Information, Fees &
Client Charter
CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY CONSULTATIONS & FEES
This practice provides evidence based psychological assessment and therapy for Mental Health Issues and Disorders. Our psychologists are trained, registered, supervised and insured by verified institutions.
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Psychological assessment involves a combination of methods including clinical interviewing between psychologist and client, questionnaires you may be asked to submit before or after you start therapy, and psychological assessment tools as appropriate generally or for specific issues. Therapy most commonly begins with at least 1-2 sessions that are primarily assessment.
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Psychological therapy involves building insight and shared understanding of the presenting issues and outlining an agreed upon plan to treat and solve the identified problems. In addition to talking about the issues in session, the psychologist and client may engage in exercises together in the therapy room. There is also a significant emphasis on the activities and exercises which clients carry out between sessions in their daily lives. These are recommended and will improve the outcomes of the therapy provided.
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Your psychologist should provide explanations, and sometimes materials that outline the type of therapy being recommended or provided, how it works and what you should expect. You are always free to refuse or ask as many questions about the recommendations as you need to before proceeding.
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A Clinical Psychology Consultation is usually 50 minutes in duration. An initial Assessment Interview will cost $250. Subsequent sessions are $220 per 50-minute consultation. This is significantly below the APS Recommended fee. However, a concession of a further $20 can be requested for seniors, pensioners and the unemployed. The fee is not open to negotiation and must be paid within seven days of the consultation to enable further bookings.
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For most presenting problems, clients should usually expect to attend at least 6-10 consultations. There are some issues for which clients will benefit from attending therapy for between 6 – 18 months. Your treatment plan and duration will be discussed with you as part of the psychological service.
PRIVACY POLICY
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This document describes the privacy policy of Christopher Mosses Clinical Psychologist
for the management of clients’ personal information. The psychological service
provided is bound by the legal requirements of the Australian Privacy Principles set out
in the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth).
Management of Personal Information
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Client files are stored on Zanda, a secure private practice software. The software is password protected and encrypted. It is accessed via a password protected electronic device and always kept on secure premises or on the person of your psychologist.
For more information on Zanda see the following documents online:
https://www.zanda.com/au/terms-of-use/
and
https://www.zanda.com/au/privacy-policy/
The information stored on Zanda is accessible only to authorised employees. The information on each file includes personal information such as name, address, contact phone numbers, medical history, and other personal information collected as part of providing the psychological service.
How Client’s Personal Information is Collected
A client's personal information is collected in a number of ways during psychological consultation with the psychologist, including when the client provides information directly to them using hardcopy forms, correspondence via email, when the client interacts directly with them, and when other health practitioners provide personal information to the psychologist, via referrals, correspondence and medical reports.
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Consequences of Not Providing Personal Information
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If the client does not wish for their personal information to be collected in a way anticipated by this Privacy Policy, the psychologist may not be in a position to provide the recommended psychological service to the client. In some circumstances, clients may request to be anonymous or to use a pseudonym, unless it is impracticable for the psychologist to deal with the client or if the serviceis required by law to deal with identified individuals.
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Purpose of Holding Personal Information
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A client’s personal information is gathered and used for the purpose of providing psychological services, which includes assessing, diagnosing and treating a client’s presenting issue. The personal information is retained in order to document what happens during sessions, and enables the psychologist to provide a relevant and informed psychological service.
Disclosure of Personal Information
Clients’ personal information will remain confidential except when:
1. it is subpoenaed by a court, or disclosure is otherwise required or authorised by
law; or
2. failure to disclose the information would in the reasonable belief of the Psychologist place a client or another person at serious risk to life, health or safety; or
3. the client’s prior approval has been obtained to:
a) provide a written report to another agency or professional, e.g., a GP or a lawyer; or
b) discuss the material with another person, e.g. a parent, employer, health provider, or third party funder; or
c) disclose the information in another way; or
d) disclose to another professional or agency (e.g. your GP) and disclosure of your personal information to that third party is for a purpose which is directly related to the primary purpose for which your personal information was collected.
A client's personal information is not disclosed to overseas recipients, unless the client consents or such disclosure is otherwise required by law. Clients' personal information will not be used, sold, rented or disclosed for any other purpose.
In the event that unauthorised access, disclosure or loss of a client’s personal information occurs, the psychologist will activate a data breach plan and use all reasonable endeavours to minimise any risk of consequential serious harm.
Requests for Access and Correction of Personal Information
At any stage clients may request to see and correct the personal information about them kept on file. The psychologist may discuss the contents with them and/or give them a copy, subject to the exceptions in the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth). If satisfied that personal information is inaccurate, out of date or incomplete, reasonable steps will be taken in the circumstances to ensure that this information is corrected. All requests by clients for access to or correction of personal information held about them should be lodged with Christopher. These requests will be responded to in writing within 20 business days and an appointment will be made if necessary for clarification purposes.
Concerns
If clients have a concern about the management of their personal information, they may inform Christopher Mosses. Upon request they can obtain a copy of the Australian Privacy Principles, which describe their rights and how their personal information should be handled. Ultimately, if clients wish to lodge a formal complaint about the use of, disclosure of, or access to, their personal information, they may do so with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner by phone on 1300 363 992, online at
http://www.oaic.gov.au/privacy/making-a-privacy-complaint or by post to:
Office of the Australian Information Commissioner, GPO Box 5218, Sydney, NSW 2001.
CANCELATION POLICY
Clients will not be charged if sessions are cancelled before 48 hours prior to the appointment. However, informing us as soon as possible would be very helpful. Calling or Emailing are the most reliable ways to ensure your cancellation is received.
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Late attendance without notice that is beyond 20 minutes after the agreed time will be considered a non-attended (cancelled) session and will attract the full rate for the booking. Please call your psychologist if you are running late to your appointment.
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Clients cancelling within 48 hours of an appointment, or not attending a scheduled appointment will be charged the full rate for the booking. Refusal to do so will result in cancelation of all future appointments. We also reserve the right to take further action if clients do not pay their outstanding fees.
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Cancellation fees may not apply in the event of illness, family emergency or death. There must be a serious event that justifies cancellation in this case, and we may in some circumstances request documentation. No exceptions will be made to the above without the approval of the Principal Psychologist.
CLIENT CHARTER
RIGHTS
You have the right to receive fair and respectful treatment.
You have the right to equal treatment free from discrimination based on gender, sexual-orientation, racial, religious, socio-economic or political grounds.
You have the right to see a psychologist that is registered and qualified, engages in ongoing training and supervision requirements, and that always maintains ethical and evidence-based practice standards.
You have the right to a clean, safe, comfortable therapy space and waiting area, clean toilet facilities and basic refreshment such as water.
You have the right to privacy and the reasonable protection (within legal limits) of your personal information, as outlined in the Privacy Policy above.
You have the right to be informed as soon as can reasonably be expected, in the event that your personal information is known to have been leaked unintentionally or by malicious hacking attempts.
You have the right to end or refuse any treatments offered.
You have the right to ask for evidence of any credentials claimed by your psychologist.
You have the right to ask as many questions about your treatment as you require before proceeding.
You have the right to request an alternative treatment or to see a different psychologist. However, this is not a guarantee that a different treatment will be recommended or provided to you.
You have the right to make a complaint about your psychologist for breaching any code of conduct, law or reasonable expectation as outlined above. You may do so by contacting the Australian Health Practitioners Registration Agency (AHPRA; ahpra.gov.au/Notifications).
You have the right to raise any questions or concerns about any information in this, or other documents provided by your psychologist.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Clients will treat your psychologist and all those you interact with on the premises fairly and with respect. Any violence, damages to property or abusive behaviour of any kind will not be tolerated. This request extends to keeping noise to a minimum for our colleagues and neighbours and leaving our therapy rooms and wait rooms clean and tidy.
The expression of discriminatory ideas based on gender, sexual-orientation, racial, religious, socio-economic or political grounds will not be tolerated except in the circumstances that it is discussed as a presenting issue in therapy.
Clients are responsible for ensuring that you have paid any outstanding fees as soon as possible. We have chosen a period of seven days before we reserve the right not to book any further appointments for you due to outstanding fees.
Clients are to make every effort to inform us of lateness or cancellations as per our cancellation policy.
Clients are to make every effort to understand what is asked of you in therapy, and to understand the inherent short-term risks in Psychological Therapies. These include being asked questions that may otherwise be considered personal, upsetting or that pertain to past trauma or abuse. It is common to experience short term distress within a psychological therapy session. Clients acknowledge that whilst the psychologist will work with you to limit any long-term impact on you, there are times when difficult emotions are an essential and welcome part of the treatment process.
Clients are to do your best to apply what is recommended in therapy to obtain the maximum benefit that you can. Activities and exercises outside of the therapy setting, and during other times in your personal life are emphasised in most treatment plans.
Clients are to comply with any relevant Public Health Orders, for example those related to the COVID-19 Pandemic, to the extent that they apply to clients’ attendance at this practice. This includes but is not limited to appropriate hand hygiene, social distancing measures, screening questions, and Services NSW venue check-in whilst clients are on the premises.
Clients are to be as honest and forthcoming with information relevant to their treatment as possible. This includes previous treatments and personal history information, occupation and/or education, diagnoses obtained, current and past medication, information on your legal status, charges or sanctions, previous criminal activity, any behaviours that have been life-threatening or potentially lethal to you or someone else.
Clients are to see only one professional for psychological therapy at a time unless with the knowledge and guidance of both/all mental health professionals, and with an express purpose that is agreed to by the psychologist.
Clients will not use this practice in the case of a Mental Health or any other Emergency circumstances, or any circumstances where the client or someone else present requires immediate help or assistance.
Clients are to inform the psychologist of any knowledge they have of something that puts themselves or any other person at imminent risk of physical harm. This includes urges or plans to deliberately self-harm, complete suicide, or to harm others. This is so the psychologist may respond with the safest and most appropriate action.
Clients agree to take full responsibility for the security of the personal information that is sent electronically (for example via Email or SMS text messages) for the purposes of correspondence with the psychologist.
Failure to adhere to the responsibilities outlined in this Client Charter document may result in the cancellation of your scheduled treatment, and/or further action being taken where necessary.