Services Agreement & Consent
As with all psychology practices, all clients wishing to engage in service with Elevate Clinical Psychology must agree to a set of standard terms and conditions (or 'service agreement'). Our service agreement is listed below, and follows the same set of principles found at any psychology clinic wherein you may engage with a registered psychologist.
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Terms & Conditions of Service
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To ensure the welfare, satisfaction and privacy of clients attending our service, Elevate Clinical Psychology ("the practice") operates in accordance to the following service agreement and terms of consent. Please read this policy carefully. Engaging in treatment is taken as consent to these terms of service. If you have any questions, please direct them to reception directly or via reception@ecpsychology.com.au
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Information Collection
In order to provide psychological services your psychologist will need to collect and record personal information that is relevant to your treatment. This is necessary in order to assess and treat. Records are stored stored securely and are subject to national standards of confidentiality.
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Confidentiality
We take all reasonable steps to ensure your privacy is maintained in all situations. Equally we would request that should you identify others using the practice, that you maintain their privacy as we do yours. All personal information gathered is considered confidential in accordance with the relevant Australian Privacy Acts. This includes; if referred by a GP, we may have correspondence with them regarding your treatment. Additionally, confidentiality may be breached only under specific circumstances including:
- Risk of harm to self or others
- Legal obligations, such as court or other legal orders
- With the client's consent
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Client responsibilities
Clients are expected to arrive on time for appointments and provide accurate information regarding their mental health history and current concerns.
Clients must inform their psychologist of any changes in their condition or circumstances that may affect treatment, including updating their contact and payment details.
Failure to arrive to your appointment without at least 48 hours notice will result in cancellation fees.
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Therapeutic Process
The therapeutic process can evoke strong emotions and may involve discomfort. Clients are encouraged to communicate openly with their psychologist about their experiences. The Practice does not guarantee specific outcomes; progress may vary by individual, and you are encouraged to raise such concerns with your psychologist.
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Emergency Situations
As an independent private practice, Elevate Clinical Psychology is not equipped to handle emergencies. In case of a mental health crisis or emergency, clients are advised to contact emergency services or visit their nearest hospital.
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Rights and Responsibilities
Clients have the right to ask questions about their treatment and to receive information regarding the methods and procedures used. Clients are expected to engage respectfully with staff and other clients. Disruptive or abusive behaviour may result in termination of services.
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Medicare Services
If utilising a mental health care plan as provided by a GP, the client consents to the practice assessing their online claim. This consent is required in order to process your medicate rebates. If intending on using such rebates for the psychology session the client understands that it is their responsibility to ensure that they have available sessions on this Mental health care plan prior to their scheduled appointment.
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Telehealth Appointments
Appointment details for telehealth sessions will be sent by email. Please ensure you have provided the practice with up to date email details, and that your email is not filtering out emails from our practice. The practice can not be held responsible for your emails being read by unauthorised persons.
The practice uses Zoom as its online platform for telehealth. These sessions are encrypted and only accessible via the psychologist admitting participants into the call. The practice can not be held responsible if your computer has any malicious software that may compromise the security of your telehealth session. Recording of any telehealth sessions is in direct violation of our confidentiality agreement and strictly prohibited. The practice reserves the right to suspend any and all services to anyone who records, retransmits, or covertly involves any other persons, in any part of a therapy session.
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Fees
Fees are charged via credit or debit card only, and are payable on the day of the appointment. If you are seeking to pay cash, you must inform the practice in advance so that this can be catered for. Please consult with reception to confirm any payable fees prior to your appointment.
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Cancellation Policy
Late cancellations or ‘no shows’ by clients prevent other clients from being able to book an appointment with the psychologist. As such, in order to ensure the psychologists time is best utilised, and others are able to secure an appointment, the practice will strictly enforce our 48 hour cancellation policy as follows:
- Providing at 48+ hours notice of a cancellation will incur no fee.
- Providing less than 48 hours, but more than 24 hours, will incur 50% of your ‘gap’ fee
- Providing less than 24 hours will incur the full ‘gap’ fee
Should there be any unforeseen/emergency circumstances resulting in a late cancellation or ‘no show’, please advise reception of this as soon as possible so that your circumstance can be reviewed, and the waiving of fees considered. Please note, the practice is unable to waive fees for repeat instances of cancellations or ‘no shows’. The practice reserves the right to suspend services to persons with outstanding fees.
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Changes to Terms
Elevate Clinical Psychology reserves the right to update these Terms at any time. Clients will be notified of any significant changes via email or posted notices in the Practice.
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Deceleration
I have read, understood and agree to the terms of service stated above. I agree to service and cancellations fees being charged to my credit/debit card as stipulated above. I commit to paying all session, administration and other agreed to fees on the day of my consultation. I acknowledge that should there be outstanding fees, the practice may report such debts to the relevant credit reporting body or registry which may have an impact on my credit rating or result in third party agencies following up on outstanding fees. Engaging in treatment is taken as consent to these terms of service.