(Informed Consent for Online Counseling / Coaching Services

Version date: 1 December 2021) 

 

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The purpose of this Informed Consent for Online Counseling / Coaching Service is to inform you, the client, about the Here2SupportYoutherapists, the nature of the online counseling / coaching services and, potential risk and benefits of these services, and alternatives to online services.

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1. The nature and course of counseling / coaching services​

 

The therapist will work with you to his/her best ability to understand your expectations and needs, and explore means to achieve your goals in ways that are beneficial to your mental wellbeing.

 

Your feedback to the therapist is essential to the effectiveness of the sessions. You are strongly encouraged to keep a communication as open as you feel comfortable. No feedback is too insignificant or too offensive to the therapist.

 

You will need to prepare a conducive environment for the counselling / coaching sessions:

• A private space that allows open communication and protects your privacy,

• a comfortable chair and cup of warm tea to help you relax,

• some tissue to prepare for some strong emotions that may emerge during the sessions.

 

The therapist can only be contact via email. He/she will make every effort to respond to email requests within a 48 hour period. The therapist will work with you to identify local resources if you have concerns about the timeliness of responses.

 

The online counseling / coaching services are unsuitable for clients who are

• under 21 years old

• have active suicidal/homicidal thoughts

• active manic or psychotic symptoms, or

• other symptoms that significantly impair day-to-day functioning.

 

An alternative for the above clients is to consult a therapist who is able to provide both online and in-person mental health services.

The online counselling sessions will be

• conducted online via tele-conferencing platforms

• availability will be as shown on the www.Here2SupportYou.com

 

If there is ever a disruption or disconnection of services on the internet or on the computer application, the therapist may contact you via phone and reschedule if the session if necessary. 

 

To protect your privacy, the therapist will use HIPAA compliant video platforms and 

• each counselling session will have unique meeting ID and password,

• the following functions are disabled:  Recording, chat, file transfer, allow removed participants to rejoin, join before the host, and

• screen sharing function is also disabled for clients unless it is so requested.

 

Recording are prohibited for all counselling / coaching sessions.

 

As the therapist may come across cases where disclosure of information is required by law, all new clients will have to verify their age and identity with an identity card or other official documents.

 

After the initial 50-minute counselling / coaching sessions, if the therapist assess that it is appropriate, you may opt for a 25-minute check-in sessions instead of the full 50-minute sessions. The therapist may offer client in-person sessions upon request and will be subject to the therapist’s availability.

 

 

2. Reasonably foreseeable risk, adverse effect, and possible disadvantages of the online counseling / coaching services

 

While the therapist has the responsibility of adhering to high professional standards in maintaining your confidentiality, you are responsible for understanding the potential risk of confidentiality being breached through unencrypted email, lack of password protection or leaving information on a public access computer, using an unsecured network, sending a message to the wrong address, or attack by hackers.

 

You are responsible for securing your own computer hardware, internet access points, software, passwords, and ensuring that email are encrypted, secure, and HIPAA compliant when possible. The therapist is not liable for confidentiality breaches when they are caused by client error or negligence or client’s equipment failure.

 

You need to be aware that email and video conference limit the therapist’s ability to read non-verbal cues and this may increase the chance of misunderstanding. The therapist may need to clarify with her understanding with you more frequently than in an in-person session. You are encouraged to describe the emotions you experience to the therapist during the sessions.

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3. The right to decline or withdraw, and the potential consequences

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You have the right to withhold or withdraw your consent at any time. The only consequence of doing so is that the therapist will become unable to provide counselling services. You have the right to reinstate your consent and resume your counselling sessions.

 

 

4. How information will be collected, recorded, stored and accessed

 

The therapist will maintain records of online counselling / coaching services, including session summary and email correspondences. These records are confidential and will be encrypted and maintained in a secure sever as required by applicable legal and ethical standards according to the Singapore Psychological Society and the Personal Data Protection Act 2012. You have the right to review your session summaries. A fee of $100 will be charged for each review request. The therapist will keep your files for three (3) years after termination of the counselling / coaching services, after which the records will be destroyed.

 

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5. Charges and fees to be incurred

 

Booking can made on web-page: https://www.here2supportyou.com/book-online​

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Booking can be made between 1-21 days before the session. Payment must be made online at the time of making appointment.

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For rescheduling, you need to

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i. book a new appointment using the above web-page and

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ii. send an email to h2su.info@gmail.com to request for cancellation for your previous appointment. 

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Rescheduling and cancellation can only be made more than 24 hours in advance of the session. An administrative fee of $20 will be charged for each rescheduling or cancellation.

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Payment will not be refunded if it is cancelled in 24 hours or less in advance.  

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If you are unable to show up within 20 minutes from the beginning of the session, the session will be considered cancelled without refund.

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Refund can only be returned through Paypal or Singapore Bank accounts participating in Fast And Secure Transfers (FAST).

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Refund will be processed and returned within one week.

 

 

6. Involvement of third party

 

You need to seek the therapist’s consent before bringing another person into the session. Additional administrative procedures are required before third party can be involved. Additional charge may be payable. The therapist has the right to reject such request.

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7. Limits of confidentiality

 

Maintaining client confidentiality is extremely important. The therapist will take professional care and consideration to prevent unnecessary disclosure. Information about the client will only be released with his or her permission with the following exceptions:

1) If the therapist believes that someone is seriously considering or likely to attempt suicide;

2) if the therapist believes that someone intends to harm another person;

3) If the therapist believes someone is engaging or intends to engage in behavior which will expose another person to a potentially life-threatening communicable disease;

4) if the therapist suspects abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a minor or incapacitated adult;

5) if the therapist believes someone’s mental condition leaves the person gravely disabled.

6) if the therapist receives a subpoena from a court of law

 

The therapist may need to consult with other professionals regarding the clients, however, the client’s name or other identifying information is never disclosed. The client’s identity remains completely anonymous, and confidentiality is fully maintained.

 

8. Conditions under which counselling / coaching sessions may be terminated; and

 

At any point of the counselling / coaching sessions, if the therapist determines that the online counselling / coaching sessions is no longer appropriate or effective, (for instance, client becoming a risk of harm to self or others, emergencies of manic or psychotic symptoms, client requiring support in areas which the counselor is not trained) sessions will be terminated and clients will be provided with alternative referral suggestions.

 

 

9. Emergencies between sessions

 

If you have an emergency between sessions, please contact your family doctor, the nearest hospital, Institute of Mental Health hotline (6389 2222), Samaritans Of Singapore (SOS) (1-767), or 995. Do keep the therapist informed after you have received the necessary emergency care.

 

 

10. Other relevant information

 

To maintain the integrity of therapist’s objectivity, clinical judgment, and therapeutic effectiveness, the therapist will avoid any dual relationship with clients. For this reason, the therapist will not accept any invitations on social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, or Linkedin. The therapist will not acknowledge working therapeutically with anyone unless required by law or for protecting the safety of the client or other people.

 

The therapist does not provide family or couple counseling. 

 

I have read and understood the Informed Consent and have been given opportunity to clarify any questions that I have with the therapist. I understand the nature, risks and limitations of the online counselling service and agree to the terms listed in the Informed Consent.