RESOURCES

POLICIES

Privacy policy

This policy outlines how Elmarie Bekker Counselling handles its clients’ personal information. Privacy is taken seriously at Elmarie Bekker Counselling, and I am committed to complying with the Australian Privacy Principles in the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth).

Personal information

Personal information refers to any information about an individual that can be used to identify them directly or indirectly, such as their name, address, phone number, email address, and date of birth. Sensitive information includes details about a person’s racial or ethnic origins, political or religious beliefs, sexual orientation, health or genetic information, family court orders, or criminal records. I prioritises privacy, as sensitive information breaches can leave individuals vulnerable to discrimination or embarrassment. The well-being of my users is my top priority.

Why do I collect personal information?

Sharing your personal information with Elmarie Bekker Counselling enables me to assess and support the client in addressing their identified concerns. Personal information is retained to enable me to provide a relevant and informed service. A client cannot remain anonymous within my practice system due to my duty of care responsibilities, and a name listed on your personal identification document is required; however, you will be assigned a client number to protect your identity or is referred to by initials in the system. A client may request to be addressed by a pseudonym that will be used in general communication with the client.

How do we collect personal information?

I collect personal information through a variety of means, including:

•the information you verbally share with me.

• written communication received from you via email, SMS or letter.

• the online booking system.

• Intake form.

• Guardian of those under 18 years of age.

• A referral from your GP or another treating practitioner or service.

When I collect Personal Information, I will, where appropriate and possible, explain to you why I am collecting the information and how I plan to use it.

Security and storage of personal information

Your Personal Information is stored in a manner that reasonably protects it from misuse, loss, and unauthorized access, modification, or disclosure. I do not retain any credit card or banking details. When your Personal Information is no longer needed for the purpose for which it was obtained, I will take reasonable steps to destroy or permanently de-identify it. However, most of the Personal Information is or will be stored in client files that will be kept by me for a minimum of 7 years. If I become aware of a security breach, I will promptly investigate, take remedial action where necessary, and notify the affected individual in accordance with the Privacy Act.

Disclosure of your personal information

I will not disclose your personal information to third parties without your consent except when required and authorized by law.

Accessing your personal information

You may request access to the personal information I hold about you. Access to your personal information can be arranged in writing. I kindly request that you specify the information you require. Elmarie Bekker Counselling will not charge any fee for your access request but may charge an administrative fee for providing a copy of your Personal Information. I may require identification from you before releasing the requested information. I deal with all requests for access to personal information as required by the Privacy Act. I may refuse to provide access if permitted to do so under the Privacy Act.

Maintaining the integrity of your personal information

I maintain a system to ensure that the integrity of your personal information is accurate and current . You may request an update or correction to the personal information I hold about you, and I will deal with all such requests as required by the Privacy Act. It is important to me that your Personal Information is always up to date. I request that if your information changes or you find that my information is out of date that you please notify us as soon as practicable so that I can update my records and continue to provide quality services to you.

Complaints

If you believe your personal information has not been handled in accordance with the Privacy Act, please contact me initially. I will investigate your complaint and attempt to resolve it promptly with you directly. If dissatisfied with the outcome, you may file a complaint with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC). For information about how to make such a complaint, please refer to the OAIC website: http://www.oaic.gov.au/

Contact us

If you have any questions about our Privacy Policy, please email us at ebc@elmariebekker.com.au or address the issue in session.

Information regarding Elmarie Bekker Counselling, Terms of Service delivery and Informed Consent

It is important that you are as fully informed as possible about counselling and the counselling process before signing an informed consent agreeing to the terms of my service.

For this reason, please read the following carefully and do not hesitate to ask any questions before signing the agreement at the end of the document or whenever you are uncertain of something.

Some essential facts about counselling:

Professional counselling is a safe space for confidential collaboration between a qualified counsellor and clients to promote mental health and well-being, enhance self-understanding, and resolve concerns.

A fundamental principle in doing Couples Counselling is the neutrality of the counsellor. It means that the counsellor is not the referee between the spouses nor that she will have legal opinions that can be used against each other in legal proceedings. It means that the counsellor tries to equally understand and unlock the insight both spouses need to grow their couple relationship.

It does not mean that the counsellor cannot challenge within the counselling relationship nor that it will always feel equally fair to each spouse, but it will be a safe and supportive space. If Couples Counselling is no longer the objective, as one or both spouses has finished with the relationship, the counsellor will determine and discuss a different approach to help the couple make decisions regarding the future of the relationship. Discernment therapy has a different focus to Couples counselling.

Clients are active participants at every stage of the counselling process.

People seek counselling for a wide variety of reasons. I look forward to exploring your reasons for making your appointment with me and navigating the counselling journey together.

We are all unique human beings with histories, perceptions, and expectations, so counselling outcomes can vary widely depending on your input, feedback, commitment and context. Healing takes time, hard work and patience; but I am committed to working with you to resolve your concerns and keep open communication regarding your expectations and needs. Evaluating your client experience collaboratively is an important part of the counselling process to streamline the counselling process to meet your specific needs and determine the direction you want the counselling to go in.

The very nature of the counselling process deals with issues and traumatic aspects of your life that might spark or be a catalyst for triggering a wide range of feelings and reactions.
Therefore, it is crucial to be aware and keep me informed of any such experiences should
they arise to ensure my support and help get the best out of the counselling process.

If ever you need crisis support in a time when I am not available, please contact a crisis service
(See the crisis numbers on my website: elmariebekker.com.au or at end of this document).

Do not expect a miracle in a short period of time; it takes time to unravel and understand
the human psyche. Talk to the counsellor if you feel that your needs are not being met.

The following guidelines are helpful:

• Attend every scheduled session.
• Mutual trust is important.
• Be prepared to share your thoughts and feelings openly.
• Complete any out-of-session tasks we have agreed to.
• Ask for clarification when unsure of something. My accent can sometimes cause
  confusion or misunderstanding, don’t be afraid to ask. I will not take offense.
• Discuss any doubts or concerns with the counsellor.
• Open communication is key to ensuring successful outcomes.

My professional background and counselling approach

I am qualified with a Master’s degree in Counselling, but also bring my extensive training and experience of 15-years as social worker with families and children into the counselling relationship. Professionally, I am registered with the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) and am subject to a wide range of professional and ethical requirements determining my practice within the ACA Code of Ethics framework.

The relationship established between client and counsellor is central to the success of the counselling process. I work hard to ensure a respectful and nonjudgmental atmosphere where everyone feels their experience is understood and valued. I utilize an integrated attachment- and trauma-focused approach, drawing on a range of psychological theories to understand how to facilitate processes of change and growth, while understanding human development, personality and character formation.

The relationship between Elmarie Bekker Counselling and North Canberra Counselling

Elmarie Bekker Counselling operates as a sole trader within the North Canberra Counselling space. North Canberra Counselling is a partnership between Elmarie Bekker and her partner, Rebecca Tregurtha, with the aim to provide a counselling space for counsellors to operate from and adheres to the same strict privacy policy requirements according to the Privacy Act. As part of the partnership agreement for North Canberra Counselling, a confidentiality agreement is in place between the partners to further protect the privacy of our clients as we work within proximity to each other, and it is unavoidable not to run into each other’s clients in our shared space.

Some practicalities:

Elmarie Bekker Counselling does not offer crisis services. In the case of an emergency, please seek crisis intervention and the contact numbers are at the end of this document or on my website: elmariebekker.com.au

Types of counselling

I provide in-person and online counselling services and whether it is an in-person or online sessions, the timing stays the same. I use Zoom for meetings online. A typical individual counselling session is 50 minutes, with the counsellor spending an additional 10 minutes writing the session notes as required by the ACA. Couples and family sessions usually run for 75 minutes and 15 minutes for writing the session notes. I also offer a brief therapy service to clients unsure of counselling or who have been waiting for counselling or psychology appointments for a long time to cope safely until they can access more mental health services. These single sessions (Brief Therapy) focus on priority needs only, determined by the client, and are scheduled for 75-90 minutes inclusive of counsellor’s note writing, to alleviate some of the individual’s stress, help with their immediate concerns, and make the waiting period safer.

Hours of practice

My consulting hours are Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and I am available on some Monday mornings for bigger family counselling sessions.

Session frequency

While the frequency of sessions depends on the client and the nature of the concern, I recommend an initial commitment of up to five appointments, preferably fortnightly, as change does not necessarily happen overnight, and it takes time to understand the human psyche and unravel years of emotional challenges.

We usually assess at the end of each session to determine what works or can change, and at the end of the third session, we will collaboratively and more formally evaluate how counselling is going and plan adjustments accordingly.

Scheduled sessions

Sessions are offered in person or online via a secure online platform (Zoom). A meeting invitation with the Zoom meeting link will be sent with a reminder of your appointment. The expectation is that you will confirm the agreed meeting in a text message; if changes need to be made, please contact the counsellor.

The online sessions via phone or video conferencing are provided on the basis that we both:

• ensure that we have a confidential and uninterrupted space; this may or may not involve
  using a headset,
• The platform used is Zoom.  The invitation and meeting link contains the details to log in to the secure meeting.

Location of Elmarie Bekker Counselling

Elmarie Bekker Counselling operates from the offices of North Canberra Counselling, located in unit 7, first floor of Southern Cross Building, at 9 McKay Street, Turner, ACT, 2612.

The entrance to the building and car park is from McKay Lane, and the easiest way to spot the entry way is to look for the Paid Parking sign on the left-hand side of the road just after you have come around the bend in McKay Lane. There is one client parking spot available at the bottom of the outside car park, second from the left, signed North Canberra Counselling (NCC) – client parking. You are welcome to use this spot if it is open. Please do not park in the counsellor spot on the far left or any of the other spaces in the car park as they are all allocated to the businesses in the building. Plenty of street parking is available in the vicinity if the car space is filled. The office is within easy reach of Elouera Station of the light rail on Northbourne Ave.

Cancellation of sessions

If you cannot attend an appointment, please give me at least 24 hours’ notice in advance. Failure to do so will result in a full charge as I might not be able to fill a cancelled appointment at such short notice. Furthermore, if I am unable to fill a cancelled appointment because of short notice, it means someone else would have missed out on an opportunity to get a mental health appointment in a time when mental health services are scarce.

Speak to me if a crisis occurs, but please be considerate of my time and other people’s opportunities.

Fees

The hourly charge for counselling sessions with individuals is $140 per session, and for Couples, Family and Brief Therapy sessions, it is $200/per session. If I see individuals as part of the process of couples and family therapy, the session is costed at $175 per session as the complexity in managing the relationships warrants the increase in these fees.

The charge is payable at the end of the session. Payment methods are Tap-and-Go or PayID to my phone (0426761877). As all my fees are published and agreed on in advanced, no invoice is issued before the session, you will receive an immediate email on payment and I follow it up with a formal Tax invoice and receipt. You can submit it to your health fund if you are eligible to claim for counselling services.

Privacy

Australian Government Privacy Legislation applies to the personal information collected about an individual that could be used to identify them directly or indirectly. I have attached my privacy policy to form part of this agreement.

Confidentiality

Your right to privacy encompasses confidentiality. Information discussed during our sessions is confidential and may not be shared with anyone without your written permission except

when I am legally obliged:

• to report a serious and imminent threat to the life, health or property of yourself or
another

• to report any abuse or neglect experienced by a young person under the age of 18 years
and/or

• to release client records when required by court order.

Confidential written records are maintained to reflect the issues and goals identified in counselling sessions and are kept securely for seven years.

The relationship between Elmarie Bekker Counselling and North Canberra Counselling

Elmarie Bekker Counselling operates as a sole trader within the North Canberra Counselling space. North Canberra Counselling is a partnership between Elmarie Bekker and her partner, Rebecca Tregurtha, with the aim to provide a counselling space for counsellors to operate from and adheres to the same strict privacy policy requirements according to the Privacy Act. As part of the partnership agreement for North Canberra Counselling, a confidentiality agreement is in place between the partners to further protect the privacy of our clients as we work within proximity to each other, and it is unavoidable to run into each other’s clients in our shared space.

My Supervision and Professional development

As part of my professional registration requirements, I have to engage with an experienced counsellor, social worker, or psychologist in supervision regarding my counselling practice and professional identity. It is important because I aim to deliver best-practice services. I have an ethical responsibility to reflect on my counselling practice, enhance my counselling skills, and maintain my professional ability to render services. As part of this professional reflection, I may discuss the work I do with you with my clinical supervisor, with whom I have a confidentiality agreement in place. Be assured that in these situations, you are de-identified, and no one will be able to connect your story to you personally. Supervision informs my learning, guide the direction and help provide a more satisfying client experience as it informs and broadens my perspective.

As I do not provide a crisis service, if there is an emergency, please contact:

• Your general practitioner, or the emergency services at 000

• Lifeline on 13 11 14

• Mental Health Triage Service on 13 14 65

• Suicide Call Back on 1300 659 467

• 1800 Respect on 1800 737 732.