TERMS OF USE ACROSS ALL PLATFORMS AND SERVICE PROVISIONS BETWEEN "THE SHRINK ON YOUR COUCH" and THE END USER
(Including, but not limited to: Online Courses / Coaching / Blogs / Articles / Videos).
YOUR RIGHTS AND MY POLICIES
This document contains important information about my professional services and business policies.
When you purchase any product or service, this document will also represent an agreement between us.
We can discuss any questions you have when when at the outset, nor at any time in the future.
"The Shrink On Your Couch", in its entirety, is exclusively for educational and inspirational purposes. None of it is intended to replace individualized medical, psychological or psychiatric advice. You should seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health professional for any questions you may have regarding your unique situation.
Engagement with any of the material, on any of the platforms (Facebook, this website, etc) presupposes acceptance of the generic, theme and trend-based nature of the opinions cited.
Working through a digital self-help program has both benefits and risks. Risks may include experiencing uncomfortable feelings, such as sadness, guilt, anxiety, anger, frustration, loneliness and helplessness, because the process often requires unearthing the unpleasant aspects of your life. However, these platforms have been shown to be useful for individuals who undertake them. They often lead to reduction in symptoms, and greater personal freedom from distress. There are no guarantees with regards to the outcome of digital self-help programs.
Digital self-help programs require a very active effort on your part. In order to be most successful, you will have to consistently and persistently apply the teachings to your own life.
Counselling and coaching have both benefits and risks. Risks may include experiencing uncomfortable feelings, such as sadness, guilt, anxiety, anger, frustration, loneliness and helplessness, because the process often requires discussing the unpleasant aspects of your life. However, counselling and coaching
has been shown to have benefits for individuals who undertake it. Counselling and coaching often leads to a significant reduction in feelings of distress, increased satisfaction in interpersonal relationships, greater personal awareness and insight, increased skills for managing stress and resolutions to specific problems. There are no guarantees with regards to the outcome of counselling and coaching.
Counselling and coaching requires a very active effort on your part. In order to be most successful, you will have to work on things we discuss outside of sessions. The first few sessions will involve a comprehensive
evaluation of your needs. By the end of the evaluation, I will be able to offer you some initial impressions of what our work might include. At that point, we will discuss your treatment goals and create an initial treatment plan. You should evaluate this information and make your own assessment about whether you feel comfortable working with me. If you have questions about my procedures, we should discuss them whenever they arise.
If you are unhappy with what is happening in counselling and coaching, I hope you will talk to me so that I can respond to your concerns. Such comments will be taken seriously and handled with care and respect. You have the right to considerate, safe and respectful care, without discrimination as to race, ethnicity, colour, gender, sexual orientation, age, or religion.
THE NATURE OF ONLINE COUNSELLING AND COACHING AND SELF-HELP PROGRAMS – YOUR INFORMED CONSENT
Benefits and limitations
Online counselling and coaching is a convenient alternative to traditional face-to-face interventions and has been shown to be effective in helping with many difficulties. However online work has limitations. There is a lack of “personal” face-to-face interaction which can make it less of a relational experience. It is
also not an appropriate medium if you are seriously depressed, have serious substance dependence,
or you are experiencing intense suicidal or homicidal thoughts. Seeing a mental health professional
face-to-face is recommended in these situations. Like most forms of intervention, online counselling and coaching might make you feel worse before you start feeling better and the changes you experience may create conflict in your close relationships.
Technological requirements and competences
To engage in online counselling and coaching, you will require a device that can connect to the internet and be able to install and use the software that we agree to use for communication. A reliable high-speed internet connection (minimum 4Mbps for video) is also required. Please be aware that online counselling and coaching may utilise significant amounts of data, especially if video (300-800MB/hour) is used.
Procedures for technical difficulties
Disruptions can occur when using the internet to communicate. Should our communication be disrupted, I will immediately attempt to reconnect and resume the session. However, if I am repeatedly unable to reconnect for 10 minutes, the session will be rescheduled (via email) to a later date once connectivity is resumed.
Confidentiality
Online coaching and counselling utilizes the Internet for the transmission of personal information and therefore there are increased risks to confidentiality and it cannot be guaranteed. To protect your confidentiality, I will require that we use services that provide encryption to communicate. Please consider password protecting the devices you use and installing antivirus software to prevent access by third parties.
Please ensure that you use a private environment when engaging in online therapy so that intrusions can be minimised.
Confidentiality: Group Coaching Programs and Facebook Groups
All webinars and support calls are recorded. Webinars are often available on replay after the live presentation. Support calls are uploaded and filed in the membership library, for group members to access and view on replay. Whilst all information is dealt with sensitively, due to the communal nature of the program, confidentiality simply cannot be guaranteed.
APPOINTMENTS
Appointments, unless agreed otherwise in advance, will be 50 minutes in duration. The time scheduled for your appointment is assigned to you and you alone. You are responsible for showing up for your session on time; if you are late, your appointment will still need to end on time.
CANCELLATION OF APPOINTMENTS
I usually have a waiting list of individuals and couples hoping for a short-notice session. When you cancel at the last minute, or do not show up for your session, it’s a great pity as these waiting list clients are not serviced, and I incur a loss financially.
If you need to cancel or reschedule a session, I ideally ask that you provide me with 24 hours’ notice.
If you give me at least 5 hours’ notice, I will not charge a cancellation penalty.
If you miss a session without cancelling, or cancel with less than 5 hours’ notice, my policy is that you will be responsible for 100% of the full session fee.
This penalty fee applies to individual therapy sessions, as well as couples sessions, and longer marathon sessions.
FEES – STANDARD 50-MINUTE SESSIONS
The booking system is automated, and payment is taken digitally, and in advance, when securing your e-counselling session.
LIMITS OF CONFIDENTIALITY
All records relating to the provision of counselling and coaching services are confidential and may not be disclosed without your written consent.
The law does however place certain limits on the confidential nature of the psychological service provided by me.
1. If you present an imminent danger to yourself or others the law requires that steps be taken to prevent such harm;
2. If a child is in need of protection a report must be filed with the appropriate agency or authority;
3. If a vulnerable adult is abused or neglected a report may be filed with the appropriate government agency;
4. If a court orders the disclosure of records, or if there is a legal matter pertaining to you, or my.practice, in which it is necessary to share information with an attorney, bound by client-attorney confidentiality.
LIMITS OF PRACTICE
1. If I work with you individually, I cannot provide relationship therapy services to you.
2. If I provide relationship therapy services to you, I cannot consult with you individually.
3. If we book relationship therapy, and at the last minute your partner cannot make it, please reschedule. We would not be able to proceed in the absence of the whole couple.
4. If we work together in a coaching / counselling framework, I will not be able to provide any form of legal/forensic reporting on any matter whatsoever. This is to protect you, so that you feel at ease to share
any content necessary without fear of later reproach.
EMERGENCIES
If you feel unable to keep yourself safe, please go to your nearest local Hospital Emergency room. I cannot offer emergency services.
CONSENT
Your consent is given when when you purchase a program and you book a counselling or coaching session.
I may update my records from time to time. This document overrides any and all prior agreements and becomes the new and binding arrangement between us.