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​​​Welcome

Thank you for choosing UnifiedLife Health & Wellbeing Supports.

At UnifiedLife, we believe meaningful support begins with genuine connection, trust, respect, and collaboration. We provide counselling and wellbeing support for children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families in a safe, supportive, and non-judgemental environment.

Counselling is a collaborative process. My role is to provide professional guidance, support, education, practical strategies, and a safe space for exploration and growth. Your role is to engage openly and actively in the process. While counselling can be highly beneficial, outcomes depend on many factors, including your participation, commitment, circumstances, and willingness to implement strategies between sessions.

Please read this agreement carefully, as it outlines the nature of counselling, confidentiality, appointments, fees, record keeping, and your rights and responsibilities as a client.

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ABOUT YOUR COUNSELLOR

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My name is Amy, and I hold a Bachelor of Human Services with majors in Counselling and Child & Family Studies.

I am a registered counsellor committed to ongoing professional development and evidence-informed practice. I maintain current registration and training relevant to counselling, family support, neurodivergence, child development, mental health, trauma-informed practice, and wellbeing support.

While I am a qualified counsellor, I am not a psychologist or psychiatrist. I do not provide psychiatric assessments, formal psychological diagnoses, court reports, or prescribe medication. Where appropriate, I may recommend referral to another professional or service.

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MY APPROACH TO COUNSELLING

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Every person is unique, and there is no single approach that suits everyone.

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My work is strengths-based, person-centred, neuro-affirming, and family-inclusive. I believe people are more than their challenges and that lasting growth occurs when individuals feel heard, understood, empowered, and supported.

When working with children and young people, I recognise that meaningful change often occurs beyond the counselling room. Children live within families, schools, friendships, and communities that significantly influence their wellbeing. For this reason, I often work collaboratively with parents, caregivers, and support networks where appropriate.

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My goal is not only to support the individual attending counselling but also to help equip the important people around them with understanding, confidence, practical tools, and strategies that can support positive change in everyday life.

As children mature into adolescence, confidentiality and independence become increasingly important. Parent and caregiver involvement is therefore balanced according to the young person's age, developmental stage, presenting concerns, therapeutic goals, and individual circumstances.

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Counselling approaches may include:

• Child-Centred Play Therapy
• Family Systems Approaches
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
• Solution-Focused Therapy
• Narrative Therapy
• Attachment-Based Approaches
• Interpersonal Therapy
• Strengths-Based Counselling
• Neuro-Affirming Practice
• Psychoeducation and Parenting Support

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Walk & Talk Therapy may also be offered where appropriate.

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BENEFITS AND RISKS OF COUNSELLING

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Counselling can assist with:

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• Improved emotional wellbeing
• Greater self-awareness and understanding
• Increased resilience and coping skills
• Improved communication and relationships
• Enhanced confidence and self-esteem
• Better problem-solving abilities
• Improved family functioning

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Counselling may also involve discussing difficult experiences, emotions, thoughts, or situations.

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At times, clients may experience temporary feelings of:

• Sadness
• Anxiety
• Frustration
• Anger
• Grief
• Vulnerability

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While counselling can be highly beneficial, no specific outcome can be guaranteed.

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APPOINTMENTS

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Initial consultation appointments are offered for up to 30 minutes.

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Standard counselling appointments are generally:

• 50-minute sessions
• 80-minute extended sessions

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Session lengths include time allocated for professional record keeping and administration.

Appointments are reserved exclusively for you and cannot be offered to another client once booked.

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FEES AND PAYMENT

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Fees are payable before the service unless alternative arrangements have been agreed upon in writing.

Current fees are available on request and may be updated periodically.

Outstanding accounts may result in future appointments being postponed until payment arrangements have been made.

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CANCELLATION POLICY

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

Appointments cancelled with less than 24 hours' notice, or missed appointments where no notice is provided, may incur the full session fee.

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Exceptions may be considered in circumstances outside your reasonable control.

Repeated late cancellations or non-attendance may result in discontinuation of services.

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COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SESSIONS

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Email, text messages, and telephone communication should be used primarily for administrative matters such as scheduling appointments.

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Please be aware that counselling services are not crisis services and are not monitored continuously.

For emergencies, contact:

• Emergency Services (000)
• Lifeline (13 11 14)
• Mental Health Triage Service in your state or territory
• Your local hospital emergency department

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PROFESSIONAL RECORDS

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As a registered counsellor, I am required to maintain professional records regarding the services I provide.

Records may include:

• Intake and assessment information
• Session notes
• Treatment plans
• Progress summaries
• Correspondence relevant to your care
• Administrative and billing records

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Records are stored securely and maintained in accordance with applicable privacy and professional standards.

You may request access to your records in accordance with relevant legislation.

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CONFIDENTIALITY

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Confidentiality is one of the foundations of effective counselling.

Information shared during counselling will remain confidential except where disclosure is required or permitted by law, professional ethics, or where safety concerns exist.

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Confidentiality may be limited where:

• There is risk of serious harm to yourself
• There is risk of serious harm to another person
• Child abuse, neglect, or exploitation is disclosed or suspected
• Mandatory reporting obligations apply
• Records are subpoenaed by a court of law
• Disclosure is otherwise required by legislation

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Where possible, I will discuss any required disclosure with you before information is shared.

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WORKING WITH CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

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Children and young people have the right to feel safe, respected, and heard during counselling.

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The level of parent or caregiver involvement will vary depending on:

• Age and developmental stage
• Therapeutic goals
• Family circumstances
• Clinical presentation
• Safety considerations

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For younger children, parent and caregiver participation is generally an important component of counselling.

For adolescents, confidentiality becomes increasingly important. While I encourage appropriate family involvement, I also provide young people with a safe space to explore thoughts, feelings, and experiences privately.

My role is to carefully balance a young person's right to confidentiality with the benefits of supportive family involvement.

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PARENT AND CAREGIVER INVOLVEMENT

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At UnifiedLife, we recognise that families often play a critical role in a child's wellbeing.

Where appropriate, parents and caregivers may be involved through:

• Parent consultations
• Family sessions
• Psychoeducation
• Strategy development
• Goal planning
• Progress reviews

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Parents and caregivers will generally receive information regarding attendance, general progress, and recommendations.

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Specific disclosures made by a child or adolescent during counselling will remain confidential unless:

• Permission has been provided by the client
• There are safety concerns
• Disclosure is required by law

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My aim is to support both the young person and the family system in a way that promotes trust, safety, and positive outcomes.

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INFORMATION SHARING

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Information may only be shared with schools, doctors, allied health professionals, support coordinators, or other service providers when appropriate consent has been provided, unless disclosure is required by law.

You may withdraw consent for information sharing at any time.

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TELEHEALTH SERVICES

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Where counselling is provided via telephone or video conferencing, reasonable steps will be taken to maintain privacy and confidentiality.

Clients are encouraged to attend telehealth sessions from a private and distraction-free environment whenever possible.

While every effort is made to maintain security, electronic communication carries some inherent privacy risks.

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COMPLAINTS AND FEEDBACK

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Feedback is welcomed and valued.

If you have concerns regarding any aspect of the service provided, I encourage you to discuss them directly with me so that we can work towards a resolution.

If you remain dissatisfied, you may contact the relevant professional association or regulatory body.

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CLIENT RIGHTS

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You have the right to:

• Be treated with dignity, respect, and compassion
• Receive services free from discrimination
• Ask questions about counselling and treatment approaches
• Participate in decisions affecting your care
• Decline or discontinue counselling at any time
• Access your personal information where legally permitted
• Privacy and confidentiality, subject to legal limitations

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CLIENT RESPONSIBILITIES

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Clients are expected to:

• Attend appointments punctually
• Treat the therapist respectfully
• Provide accurate information relevant to counselling
• Participate honestly and openly where possible
• Notify the practice if circumstances change that may affect service delivery

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CONSENT

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By moving ahead with counselling services, you acknowledge that:

• you have read and understood the above
• you have had the opportunity to ask questions.
• you understand the nature and limitations of counselling.
• you understand confidentiality and its limits.
• you consent to participate in counselling services provided by UnifiedLife Health & Wellbeing Supports.

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