Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to outline the process for client intake, obtaining informed consent, and ensuring confidentiality and privacy in compliance with the Australian Counselling Association’s standards. This process ensures that all necessary information is gathered prior to the first session, safeguarding the client’s privacy and preparing for effective therapy.

Process for Intake and Consent
Upon booking an initial appointment, Halaxy automatically sends an email with the intake and consent forms to the new client. This email guides clients through the process of completing essential forms before their first session.

Client Verification Process
Clients must receive a verification code sent to their email and complete the forms as outlined. If the session is booked manually, the practitioner sends the ‘Client Intake Form’ through Halaxy. Automatic reminder emails are sent if forms are not completed before the first appointment.

In cases where the intake form is not submitted, the practitioner ensures the consent form is sent and signed before starting therapy or requests that the client sign a printed consent form in person.

Intake Form Content
Background Information
 1. Occupation: What is your current occupation (e.g., parenting, studying)?
 2. School Details (if under 18): What are your school details?
 3. Household Members: Who else lives in your home?
 4. Cultural Background: How would you describe your (or your teenager’s) cultural background?
 5. Motivation: What motivates or rewards you/your teenager?
 6. Leisure: What do you do for fun?
 7. Siblings (if under 18): What are the names and ages of your siblings?
 8. Family Dynamics (if relevant): Are there any family circumstances your counsellor should know about before the session?
 9. Primary Caregiver (if under 18): List the name(s) of your primary caregiver(s).
 10. Emergency Contact: Name and phone number of your emergency contact.
Life Stage Information
 12. Were there any adverse events during your mother’s pregnancy or your birth?
 13. Who lived in your home growing up?
 14. Are there any mental health or learning difficulties in your family history?
 15. Did you face any particular challenges or moments during early childhood?
 16. What were your experiences during middle childhood (4-11 years)?
 17. What challenges or milestones did you experience during adolescence?
 18. What challenges or milestones have you experienced in adulthood?
Therapy Information
 19. Current Concerns: What have you decided to seek support for?
 20. Start of Concerns: When did these concerns begin?
 21. Therapy Goals: What are your current goals for therapy?
 22. Diagnoses: Have you ever been diagnosed with any learning, cognitive, social, relational, or emotional difficulties?
 23. Additional Information: Is there anything else your counsellor should know before the session?
Information/Record Release
24. Please write your full name here:
25. I understand that the following consent to share information will allow:
26. I authorise and request the following organisations/persons to release any information requested by my practitioner at Golden Thread Therapy:
27. I authorise my practitioner at Golden Thread Therapy to release and discuss information with the following people/agencies:

Informed Consent Form
Feedback and Collaboration
At Golden Thread Therapy, we highly value the therapeutic relationship and the insight you bring to your sessions. Recognising each individual's unique strengths, we adopt a wellness model tailored to support you using a collaborative style. We welcome your feedback at any stage during your time with Golden Thread.
Personal Information
Your basic information is essential for effective counselling. While providing it is optional, withholding can affect the quality of our services. We use Upheal to help implement therapy sessions, and we ensure secure storage of your data in compliance with the Australian Counselling Association standards. For detailed privacy policies, visit:
Upheal's Privacy Policy
Golden Thread Therapy's Upheal Privacy Policy
Client’s Rights
1. You can ask questions about therapy expectations and outcomes.
2. You can pause or cease therapy at any time.
3. You have the right to review your client records.
4. You have the right to confidentiality. All information will not be shared or revealed to any person, agency, or organisation without prior written consent from the client except where:
It is subpoenaed by a court; or
Failure to disclose the information would in the reasonable belief of Golden Thread Therapy place you or another person at serious risk to life, health or safety; or
Your prior approval has been obtained to:
a. provide a written report to another professional or agency. e.g. GP, school or a lawyer; or 
b. discuss the material with another person, eg. a parent, employer or health provider.
Please click here to read more about the Australian Counselling Association’s Code of Ethics for registered counsellors.
Finances
Please note that Mental Health Care Plans are not eligible with our counsellors due to Medicare’s requirements for a psychologist or social worker. Concession rates for existing clients with Low Income Healthcare Cards are available within business hours upon verification with the counsellor prior to session (otherwise standard fees will apply).
Fees:
Individual sessions: $150 ($110 for Health Care card holders).
Individual sessions with Student Counsellor: $45.
Session bundles with Student Counsellor: Lighten Your Load $95, Student Mental Health Booster $65, Emotional Pit Stop $50 and Map Your Path $50. Please note that your session(s) must be used within one month of purchasing your bundle.
Couples sessions start at $205.
Family sessions' pricing varies based on the number of participants, starting at $205.
After-hours sessions (5pm-9pm) incur additional charges.
Longer sessions are available and billed pro rata based on their respective hourly rate.
All fees are due at the time of consultation and are automatically charged to your card on file unless otherwise arranged.
Online payments incur a small transaction fee.
Cancellations within 24-48 hours: 50% fee; within 24 hours or non-attendance: full fee.
Read more about Halaxy Card Security Practices.
Please note that if you are late to your appointment, the session will only commence if you are no more than 15 minutes late. After 15 minutes, this will count as non-attendance and the session will then be cancelled with the applicable non-attendance charge of your full standard consultation fee.
If you do not attend your initial session 3 times in a row, we will provide a referral to another service that may be more supportive with your schedule. If you’re an existing client and you miss 3 consecutive sessions or more than 50% of your scheduled appointments within a 6 month period without providing at least 48 hours notice, we may provide a referral to another service better suited to your needs.
If you incur two sessions without paying fees, we will be in contact with you to cancel future bookings until your fees are settled in order to prevent mounting financial debt.
Please note that this policy may change in future without notice.
Counsellor Contact Outside of Sessions
You are welcome to email us at hello@goldenthread.com.au.
Please expect a response within two business days for admin messages. If you are sending an update, your practitioner will add this to your file to read through with you at the beginning of your next session so it’s fresh on their mind for your time together.
If you are the parent of a teenager under 16 years and are not cohabitating with the child’s other parent, please bear in mind that we require the contact details of both parents except where Parenting Orders are provided that state you have sole decision-making responsibility or in the unfortunate case of the other parent being deceased. These details will be used to check that the other parent also consents to their child being in therapy. From here, we will send communications to both parents regarding your child’s therapy.
Collaborative Care:
We greatly value the collaborative care model. This means we are eager to communicate with your broader care team, given your consent. Such coordination is included in your session cost. However, if calls with Ashleigh Montgomery are requested or necessary for your safety and exceed 15 minutes, they will be billed at a prorated rate ($150/hour, where 10 minutes = $25. For example, a 25-minute phone call would be billed at $62.50).
Animal Assisted Therapy
If you are booked in with Ashleigh Montgomery, please note that Ashleigh works with a beautiful Golden Retriever/Border Collie Therapy Dog named Beanie. Beanie is 3 years old and absolutely loves working with clients. Together Beanie and Ash make up a professionally trained and assessed Therapy Dog Handler team through Therapy Dogs Australia.
This is provided as a complimentary additional service and sessions will go ahead even if Beanie is absent due to illness, injury, or other commitments. Beanie is well trained and certified to be in professional contexts with people of all ages, but there is always a risk working with animals including: allergies, zoonosis, and personal injury.
By booking with Golden Thread Therapy:
You acknowledge that you have no known illness, allergy, injury, or phobia that prevents you from interacting with and handling Beanie.
You understand that Beanie undergoes regular vet checks to maintain her health but there are some illnesses that can pass between humans and dogs.
You understand that Beanie is socialised, trained, and assessed to work with people, but that there is always a risk of injury while working with animals.
You agree to follow the handler (Ashleigh Montgomery)’s instruction at all times in order to aim to keep everyone safe.
You agree to disclose any pre-existing dog phobias to Golden Thread Therapy prior to coming to our premises.
Privacy Notice
By engaging with our services, you confirm that you've read the above information and understand that while providing personal information is optional, withholding it may affect the quality of your counselling. You're aware of your right to access your personal information held by Golden Thread Therapy, except in certain cases where it may be withheld (and in such cases an explanation would be provided to you). Any use of your information beyond what's described above will require your additional consent.