COUNSELLING is a confidential process designed to help you address your concerns, come to a greater understanding of yourself, and learn effective personal and interpersonal coping strategies. It involves a relationship between you and a trained counsellor/therapist who has the desire and willingness to help you accomplish your individual goals. Counselling involves sharing sensitive, personal, and private information that may at times be distressing. During the course of counselling, there may be periods of increased anxiety or confusion. The outcome of counselling is often positive; however, the level of satisfaction for any individual is not predictable. Your counsellor/therapist is available to support you throughout the counselling process.
CONFIDENTIALITY
All interactions with Counselling Services at Safe Space™ , including scheduling of or attendance at appointments, content of your sessions, progress in counselling, and your records are confidential and stored in a secured place within Safe Space™ AWS Cloud Server.
The client consents to relevant data, such as the intake form, being shared with your therapist only. This will be used for the sole purpose of communication and providing appropriate therapy specific to your situation.
The client understands and agrees that the company and/or the therapist will not, under any circumstances, provide any reports or notes to any forum or body whatsoever. You may request in writing that the counselling staff release specific information about your counselling to persons you designate e.g. emergency contact. However, it is upon the counsellor’s discretion to provide/deny the client access to the counsellor’s session notes & observations.
EXCEPTIONS TO CONFIDENTIALITY
Where Disclosure is Required by Singapore Law:
Some of the circumstances where disclosure is required by the Singapore Law are:
– Where there is reasonable suspicion of child, dependent of elder abuse or neglect,
– Where a client presents a danger to self, others, to property, or
– Where a client is gravely disabled
Where Disclosure May Be Required:
– Abuse of Children and Vulnerable Adults
If a client states or suggests that he or she is abusing or has recently abused a child (or vulnerable adult), or a child (or vulnerable adult) is in danger of abuse, the counsellor is required to report this information to the appropriate Social Service and/or legal authorities.
– Prenatal Exposure to Controlled Substances
Counsellors are required to report admitted prenatal exposure to controlled substances that are potentially harmful.– Court Report and Legal Issues
If the client tells the counsellor that he or she has broken the law (e.g. stealing, break and entry, property damage, physical assault, etc.) and does not want others to know, the information will have to be reported to the relevant people and authorities. If a written request comes from the legal body, the information will also have to be released to them.
It is clearly understood and agreed by the client that the counsellor/company cannot be forced to appear and/or testify in a court of law or in relation to any legal proceedings with respect to the client.
The client understands and expressly agrees that neither company (Safe Space™) nor the counsellor can and will be asked to appear and/or testify in any ongoing or future legal and/or paralegal proceedings, arbitration procedures, out-of-court or in-court settlement cases, etc.
The counsellor and the client shall not hold any video and/or audio recording during any session without the prior written or verbal consent of both parties.
Please note that with the exception of the above cases when required by law, Safe Space™ does not provide progress reports.
RESPONSIBILITY FOR ACTION
All inputs given during the counselling-therapy sessions are for the client’s consideration and decision only. The client will be responsible for making the decisions and acting on them to address the issues. All implementation decisions will be made personally by the client. No one else will be held responsible for the decisions made by the client.
COUNSELLING SERVICES
All counselling services and the associated duty of care are provided by third parties freelance counsellors, not Safe Space™.
Safe Space™ is not a counselling agency but a platform to connect clients with third party counsellors. Safe Space™ is not acting as your counsellor and does not practice counselling nor do we give counselling advice.
INDEMNIFICATION
The client agrees to indemnify the company and/or the counsellor from any and all actual or alleged claims, demands, causes of action, liability, and/or injury (to property or persons, including without limitation wrongful death), whether brought by the client, any individual, or other entity.
PAYMENT & REFUND POLICY
The payment for the counselling session will be collected before the start of the counselling session. Clients will not be allowed to begin the counselling session if payment has not been made. All payments are non-refundable once the session commences.
CANCELLATION POLICY
We appreciate prompt arrival for all online and offline appointments. We require 48-hour notice of cancellation as it allows our counsellors/therapists to use this time for others.
A full fee will be charged for missed appointments or no-show cancellations done after the 24-hour time frame. Please note that this is a standard practice in the counselling industry.
Please notify us at [email protected] and your counsellor through Safe Space™’s online chat if you will be late.
PRIVACY POLICY
The client consents to the Safe Space™ privacy policy as listed on the Safe Space™ website (https://safespace.sg/privacy-policy/).
I have read the above information from Safe Space™ (by High Vibe Pte.Ltd).
I understand the risks and benefits of counselling, the nature and limits of confidentiality, and what is expected of me as a client of the Counselling Services.