appointment and payment records Your information is stored securely and accessed only by authorised persons. Records are managed in line with Australian privacy laws and professional requirements. You may request access to your personal information, subject to legal and professional limits. Telehealth and Online Sessions For online or telephone sessions: Reasonable steps are taken to protect your privacy and confidentiality. Technology risks (such as unauthorised access or technical issues) cannot be completely removed. “Once you’ve finished reading and agreeing to this policy, please go back to the previous screen."