Informed Consent for Therapy Services

Welcome

Thank you for choosing our counselling and therapy services. We understand that seeking support can be a significant step, and we appreciate the trust you have placed in us.

This document explains the counselling process, your rights and responsibilities, confidentiality, privacy, fees, and other important information so that you can make an informed decision about participating in therapy.

Please read this document carefully. If you have any questions, your therapist will be happy to discuss them with you before therapy begins.

By commencing counselling services, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and consent to the information contained within this document.

The Purpose of Counselling

Counselling is a collaborative process designed to support your mental health, emotional wellbeing, relationships, personal growth, and overall quality of life.

Depending on your needs, therapy may help you to:

  • Better understand yourself and your experiences.

  • Improve relationships and communication.

  • Develop healthy coping strategies.

  • Manage anxiety, depression, grief, stress, trauma, or other emotional concerns.

  • Improve confidence and resilience.

  • Work towards personal or therapeutic goals.

  • Develop healthier patterns of thinking and behaviour.

Counselling is not a quick fix, and meaningful change often requires effort both during and between sessions. While many people experience significant benefits, no therapist can guarantee particular outcomes.

Your Participation in Therapy

Counselling works best when it is a partnership between you and your therapist.

Your therapist will provide professional knowledge, guidance, support, education and therapeutic interventions. However, lasting change largely depends on your willingness to reflect, practise new skills, and apply what is discussed outside of sessions.

The more actively you engage in the counselling process, the more likely you are to experience positive outcomes.

Rights and Responsibilities of Clients

These rights and responsibilities help create a safe, respectful, and effective counselling relationship. Both clients and therapists share responsibility for maintaining a professional therapeutic environment.

Your Rights

1. Confidentiality

You have the right to expect that information shared during counselling will remain confidential except where disclosure is authorised by you or required or permitted by law.

Examples where confidentiality may need to be broken include:

  • There is a serious and immediate risk of harm to yourself.

  • There is a serious risk of harm to another person.

  • A child or vulnerable adult is believed to be at risk of abuse or neglect.

  • Information is required by a Court or other legal authority.

  • Disclosure is otherwise required under New Zealand law.

  • Your therapist consults with a professional supervisor as part of ethical practice. Wherever reasonably possible, identifying information will be minimised.

If disclosure becomes necessary, your therapist will usually discuss this with you first whenever it is safe and practical to do so.

2. Employer-Funded Counselling

If your counselling is funded by your employer, Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), ACC, insurer, or another third party, limited information may be shared with the funding organisation where permitted or required under your agreement.

Depending on the arrangement, this may include:

  • Confirmation that appointments have been attended.

  • Whether appointments were cancelled or missed.

  • The broad presenting issue (for example, workplace stress or relationship concerns).

  • Progress updates where agreed.

  • Your name where required for administration.

Clinical details and session content will not be disclosed without your consent unless required or permitted by law.

If you are unsure what information may be shared, please ask your therapist or our administration team before commencing counselling.

3. Informed Consent

You have the right to receive sufficient information about counselling so that you can make an informed decision about participating in therapy.

You may ask questions at any time.

4. Respect and Dignity

You have the right to receive services that are respectful, culturally safe, inclusive, and free from discrimination based on:

  • Age

  • Gender

  • Sexual orientation

  • Relationship status

  • Disability

  • Race or ethnicity

  • Religion

  • Culture

  • Political beliefs

  • Socioeconomic status

  • Any other protected characteristic

5. Choice of Therapist

Where practical, you may request a particular therapist or ask to transfer to another therapist if you believe someone else would better meet your needs.

6. Right to Withdraw

Participation in counselling is voluntary.

You may end counselling at any time without penalty and without affecting your access to other services, unless counselling is a condition imposed by another agency.

7. Feedback and Complaints

You have the right to provide feedback or make a complaint about any aspect of our service.

Complaints are welcomed as an opportunity to improve our services and will be managed respectfully, fairly, and in accordance with our Complaints Policy.

Your Responsibilities

1. Active Participation

Your therapist cannot "fix" problems for you.

Counselling is most effective when you actively participate by:

  • Attending appointments.

  • Identifying goals.

  • Engaging openly during sessions.

  • Practising strategies between sessions.

  • Reflecting on your progress.

The effort you put into therapy outside of sessions is often the greatest contributor to successful outcomes.

2. Honesty and Transparency

Please provide honest and accurate information so your therapist can offer the most appropriate support.

If something is not working, or you disagree with your therapist, you are encouraged to discuss this openly.

3. Respect for Your Therapist

Clients are expected to:

  • Treat therapists respectfully.

  • Attend appointments on time.

  • Follow appointment and cancellation policies.

  • Maintain appropriate professional boundaries.

Aggressive, abusive, threatening, discriminatory, or violent behaviour may result in counselling being discontinued.

4. Compliance with Agreed Plans

Where appropriate, clients should work collaboratively with their therapist regarding agreed treatment goals, homework activities, referrals, and session frequency.

5. Self-Care

Counselling is only one part of maintaining wellbeing.

Clients remain responsible for their own physical, emotional, and mental health outside counselling sessions, including following through with agreed strategies where appropriate.

6. Communication

Please discuss any concerns regarding therapy, your therapist, or the counselling process as early as possible so that issues can be addressed constructively.

7. Understanding Confidentiality

Clients are responsible for understanding the limits of confidentiality and asking questions if they are uncertain about how information is managed.

Privacy and Collection of Information

We collect personal information to provide safe and effective counselling services.

Information collected may include:

  • Personal and contact details

  • Emergency contact information

  • Relevant medical history

  • Assessment information

  • Clinical notes

  • Reports

  • Referral information

  • Appointment records

  • Payment information

Your information is managed in accordance with the Privacy Act 2020 and the Health Information Privacy Code 2020.

Records are securely stored and are only accessible by authorised personnel.

Clinical Records

Your therapist maintains professional clinical records that may include:

  • Assessments

  • Treatment plans

  • Session summaries

  • Risk assessments

  • Referrals

  • Clinical correspondence

Records are retained in accordance with New Zealand legal requirements.

Communication Outside Sessions

We may communicate with you using:

  • Telephone

  • Email

  • SMS/Text message

Electronic communication cannot be guaranteed to be completely secure. By communicating electronically, you acknowledge these limitations.

Please do not use email or text messaging for urgent mental health concerns or emergencies.

Online Counselling

Where counselling is delivered online:

  • You agree to attend from a private location where confidentiality can be maintained.

  • You are responsible for ensuring your internet connection and device are suitable.

  • Technical interruptions may occasionally occur.

  • While reasonable security measures are used, complete confidentiality over the internet cannot be guaranteed.

Fees and Cancellation Policy

Fees are payable in accordance with the current fee schedule unless alternative arrangements have been made.

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

Late cancellations or missed appointments may incur the full session fee unless exceptional circumstances apply.

Potential Benefits and Risks

Counselling often results in:

  • Greater self-awareness

  • Improved emotional wellbeing

  • Better relationships

  • Increased confidence

  • Improved coping skills

  • Greater resilience

However, therapy can also involve temporary discomfort, including:

  • Discussing painful memories

  • Emotional distress

  • Relationship changes

  • Increased awareness of difficult experiences

These experiences are often a normal part of the therapeutic process.

Crisis and Emergency Situations

Our counselling service is not an emergency or crisis service.

If you require immediate assistance:

  • Call 111 if there is an immediate risk to life or safety.

  • Contact your local Mental Health Crisis Team.

  • Attend your nearest Emergency Department.

  • Contact Healthline on 0800 611 116.

Ending Counselling

Counselling may end when:

  • Your goals have been achieved.

  • You decide to stop attending.

  • Another service would better meet your needs.

  • Therapy is no longer clinically appropriate.

  • Fees remain unpaid.

  • Professional boundaries cannot be maintained.

Where appropriate, referrals to other services will be offered.

Consent

By signing below, I confirm that:

  • I have read and understood this Informed Consent document.

  • I understand the counselling process.

  • I understand my rights and responsibilities.

  • I understand the limits of confidentiality.

  • I understand how my personal information will be collected, stored, and used.

  • I understand the fees and cancellation policy.

  • I have had the opportunity to ask questions.

  • My questions have been answered to my satisfaction.

  • I voluntarily consent to participate in counselling and therapy services.