Informed Consent & Client Agreement

1. About This Agreement

This Informed Consent and Client Agreement sets out the terms and conditions of counselling services provided by Fields of Hope Counselling. It ensures you have a clear understanding of the nature of counselling, what you can expect, and your rights as a client.

If you have any questions about this agreement, please raise them before or during your first session.

2. Nature of Counselling Services

Counselling is a collaborative, professional relationship focused on supporting your mental health, wellbeing, and personal goals. It is not a substitute for medical treatment, psychiatric care, or crisis intervention.

• Sessions are conducted via Zoom and are approximately 50–60 minutes in duration unless otherwise agreed.
• The counselling approach used will be discussed with you and tailored to your individual needs and goals.
• Progress in counselling depends on your engagement, honesty, and willingness to work toward your goals.
• If your needs fall outside the scope of this Practice, referral to an appropriate service will be discussed.

3. Confidentiality

All information you share is treated as confidential and will not be disclosed to any third party without your written consent, except in the circumstances described below.

Limits of Confidentiality

Confidentiality cannot be maintained where:

• Risk to life — where there is a serious and imminent risk to your life or the life of another person.
• Mandatory reporting — where there is a reasonable belief that a child or young person is at risk of abuse or neglect under the Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998 (NSW).
• Court order or subpoena — where a court orders disclosure of records or testimony.
• Clinical supervision — your case may be discussed in professional supervision, without identifying information wherever possible.

4. Telehealth Services & Technology

All sessions are delivered via Zoom. By agreeing to telehealth services, you acknowledge and accept the following:

• Technology limitations — telehealth carries inherent risks including technical failure and connectivity issues. You consent to these known limitations.
• Private environment — you are responsible for ensuring you are in a private, safe, and uninterrupted space during sessions.
• Recording — sessions are not recorded without explicit written consent. You must not record sessions without prior written consent from your counsellor.
• Technical failure — if the Zoom connection fails, your counsellor will attempt to contact you by phone. Fees for incomplete sessions are managed in accordance with the Fees & Cancellation Policy.

5. AI Tools — Practice Use & Client Obligations

5.1 Practice Use of AI

Fields of Hope Counselling uses approved artificial intelligence (AI) tools to assist with clinical documentation, communications, and administrative tasks. Key points for clients:

• AI tools are used only with platforms approved by the Practice for security and privacy compliance.
• All AI-generated content is reviewed and approved by your practitioner before it is used, filed, or sent to you.
• Your identifiable health information is not entered into general-purpose or publicly available AI platforms.
• You have the right to request that AI tools not be used in connection with your records or communications — please raise this with your practitioner.

5.2 Client Obligations — AI Recording & Transcription

This policy operates on a reciprocity principle: the Practice does not record or transcribe your sessions without your consent. You are held to the same standard. Unauthorised recording may constitute a breach of the Surveillance Devices Act 2007 (NSW) and equivalent legislation in other Australian states and territories.

Where you have a genuine need for a session transcript — for example, for accessibility reasons — please raise this with your counsellor before the session. A formal written consent process will be followed.

6. Emergency & Crisis Situations

If you are in crisis between sessions, please contact:

• Lifeline: 13 11 14 (24/7)
• Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636 (24/7)
• Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467 (24/7)
• Kids Helpline (under 25): 1800 551 800 (24/7)
• Emergency services: 000

7. Location & Emergency Planning

Because services are delivered via telehealth, your counsellor may not know your physical location at the time of a session. At the commencement of each session, you agree to confirm your current physical location (suburb and state/territory). This information is used solely for emergency planning purposes.

8. Fees & Cancellation

Session Fees

Current session fees are outlined on the Counselling Services page. Fees are subject to change with a minimum of 14 days' notice.

Cancellation Policy

To cancel or reschedule, contact us at admin@fieldsofhope-counselling.com.au or on (02) 9159 6043.

9. Between-Session Contact

Fields of Hope Counselling is not a 24/7 service. Between-session contact is limited to administrative matters via email or phone. Clinical matters are addressed within scheduled sessions.

10. Social Media & Online Conduct

• The Practice will not accept friend or connection requests from clients on any personal social media platform.
• Client work will not be discussed or acknowledged on any social media platform.
• Clinical discussions will not take place via social media or consumer messaging applications.

11. Record Keeping

Fields of Hope Counselling maintains clinical records in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and professional standards. Records are held securely for a minimum of 7 years following the last service (or until age 25 for clients seen as minors). You have the right to request access to your records in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

12. Professional Supervision

Your counsellor engages in regular clinical supervision as required by PACFA and ACA membership standards. Case material may be discussed in supervision without identifying information, to ensure the quality and safety of your care.

13. Complaints

If you have a concern, please raise it directly with your counsellor in the first instance. If unresolved, you may contact:

• PACFA: www.pacfa.org.au
• ACA: www.theaca.net.au
• Health Care Complaints Commission NSW: 1800 043 159 | www.hccc.nsw.gov.au

14. Related Policies

The following policies form part of your engagement with Fields of Hope Counselling and are available on our website or upon request:

15. Consent & Agreement

By proceeding with services at Fields of Hope Counselling, you confirm that you have read and understood this agreement, consent to telehealth counselling via Zoom, have been informed of the limits of confidentiality, understand this Practice is not a crisis service, and agree to the fees and cancellation policy.

A signed copy of this agreement will be requested before or at your first session.