Frequently Asked Questions

    Question: can I do self-referral?

Answer: yes, yes you can.

All you need to do is either ring/text (0490 903 319) or email (trish.sanctuary.counselling@gmail.com) and make a booking. You can also fast track the process by downloading, and filling the forms that you can find in Referral, Client forms and fee information and emailing those to the above email address.

Please note: that these forms can also be found on the discord server  Sanctuary Counselling and Consultancy.

    Question: do you accept referrals from other specialists?

Answer: yes, yes I do.

All I need is your basic info and any other relevant information to get you started. You can either use the client info form in Referral, Client forms and fee information, or your specialist can use their own.

    Question: are you willing to work as a team member on my health plan, working with other specialists?

Answer: yes, yes I am.

I am here to aid you in working through whatever it is that ails you, so if working with a team that you have already got in place is in your best interest, then I will do my best to work with you in that.

    Question: what are your fees or charges?

Answer: if you head over to Referral, Client forms and fee information, you will find current session fees and a list of ways you can pay. 

Please note, that if you are seeking to have insurance, work cover or some other third party to pay your therapy fees, this is something that YOU need to sort out. I am NOT responsible for organising your preferred method of payment.

A late fee of $25 AUD will be charged if your fee is not paid within 5 days of your session, unless contact is made to notify that a payment is pending, to to make arrangements for payment. 

    Question: how long is a typical session?

Answer: typical sessions are 1 hour. 

If you head over to Referral, Client forms and fee information you will find a document (Therapy_Plan.PDF)  that you can download, that is an information sheet. It will tell you generally what to expect in a general or typical session.

    Question: can a session run over an hour?

Answer: yes and no.

OK, let me clarify that for you. Yes, a session can go over time, but only if the client really needs the extra time. And no, if the client a) does not need the extra time and b) if there is a following client.

    Question: if a session goes over the hour,  will I be charged extra?

Answer: no, no you will not be charged extra.

Sessions are charged on a per session basis, so going over an hour does not net you extra fees! The fact is, if you went over an hour, you obviously needed that time. You're not going to be charged extra for needing a little extra.

    Question: I'm strapped for cash, can I get credit like I can at some small corner shops? (Buy now, pay later)

Answer: no, no you can not.

I'm not a bank, I don't give loans.

    Question: do you offer payment plans? 

Answer: yes, but ...

If you are receiving a government income, a plan can be sorted out for you.  To ensure my time is paid for (I don't run a charity, it costs money to keep the lights and heating on) something like centrepay can be arranged... I'm not sure if that is what it is called these days. If you are not on a government income, then that makes things a little more difficult. This is why I'm working towards getting Medicare bulk billing organised. That way the fees are a lot smaller, as Medicare can cover it!

    Question: if I fail to turn up to an appointment, will you still charge me a fee of some kind?

Answer: generally no.

I have a post regarding this subject that I will point you to. As not turning up to an appointment can happen for several reasons. Some are due to self-sabotage, some are due to things outside our control, some are due to genuinely completely forgetting that you have an appointment. The link to my post is non-attendance of appointments. I know, it's a long one. My apologies.

    Question: are sessions confidential?

Answer: yes, yes they are!

It would be more than wrong to go talking about your particular issue with whomever cared to listen, so yes, sessions are confidential.

    Question: if I disclose about self-harm, or harming others or some other illegal behaviour, will you tell anyone?

Answer: well... that depends.

 

OK! That's not exactly a straight answer, so let me clarify for you:

1. If you tell me that you are going to harm yourself, then yes, I must step in and organise some form of safety for you. And the process of that could require notifying someone else, who can step in and ensure your safety. 

2. If you tell me that you are going to harm another person or people, then, again, yes, I must notify those who can stop you. 

3. As for other illegal behaviour, that really depends on what it is! My major concern is that you are safe and are not at risk of harming anyone else or yourself.

    Question: if I have booked a session via Skype, Discord or phone - who makes the call?

Answer: I do.

It can often get confusing, should you ring the therapist at the time or will they call you? Well, the answer is, I will make that call, every time. All you need to do is answer and talk. Simple. 

    Question: if I booked a season visa Skype, Discord or phone,  how do I pay for that?

Answer: there are several options...

As mentored there are several options that you can find of the Referral, Client Forms and fee information page. I would suggest either the internet option or email me (trish.sanctuary.counselling@gmail.com ) for direct bank deposit details. 

Last updated: 14 November 2023