Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Making the decision to visit a counsellor can be a daunting prospect. Especially if you have never been to see one before. Below are some questions of the common questions I am asked. If you can’t find what you are looking for, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Protecting your personal information is taken very seriously.
As part of providing person-centred services, personal information from clients, prospective clients, and event attendees will be collected and recorded. Only information that is relevant to their current situation will be collected and recorded. This information is a necessary part of the assessment and continuity of treatment that is conducted. Clients and event attendees may access the material recorded upon request, subject to the exception in National Privacy Principle 6.
This privacy policy has been developed with the aim of explaining the processes in place, and to help you make choices about the way your personal information is collected and used.
If you have any questions or concerns about this policy, please send them in an email to info@butterflyaffect.net.au. The matter will be attended to with the utmost urgency.
1. What personal information is collected?
The types of personal information collected include (and are not exclusive to):
– Names
– Addresses
– Email Addresses
– Phone Numbers
2. How is this information used?
This information is used to communicate directly with you and to tailor the services offered by butterfly affect to your needs and your goals.
3. Confidentiality during the provision of counselling
All personal information gathered during the provision of counselling services will remain confidential and secure except when:
– It is subpoenaed by a court; or
– Failure to disclose the information would place you and another person at risk; or
– Your prior approval has been obtained to: (i) provide a written report to another professional or agency, e.g. a GP or a lawyer; or (ii) discuss the material with another person, e.g. a parent, employer or supervisor*.
*Professional supervision is a formal arrangement whereby a counsellor can discuss personal (where appropriate and impacts on work), professional/clinical, business and industry work related issues with a professional supervisor. The role of the supervisor is to support, guide and educate the counsellor. The counsellor’s clients’ identity are protected in the sense that only first names of clients are used and client information treated with utmost confidentiality.
3. How is this personal information collected?
The most common methods of information collection is, information provided via:
– the online enquiry form.
– contact or registration forms completed at events
– forms completed during the first counselling session or meeting
4. How secure is my personal information
To prevent unauthorised access, maintain data accuracy, and ensure the correct use of information, please be assured appropriate physical and electronic procedures are in place to safeguard and secure the information collected online and elsewhere.
5. Online Advertising
Because of the increasing pressure’s of life, there is more need than ever before for counselling services and education around mental health issues. To ensure that as many people as possible are able to access to the services offered by butterfly affect, I use a range of offline and online advertising platforms, such as events, workshops and social media.
I also use the Google AdWords remarketing service to advertise on third party websites (including Google) to previous visitors to this website. This could be in the form of an advertisement on Facebook, Google search results page, or a website in the Google Display Network. Third-party vendors, including Google, use cookies to serve ads based on a person’s past visits to the butterfly affect website. Please be assured that any data collected will be used in accordance with the butterfly affect privacy policy and the privacy policies of the platforms that are used.
NB You can set preferences for how Google advertises to you using the Google Ad Preferences page, and if you want to you can opt out of interest-based advertising entirely by cookie settings.
The clients I work with include children, young people and adults who want to address emotional and behavioural problems including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, grief and loss and eating disorders.
Individual sessions involves just you and the counsellor/psychotherapist. It often feels more intensive than group sessions because the time is focused entirely on you.
Group therapy involves at least one other person, plus the counsellor/psychotherapist. It can be a useful supplement to individual counselling or a way of making therapy more affordable. Groups can be useful for meeting other people in similar situations. It can be a great comfort to know that you are not the only person experiencing your circumstances. It is also an opportunity to learning from others with similar concerns. Groups can be a great source of relief, strength and inspiration. Groups sessions can also provide a safe environment for you to try out new behaviours or to understand the behaviours of others.
Change is personal to each person, and means different things at different times. For example, it could mean becoming more assertive in expressing a need. Perhaps your goal is learn how to react differently in a particular situation. Or maybe you would like to feel differently about something. Change can mean whatever you need it to mean in order to increase positivity in your life.
Please contact your health care provider.
At this stage, that is not possible.
At this stage, that is not possible.
If you feel someone you know would benefit from speaking with a counsellor, it’s best to discuss this with them. Encourage them to make the first contact. If they are reluctant to, they may not be ready to speak to someone. You can give them my contact details and let them call if and when they are ready. If you are worried that someone will harm themselves or others, check the Useful Resources for some helpful telephone numbers.
Outside the usual confirmation or change of appointments, contact outside of counselling and psychotherapy sessions can be agreed with me in advance provided they are beneficial to your progress.
Depending on your needs, we can certainly discuss opportunities to connect you to other health professionals or resources.
Sometimes we need to see different people for different things. If you feel it is in your best interest to see another health professional, I will support you in this.
It is not usual practice to have another person in the room during every individual counselling or psychotherapy session. However, there may be times when I suggest it would be beneficial for your progress to have significant others (such as partner, parent, other family member) take part in a session. If you feel you would like to have someone else in your sessions, please speak to me about this ahead of the session.
All personal information discussed with me as part of the counselling service will remain confidential and secure except in specific circumstances. These scenarios will be discussed with you at the beginning of your first session. If at any time after that you have more questions about confidentiality, please do not hesitate to ask.
The number of counselling or psychotherapy sessions you need to see positive change in your life will depend on a number of factors. These factors include the nature of what you want to change, the amount of time between sessions, and your ideas about what counselling should be like.
You can expect an attitude of collaboration, where you and I will work on your challenges together. Talking about some things can feel uncomfortable or bring relief. If you have a range of things you want to talk about, it’s a good idea to focus on one thing at a time. If you are not sure how you want to address the things that are troubling you, I use a range of clinically-proven counselling and psychotherapeutic techniques aimed at drawing out your ability to make positive change.
Counselling and psychotherapy can help you develop new coping strategies for areas of your life which feel difficult, such as relationships, stress management or simply getting things done. You may find it helpful to speak with someone who can help you take a new perspective on a situation. Benefits can also include developing a greater understanding of why you feel or behave in a particular way at certain times, which can lead to positive change.
With counselling you can learn new strategies and develop goals to help you cope with problems related to relationships, stress management or more serious mental health issues.
Psychotherapy can help you achieve change in your personality or self. You may notice you keep having similar issues in different contexts or with different people. Are these are affecting your relationships, work or study? If so, psychotherapy can help you gain better self-understanding and long-standing change.
Counselling and psychotherapy are both professional activities that can help you make positive changes in your life.
Counselling
A counsellor can help you develop strategies to cope with problems related to relationships, stress management or more serious mental health issues. They will help you develop goals for change and improve your wellbeing and quality of life.
Psychotherapy
A psychotherapist can help you identify the causes and triggers of the psychological, emotional or behavioural problems that impact on your daily living. They can help you achieve change in your personality or self. You may notice you keep having similar issues in different contexts or with different people. If these are affecting your relationships, work or study a psychotherapsit can help you gain better self-understanding and long-standing change.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Making the decision to visit a counsellor can be a daunting prospect. Especially if you have never been to see one before. Below are some questions of the common questions I am asked. If you can’t find what you are looking for, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Protecting your personal information is taken very seriously.
As part of providing person-centred services, personal information from clients, prospective clients, and event attendees will be collected and recorded. Only information that is relevant to their current situation will be collected and recorded. This information is a necessary part of the assessment and continuity of treatment that is conducted. Clients and event attendees may access the material recorded upon request, subject to the exception in National Privacy Principle 6.
This privacy policy has been developed with the aim of explaining the processes in place, and to help you make choices about the way your personal information is collected and used.
If you have any questions or concerns about this policy, please send them in an email to info@butterflyaffect.net.au. The matter will be attended to with the utmost urgency.
1. What personal information is collected?
The types of personal information collected include (and are not exclusive to):
– Names
– Addresses
– Email Addresses
– Phone Numbers
2. How is this information used?
This information is used to communicate directly with you and to tailor the services offered by butterfly affect to your needs and your goals.
3. Confidentiality during the provision of counselling
All personal information gathered during the provision of counselling services will remain confidential and secure except when:
– It is subpoenaed by a court; or
– Failure to disclose the information would place you and another person at risk; or
– Your prior approval has been obtained to: (i) provide a written report to another professional or agency, e.g. a GP or a lawyer; or (ii) discuss the material with another person, e.g. a parent, employer or supervisor*.
*Professional supervision is a formal arrangement whereby a counsellor can discuss personal (where appropriate and impacts on work), professional/clinical, business and industry work related issues with a professional supervisor. The role of the supervisor is to support, guide and educate the counsellor. The counsellor’s clients’ identity are protected in the sense that only first names of clients are used and client information treated with utmost confidentiality.
3. How is this personal information collected?
The most common methods of information collection is, information provided via:
– the online enquiry form.
– contact or registration forms completed at events
– forms completed during the first counselling session or meeting
4. How secure is my personal information
To prevent unauthorised access, maintain data accuracy, and ensure the correct use of information, please be assured appropriate physical and electronic procedures are in place to safeguard and secure the information collected online and elsewhere.
5. Online Advertising
Because of the increasing pressure’s of life, there is more need than ever before for counselling services and education around mental health issues. To ensure that as many people as possible are able to access to the services offered by butterfly affect, I use a range of offline and online advertising platforms, such as events, workshops and social media.
I also use the Google AdWords remarketing service to advertise on third party websites (including Google) to previous visitors to this website. This could be in the form of an advertisement on Facebook, Google search results page, or a website in the Google Display Network. Third-party vendors, including Google, use cookies to serve ads based on a person’s past visits to the butterfly affect website. Please be assured that any data collected will be used in accordance with the butterfly affect privacy policy and the privacy policies of the platforms that are used.
NB You can set preferences for how Google advertises to you using the Google Ad Preferences page, and if you want to you can opt out of interest-based advertising entirely by cookie settings.
The clients I work with include children, young people and adults who want to address emotional and behavioural problems including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, grief and loss and eating disorders.
Individual sessions involves just you and the counsellor/psychotherapist. It often feels more intensive than group sessions because the time is focused entirely on you.
Group therapy involves at least one other person, plus the counsellor/psychotherapist. It can be a useful supplement to individual counselling or a way of making therapy more affordable. Groups can be useful for meeting other people in similar situations. It can be a great comfort to know that you are not the only person experiencing your circumstances. It is also an opportunity to learning from others with similar concerns. Groups can be a great source of relief, strength and inspiration. Groups sessions can also provide a safe environment for you to try out new behaviours or to understand the behaviours of others.
Change is personal to each person, and means different things at different times. For example, it could mean becoming more assertive in expressing a need. Perhaps your goal is learn how to react differently in a particular situation. Or maybe you would like to feel differently about something. Change can mean whatever you need it to mean in order to increase positivity in your life.
Please contact your health care provider.
At this stage, that is not possible.
At this stage, that is not possible.
If you feel someone you know would benefit from speaking with a counsellor, it’s best to discuss this with them. Encourage them to make the first contact. If they are reluctant to, they may not be ready to speak to someone. You can give them my contact details and let them call if and when they are ready. If you are worried that someone will harm themselves or others, check the Useful Resources for some helpful telephone numbers.
Outside the usual confirmation or change of appointments, contact outside of counselling and psychotherapy sessions can be agreed with me in advance provided they are beneficial to your progress.
Depending on your needs, we can certainly discuss opportunities to connect you to other health professionals or resources.
Sometimes we need to see different people for different things. If you feel it is in your best interest to see another health professional, I will support you in this.
It is not usual practice to have another person in the room during every individual counselling or psychotherapy session. However, there may be times when I suggest it would be beneficial for your progress to have significant others (such as partner, parent, other family member) take part in a session. If you feel you would like to have someone else in your sessions, please speak to me about this ahead of the session.
All personal information discussed with me as part of the counselling service will remain confidential and secure except in specific circumstances. These scenarios will be discussed with you at the beginning of your first session. If at any time after that you have more questions about confidentiality, please do not hesitate to ask.
The number of counselling or psychotherapy sessions you need to see positive change in your life will depend on a number of factors. These factors include the nature of what you want to change, the amount of time between sessions, and your ideas about what counselling should be like.
You can expect an attitude of collaboration, where you and I will work on your challenges together. Talking about some things can feel uncomfortable or bring relief. If you have a range of things you want to talk about, it’s a good idea to focus on one thing at a time. If you are not sure how you want to address the things that are troubling you, I use a range of clinically-proven counselling and psychotherapeutic techniques aimed at drawing out your ability to make positive change.
Counselling and psychotherapy can help you develop new coping strategies for areas of your life which feel difficult, such as relationships, stress management or simply getting things done. You may find it helpful to speak with someone who can help you take a new perspective on a situation. Benefits can also include developing a greater understanding of why you feel or behave in a particular way at certain times, which can lead to positive change.
With counselling you can learn new strategies and develop goals to help you cope with problems related to relationships, stress management or more serious mental health issues.
Psychotherapy can help you achieve change in your personality or self. You may notice you keep having similar issues in different contexts or with different people. Are these are affecting your relationships, work or study? If so, psychotherapy can help you gain better self-understanding and long-standing change.
Counselling and psychotherapy are both professional activities that can help you make positive changes in your life.
Counselling
A counsellor can help you develop strategies to cope with problems related to relationships, stress management or more serious mental health issues. They will help you develop goals for change and improve your wellbeing and quality of life.
Psychotherapy
A psychotherapist can help you identify the causes and triggers of the psychological, emotional or behavioural problems that impact on your daily living. They can help you achieve change in your personality or self. You may notice you keep having similar issues in different contexts or with different people. If these are affecting your relationships, work or study a psychotherapsit can help you gain better self-understanding and long-standing change.