Assessment and Therapy Agreement

 

An assessment and therapy agreement will be discussed with all clients.  This outlines what clients can expect from psychological assessment and intervention, what is expected of our clients, and other important information such as our location, operating hours, and payment information.

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• An initial assessment will focus on gaining an understanding of the nature of the issues and give some direction about what may be appropriate for you. Your input and agreement to any therapy plans are very important. 

• Duration: The length of appointments depends on the type of work that is being undertaken.  Generally, appointments for therapy are 50 minutes long however assessment appointments may take longer.  Your psychologist will discuss with you the length of the session required.

• Please arrive on time as each appointment needs to finish on time.  Sessions that start late cannot be extended. 

• Frequency: Appointments take place weekly at regular agreed times (or as agreed). In some instances, it may be beneficial for a client to have sessions more frequently though this can be discussed at the appropriate time.    If you are not able to commit to attending regular therapy sessions your psychologist will discuss with you the possibility of ending therapy until such time as you are in a position to be able to attend regularly.

• Drugs &/or Alcohol: Please avoid using non-prescribed psychoactive/mood-altering substances prior to your session. 

• Cancellations & Missed Sessions: If you cannot make your appointment, please advise your psychologist as soon as possible so that a new appointment can be rescheduled.  Any appointments missed or cancelled with less than 24 hours notice may incur half the session fee.  Please text through cancellations rather than email or phone.  

• ACC clients, including those who live in supported living services.  While ACC will pay for up to 5 missed or late cancellations, after that your psychologist will charge a late cancellation/ did not attend fee of half the session fee.  This will need to be paid in full by either service, individual or family before your psychologist will be able to offer further sessions.

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Confidentiality

Annetta Bouius works according to the provisions of the Health Practitioner’s Competence Assurance Act 2003, the Health Information Privacy Code 2020, and the Privacy Act 2020.

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Confidentiality means that your psychologist cannot give any information about you to someone else.  However, there are some exceptions to this.  Your psychologist may give information about you to other people or agencies when/ if:

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• You give your permission to do so.  If you are willing to have information about you shared with others (e.g., your family, key support people, school, etc.). Your psychologist will discuss this with you and get your written permission to do so.

• Your psychologist thinks you are a danger to yourself or to other people or that you are a victim of child/elder/disabled adult abuse or neglect.  She might give information to your parent (if you are a child or young person), doctor, the police, Oranga Tamariki etc.  Where possible she will discuss this with you first.

• Your therapy is funded by an agency such as ACC.  In such cases, your psychologist must write reports about you for that agency.  If you are a client who is funded by an agency, your psychologist will talk about it with you and get your permission to release any information beforehand.

• Your psychologist has supervision.  Supervision is something that all psychologists should have and is when your psychologist meets with another psychologist to discuss the work she is doing with clients.  Supervision is important as it ensures that the work your psychologist is doing is appropriate and considers all aspects of the issues presented.  Supervision itself is confidential and in most circumstances, the supervisor will not be given any information that identifies you.

• Sometimes your psychologist might need to get some extra information about you from other people or agencies so that she can understand you, your history and your needs better.  If this is necessary your psychologist will get your written permission to do so.

• Client files are held in a secure location.  Written notes are scanned and stored securely. In the event of your psychologist death, your electronic file will be destroyed.

• Psychologists have legal privilege, which means that the treating clinician is not required to disclose information in a court or quasi-judicial proceeding unless assessment or therapy is mandated by the court (e.g., an assessment to determine fitness to plead or their current psychological state).

 

Fees

• It is difficult to anticipate the cost of psychological services as the needs and wants of clients are all very different.  

• On occasions when psychological tests are administered, there may be an additional charge to cover test use and replacement of test forms.   Your psychologist will inform you of these costs in advance of test administration.

• Additional costs for resources may occur when required for particular interventions.  These may include, but are not limited to items such as timers, toys, photocopying, laminating, rewards, and binders or books.  Your psychologist will inform you of likely costs, and/or give you a list of items to purchase.

• Fees are charged for all contact time, including assessment and treatment sessions, and time needed to write session notes, contact key others, for the reading of historical information, writing of reports/letters, and development of therapy/intervention resources.  The minimum charge-out time is 0.1 of an hour (i.e. 6 minutes).

• A 50-minute session fee is $195.50 including GST. 

• This hourly rate is subject to periodic review, and you will be informed of any anticipated changes at least two weeks in advance.

• GST will be added to all fees and costs and will be included in all quotes and invoices.

• A deposit is required for any psychological reports you need. You will be sent an invoice for the remainder and the report will only be released (that is, sent to its’ intended audience or recipient) once payment in full has been received. This is non-negotiable. 

• Fees for further consultation or discussion regarding the report will be charged at an hourly rate.

• Payment for a session is due within seven days of the session, you will be sent an electronic invoice by email within 24 hours of the session taking place.

• Payment by electronic bank transfer or cash (or as agreed) is preferred. 

• If more than two sessions have gone unpaid, no further sessions will be offered until payment has been received.

• If you or your agency do not pay your invoice on time, you may be charged interest.  If we need to use a debt recovery agency, any other fees incurred will be added.

• Travel time is charged at the hourly rate for all time travelled (plus GST), and the distance travelled is charged at the rate specified by the Inland Revenue Department (i.e., $0.73 per km plus GST).