Welcome to my practice.  If you have any questions or concerns about the information included here, please feel free to discuss it with me at any stage.

 

Contacting me

I can be contacted via phone or email 0455 023 383, anna@annahenry.com.au. 

Though I may not be immediately available, I will make every effort to get back to you promptly during office hours, 9am to 5.30pm, Tuesday to Thursday, except for public holidays and personal leave.  

Contact between sessions will be limited to administrative, practical matters.​

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Fees

Fees are $150/$120 concession (Health Care Card holders) per 50-minute session. 

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Currently, BUPA, AHM and Medibank offer private health insurance rebates for my counselling services.  Contact your insurance provider for more information.

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Unfortunately, no Medicare rebates are available for services provided by accredited counsellors and psychotherapists, such as myself.  I keep fees as low as possible for this reason. 

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• Fees may increase periodically, with advanced notice. 

• ​Payment is required at the end of each session by secure card payment.

• An active card needs to be on file (encrypted), with funds available at the end of each session, for the duration of therapy.

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Cancellation policy 

I understand that people sometimes need to change and cancel appointments. As much notice as possible is greatly appreciated to allow me to offer your appointment to someone else. 

 

Because my session times are limited, I need at least 48 business hours (two business days) notice for cancellations or changes to avoid the full session fee. Weekends and Public holidays should be taken into account, as these are not business days.

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Cancelling or failing to attend three scheduled appointments within a short time period will necessitate renegotiating or ending therapy.

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Attending therapy

Early in therapy, I usually schedule an appointment each week at a time we agree on, although sessions may be arranged less frequently at your request. Later in therapy, sessions generally move to fortnightly and then monthly before we end our work together.

• For therapy to be effective regular attendance for the full 50-minute session is necessary. 

• It is important to arrive on time as late arrival will result in a shorter session.

• Sessions may not proceed if clients are 15 or more minutes late. 

• I am not able to guarantee availability or hold appointment times after periods of absence from therapy.

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Online therapy

You will need to be in a private, quiet, comfortable and distraction-free environment.  Good internet access is required, with a laptop/tablet/phone camera able to be directed squarely on yourself, hands-free.  

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For further information, please see the Online Therapy page.

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Crisis and emergency/after hours support

I do not work with crisis presentations and am not able to provide emergency or after hours support. 

​If you are in crisis you are recommended to contact your GP or psychiatrist.  In between, utilise crisis and other support services such as:  

• Lifeline
  13 11 14
  - Crisis support and suicide prevention

• Suicide Line
  1300 651 251
  - Free professional, anonymous support 24 hours a day 7 days a week

• Suicide Callback Service
  1300 659 467
  - Free counselling, 24 hours a day 7 days a week

• Eating Disorders Victoria Helpline
  1300 550 236
  - Support and information about eating disorders

• The Butterfly Foundation National Helpline

       1800 334 673

       - Support and information about eating disorders

If there is an immanent threat to personal safety, call 000. ​

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Service limitations

I will provide the best therapy I am able to offer you.  If I believe I am unable to provide optimal care I will advise you of your options, and, where appropriate, facilitate referral to another health professional.

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Therapeutic modalities

I work using a person-centred framework incorporating Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and modified Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for eating disorders (CBT-E). 

 

I am a Health at Every Size (HAES®) advocate, offering a non-diet and weight-neutral approach to health and wellbeing.

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Working with other health professionals

During the course of your treatment, it may be beneficial to discuss your case with other health professionals involved in your care. 

• I will only share information about your care after you have given me written consent to do so.

• To ensure you receive the best possible care I may discuss your case with my professional supervisor, who will be bound by the limits of confidentiality outlined below.

 

Confidentiality

Counselling is confidential. Both the verbal information and written records about a client cannot be shared with another party without the written consent of the client, with noted exceptions as follows:

 

1. I am legally obliged to break confidentiality after being presented with a court subpoena for your records, or if disclosure is otherwise required by law. 

2. I am also required to break confidentiality if I believe that you are at risk of harm, if you disclose intentions to harm others, or if I am concerned that a child is at risk.

For online therapy, the privacy of any form of communication via the internet or a mobile device is potentially vulnerable and limited by the security of the technology.