FAQs
What are your fees and cancellation policy?
Fee
Fee for individual counselling is $120 and for Couple counselling is $160.
Fees are payable at the end of each session unless arranged otherwise prior to the session.
Please note that we are unable to provide Medicare rebate. Some private health insurers will provide a rebate with a receipt of payment. Please check with your health fund.
​
Cancellation Policy
Late cancellations can drastically impact on the effectiveness and service delivery of private practice. They also impact on appointment opportunities for other clients.
If you cannot attend, would like to reschedule, or need to cancel your appointment - you need to give at least 24 hours notice or 100% of the usual fee will be charged. This policy is necessary to ensure that Harbour Counselling can continue to operate as a small business.
Does online counselling and therapy really work?
While online counselling and therapy is a much newer form of therapy, current evidence suggests that for most people it can be just as effective as in-person therapy. Sometimes talking from the safety of your own home may even make it easier for you to open up and discuss your problems. Online Counselling especially works for couples wanting connect from different locations or people in geographically isolated places.
Online counselling services have been used to effectively treat relationship concerns, intimacy, depression, anxiety, stress, grief and improve overall well-being and mental health.
For online counselling sessions, all you will need is a reliable internet connection and a device with a webcam to connect with your online counsellor.
Are the sessions confidential?
Confidentiality and privacy is of utmost importance at Harbour Counselling. Confidentiality is maintained by the counsellor as follows-
Counselling records are stored securely. Only the counsellor has access to the records.
The client’s informed consent will be obtained in the event any case material is to be used for other purposes such as research/training etc.
Only with client’s prior consent will their identity be made public.
​
All personal information will remain confidential, except for the following circumstances-
It is subpoenaed by a court
In counsellor’s professional supervision with all identifying information removed
Failure to disclose information would place you or/and another person at risk
Failure to disclose would place a child at risk of harm (mandatory reporting)
Your prior approval has been obtain to: Provide a written report or referral to another person or agency or discuss the material with another person.
How are the payments processed?
We process payment for sessions by debit card and credit card through Square. Your payment details are protected by bank-grade security and encryption.
When your card details are entered into Square, they are stored and tokenised in its payments gateway, meaning that once initially entered and captured, they are not visible to anybody within the practice or at square. If payment details need to be altered or updated, they must be completely re-entered as a further security measure, as tokenised payment details cannot be edited. Square’s systems are PCI compliant.
At your first appointment, your counsellor will ask for your card details. After that, you don't need to manage or worry about payments at all - since everything is handled by Square. You can save time and get on with your day straight after the appointment.
​
It is important for us to obtain your card details for a few reasons-
To ensure contact-less payment for our safety during the pandemic.
To make the payment at end of the session in case of online video session.
To comply with the cancellation policy.