Client Information, Consent & Counselling Agreement

Before commencing counselling with Buddhist Counselling, please read the following information carefully. It explains the nature of the service, confidentiality and its limitations, privacy, client and practitioner responsibilities, online counselling, cancellations and other important matters.

By booking and participating in counselling, and by completing any required consent process, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this information and consent to receiving the service.

If you have questions or require clarification before your first session, please contact Daniel.

About Buddhist Counselling

Buddhist Counselling provides mindfulness-based counselling and contemplative support through Daniel Troyak, Mindfulness-Based Therapist, accredited Buddhist Chaplain and Pastoral Counsellor.

Sessions may incorporate counselling, mindfulness, meditation, reflective and contemplative practices and principles drawn from Buddhist practice where appropriate to the individual.

You do not need to be Buddhist, religious or have previous experience with meditation or mindfulness.

Daniel is not a psychologist, psychiatrist or medical practitioner. Buddhist Counselling does not provide medical diagnosis, psychiatric treatment or medical advice and is not a substitute for medical or psychiatric care where this is required.

Daniel practises in accordance with applicable professional and legal obligations, including the NSW Code of Conduct for unregistered health practitioners.

Your Participation and Consent

Counselling is a collaborative process. You are encouraged to participate openly, ask questions and discuss any concerns about the counselling process.

You may decline a particular mindfulness, meditation or contemplative exercise, request that the approach be changed, or withdraw your consent to counselling at any time.

Counselling can involve discussing difficult or distressing experiences. At times this may bring uncomfortable thoughts, emotions or memories to the surface. While counselling is intended to support wellbeing and personal growth, particular outcomes cannot be guaranteed.

You remain responsible for decisions and actions you take outside counselling sessions.

Confidentiality

Your privacy and confidentiality are fundamental to the counselling relationship.

Information disclosed during counselling, together with counselling records and personal information, will be treated as confidential and will not ordinarily be disclosed to another person without your consent.

There are, however, circumstances in which information may need to be disclosed without your consent. These can include where:

disclosure is required or authorised by law;
records or information are required under a valid court order, subpoena or other lawful process;
there is a serious threat to your life, health or safety, or to the life, health or safety of another person, and disclosure is permitted or required by law;
there are child protection concerns requiring or permitting a report to the appropriate authority;
disclosure is otherwise required to meet a legal or professional obligation.

Where appropriate and lawful, Daniel will endeavour to discuss a proposed disclosure with you before information is released.

With your consent, information may also be shared with another professional or organisation involved in your care, such as your GP or another health practitioner.

Privacy and Counselling Records

Buddhist Counselling collects personal and health information necessary to provide counselling, manage appointments, communicate with you and maintain appropriate professional records.

Information may include your contact details, relevant health and personal information, appointment information and counselling notes.

Personal and health information will be handled in accordance with applicable Australian and NSW privacy requirements, including relevant obligations under the Privacy Act 1988 and Australian Privacy Principles.

Reasonable steps are taken to protect personal information against loss, unauthorised access, misuse, interference, modification or disclosure.

You may request access to, or correction of, personal information held about you, subject to applicable legal exceptions.

Professional Consultation and Supervision

As part of maintaining safe and professional practice, Daniel may undertake professional supervision or consultation.

Where a client situation is discussed for professional supervision or consultation, reasonable steps will be taken to protect the client's identity and confidentiality. Personally identifying information will not ordinarily be disclosed unless necessary, authorised or required by law.

Online Counselling

Online counselling is available via Zoom.

You are responsible for choosing a private and appropriate location for your session and taking reasonable steps to prevent other people from overhearing or accessing the session.

Although reasonable measures are taken to use reputable and secure technology, no internet-based communication system can be guaranteed to be completely secure. Technical problems, internet outages or other disruptions may occasionally affect an online session.

Neither the client nor practitioner should record a counselling session without the prior agreement of both parties.

For online sessions, you may be asked to provide your current location and an emergency contact where this is reasonably necessary for safety.

Email, Text Messages and Electronic Communication

Appointment confirmations, reminders and other administrative communications may be sent by email, SMS or other agreed electronic means.

Electronic communication carries inherent privacy risks. Clients should ensure that their devices, email accounts and messaging services are appropriately secured.

Email and text messaging should generally be used for appointments and administrative matters rather than urgent clinical support.

Fees and Payment

The applicable fee will be displayed or communicated before booking.

Payment is required in accordance with the payment arrangements provided at the time of booking.

Any changes to fees will be communicated before they apply to a future appointment.

Medicare, Mental Health Treatment Plans & NDIS

Buddhist Counselling is a private counselling service. Daniel Troyak does not provide services under Medicare Mental Health Treatment Plans, and Medicare rebates are not available for sessions provided through Buddhist Counselling.

Buddhist Counselling is not a registered NDIS provider. Clients seeking NDIS-funded services should confirm their individual funding arrangements and eligibility with their NDIS plan manager, support coordinator or the NDIA before booking.

Unless an alternative arrangement has been agreed to in advance, clients are responsible for the full cost of their counselling sessions.

If you require counselling or psychological services funded through Medicare, the NDIS or another government-funded program, you should speak with your GP or relevant service provider about suitable options.

Cancellation and Rescheduling

If you need to cancel or reschedule an appointment, please provide at least 24 hours' notice.

Appointments cancelled with less than 24 hours' notice may be charged the full session fee, except where Daniel agrees otherwise because of exceptional circumstances.

If you arrive late, the session may still need to finish at the originally scheduled time.

If Daniel needs to cancel a session, you will be offered an alternative appointment or, where payment has already been made and another appointment is not suitable, a refund.

Emergencies and Crisis Support

Buddhist Counselling is not an emergency or crisis service.

Online messages, emails and appointment systems are not continuously monitored and should not be relied upon for urgent assistance.

If you are in immediate danger or require urgent medical or mental health assistance, call 000 or attend your nearest hospital emergency department.

For 24-hour crisis support in Australia, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Experiencing suicidal thoughts does not automatically mean that you cannot participate in counselling. However, Buddhist Counselling is not a crisis or emergency service, and where a higher level of care is required you may be encouraged or assisted to seek appropriate medical, psychological, psychiatric or emergency support.

Scope of Practice and Referrals

Daniel will provide services within the limits of his training, experience and professional role.

If your needs are outside the scope of the service, or if another form of care would be more appropriate, this will be discussed with you and you may be encouraged to consult a GP, psychologist, psychiatrist or another suitably qualified practitioner.

Buddhist Counselling may complement other healthcare but should not replace medical or specialist mental health treatment where such treatment is required.

Respectful and Safe Sessions

Both client and practitioner have the right to a safe and respectful counselling environment.

Abusive, threatening, discriminatory, sexually inappropriate or seriously disruptive behaviour may result in a session being ended and, where appropriate, counselling services being discontinued.

Professional boundaries will be maintained throughout the counselling relationship.

Complaints and Concerns

If you have a concern about the service you receive, you are encouraged to raise it directly with Daniel where you feel comfortable doing so.

Clients also have the right to make a complaint to the NSW Health Care Complaints Commission (HCCC) about a health service or health practitioner. Making a complaint will not affect your right to receive appropriate healthcare elsewhere.

Information about the Code of Conduct for unregistered health practitioners and the complaints process is available through NSW Health and the NSW Health Care Complaints Commission.

Client Acknowledgement

By consenting to counselling, you acknowledge that:

you have read and understood this information;
you have had the opportunity to ask questions;
you understand the nature and limitations of the counselling service;
you understand the limits of confidentiality;
you understand the cancellation and payment arrangements;
you understand that Buddhist Counselling is not an emergency or crisis service;
you consent to the collection and handling of personal and health information necessary to provide the service; and
you voluntarily consent to participate in mindfulness-based counselling with Daniel Troyak.