TERMS & CONDITIONS
Sophie Chantel Psychotherapy
Last Updated: November 2026
1. Introduction
Welcome to Sophie Chantel Psychotherapy.
These Terms & Conditions outline the arrangements, expectations and responsibilities associated with accessing psychotherapy services provided by Sophie Chantel.
My intention is to establish a therapeutic environment grounded in mutual respect, transparency, personal autonomy and professional integrity.
By booking an appointment or engaging in services, you acknowledge that you have read and understood these Terms & Conditions and agree to the arrangements outlined below.
If you have any questions or require clarification, you are encouraged to raise them before commencing services.
2. Nature of Services
Sophie Chantel Psychotherapy provides psychotherapy and counselling services intended to support emotional wellbeing, personal development, self-understanding and psychological growth.
Services may include:
Individual psychotherapy.
Counselling and emotional support.
Personal development and self-exploration.
Support with relationships, life transitions and personal challenges.
Exploration of emotional patterns, beliefs and behavioural responses.
Support in developing greater self-awareness, resilience and emotional regulation.
Services may be delivered in person, online or by telephone, depending on availability and individual circumstances.
Psychotherapy is a collaborative process. While I endeavour to provide a supportive, respectful and professionally informed service, individual experiences and outcomes will vary.
No specific therapeutic outcome or timeframe can be guaranteed.
3. Booking and Appointments
Appointments can be arranged through the online booking system, website or direct communication.
When booking an appointment, you agree to provide accurate and current contact information and any relevant information reasonably required to facilitate your care.
Appointment confirmation will be provided through the nominated booking or communication platform.
Please arrive on time for your scheduled appointment. Where you arrive late, the session may need to conclude at the originally scheduled time to accommodate other appointments.
If you anticipate being late or are unable to attend, please provide as much notice as possible.
4. Fees and Payment
The applicable session fees will be communicated before or at the time of booking.
Payment is required either in advance of the scheduled appointment or upon arrival for in-person sessions.
Accepted payment methods include:
Credit and debit card.
Electronic payment through the nominated payment platform.
Cash (for in-person appointments).
Where applicable, invoices or receipts will be provided following payment.
Any changes to session fees will be communicated in advance of taking effect. You are under no obligation to continue booking sessions if you do not wish to accept revised fees.
Please note that psychotherapy and counselling services may not be eligible for Medicare rebates. Any applicable private health fund rebates are subject to the individual provider and your level of cover. Clients are responsible for confirming their own eligibility.
5. Cancellations and Rescheduling
I understand that circumstances can change and that unexpected events may arise. I aim to approach cancellations with reasonable consideration while also respecting the time reserved for each appointment.
If you need to cancel or reschedule an appointment, please provide as much notice as possible.
The following cancellation fees apply:
More than 48 hours' notice: No cancellation fee will apply.
Within 24–48 hours of the scheduled appointment: A cancellation fee of 50% of the scheduled session fee will apply if the appointment is not rescheduled within 24 hours of cancellation.
Within 24 hours of the scheduled appointment: The full session fee will be payable if the appointment is not rescheduled within 24 hours of cancellation.
Failure to attend (no-show): The full session fee will be payable.
Cancellation fees reflect the reserved appointment time and the difficulty of making that time available to another client at short notice.
Exceptions may be considered in circumstances involving genuine emergencies or unforeseen hardship.
If I need to cancel or reschedule an appointment, I will endeavour to provide as much notice as possible and arrange an alternative appointment where appropriate.
6. Confidentiality
Confidentiality is fundamental to the therapeutic relationship.
Information shared during sessions, including personal experiences, discussions and clinical records, will be treated with care and discretion.
Your information will not ordinarily be disclosed to another person or organisation without your informed consent.
However, confidentiality is not absolute and may be limited in circumstances where disclosure is required or permitted by law.
These circumstances may include:
Where there is a serious threat to your life, health or safety, or that of another person.
Where disclosure is required by a court order, subpoena or other legal obligation.
Where disclosure is otherwise authorised or required by applicable legislation.
Where disclosure is necessary for another legally recognised purpose.
Where reasonably possible and appropriate, any proposed disclosure will be discussed with you beforehand.
Further information about the collection, storage, use and disclosure of personal information is outlined in the Sophie Chantel Psychotherapy Privacy Policy.
7. Client Rights and Responsibilities
I believe that therapy should be a collaborative process in which clients feel respected, heard and empowered.
As a client, you have the right to:
Be treated with dignity, respect and compassion.
Feel safe and respected within the therapeutic relationship.
Ask questions about the therapeutic process and approaches used.
Express concerns or provide feedback.
Decline particular therapeutic approaches or exercises.
Request clarification about your treatment or therapeutic goals.
Discontinue therapy at any time.
Request access to your personal information, subject to applicable legal requirements.
Clients are encouraged to:
Participate openly and honestly to the extent they feel comfortable.
Communicate their needs, preferences and concerns.
Respect appointment times and agreed arrangements.
Engage respectfully in the therapeutic relationship.
Inform me of any significant changes that may affect their wellbeing or the provision of appropriate support.
You are never required to disclose information before you feel ready. The therapeutic process should respect your individual pace, boundaries and capacity.
8. Therapeutic Boundaries
The therapeutic relationship is a professional relationship established for the purpose of supporting your emotional wellbeing and personal development.
Maintaining appropriate professional boundaries is essential to creating a safe and ethical therapeutic environment.
This means:
Sessions will remain focused on your therapeutic needs.
Personal and professional boundaries will be maintained.
Communication outside scheduled sessions will be managed within reasonable professional boundaries.
Social media connections and interactions will be approached with consideration for client confidentiality and professional boundaries.
The therapeutic relationship will not extend into personal, financial or other relationships that may compromise professional integrity.
These boundaries exist to protect the therapeutic space and the wellbeing of everyone involved.
9. Online Sessions, Digital Communication and AI-Assisted Documentation
Where services are provided online or by telephone, clients are responsible for ensuring they have access to a suitable device, reliable internet connection and a private environment.
To support confidentiality and minimise interruptions, clients are encouraged to:
Participate from a quiet and private location.
Use headphones where appropriate.
Ensure their internet connection is sufficiently stable.
Avoid participating while driving or undertaking activities requiring their full attention.
Reasonable steps will be taken to protect the confidentiality of online sessions. However, no electronic communication platform can be guaranteed to be completely secure.
AI-Assisted Recording and Documentation
To support administrative efficiency and accurate clinical documentation, online sessions may be recorded and processed using artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted technology, including transcription tools.
This may assist with:
Preparing and maintaining clinical session notes.
Supporting accurate documentation of therapeutic discussions.
Reducing administrative demands associated with record-keeping.
Supporting continuity and quality of care.
Recording and AI-assisted processing will only occur with your prior, explicit and informed consent.
You will be advised when this technology is being used and how your information will be processed, stored and protected.
You are under no obligation to consent to AI-assisted recording or transcription. Declining consent will not prevent you from accessing psychotherapy services, and alternative documentation arrangements will be made.
Any recordings, transcripts or AI-generated documentation containing personal or sensitive information will be handled in accordance with applicable privacy legislation and the Sophie Chantel Psychotherapy Privacy Policy.
Recordings will not be used for purposes unrelated to your care or practice administration, nor shared with third parties for unrelated purposes.
You are welcome to ask questions about the technology, its use and the handling of your information at any time.
10. Emergency Support and Crisis Situations
Sophie Chantel Psychotherapy is not an emergency or crisis response service.
Appointments are provided at scheduled times and are not intended to replace emergency mental health services, psychiatric care or immediate medical intervention.
If you are experiencing an immediate crisis, are concerned about your safety or believe you may be at risk of harming yourself or another person, please seek immediate assistance.
In Australia, the following services are available:
000 – Emergency services.
Lifeline: 13 11 14 – 24-hour crisis support.
Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467 – Telephone and online counselling.
13 HEALTH: 13 43 25 84 – Queensland Health advice line.
If additional support or referral is appropriate, this may be discussed as part of the therapeutic process.
11. Scope of Practice and Referrals
Psychotherapy and counselling services are provided within the scope of my training, qualifications, experience and professional competence.
Where your needs fall outside my scope of practice, or where additional or specialised support may be beneficial, I may recommend referral to another suitably qualified health professional or service.
This may include a general practitioner, psychologist, psychiatrist or other relevant healthcare provider.
Any referral or recommendation will be discussed with you wherever reasonably possible.
You retain autonomy over your healthcare decisions, subject to applicable legal requirements.
12. Professional Supervision and Development
Ongoing professional development, supervision and reflective practice are important aspects of maintaining professional competence and ethical practice.
Where appropriate, therapeutic themes or clinical material may be discussed within professional supervision or consultation.
Reasonable steps will be taken to protect client confidentiality and avoid unnecessary disclosure of personally identifying information.
13. Intellectual Property and Website Content
All original content appearing on the Sophie Chantel Psychotherapy website, including written material, branding, graphics, images and other original creative works, is protected by applicable intellectual property and copyright laws.
Unless otherwise stated, this material must not be reproduced, distributed, modified or commercially used without prior written permission.
The information provided on this website is intended for general informational and educational purposes. It is not a substitute for individualised psychotherapy, medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
14. Website Use and External Links
This website may contain links to external websites, resources or third-party services.
These links are provided for convenience and informational purposes.
Sophie Chantel Psychotherapy does not control external websites and is not responsible for their content, privacy practices, availability or accuracy.
Users are encouraged to review the relevant terms and privacy policies of external websites they access.
15. Changes to Services and Terms
Sophie Chantel Psychotherapy reserves the right to make reasonable changes to service availability, appointment arrangements, fees and these Terms & Conditions.
Where changes materially affect existing clients or appointment arrangements, reasonable notice will be provided.
Updated Terms & Conditions will be published on the website, with the date of the most recent revision displayed.
Changes will not retrospectively alter arrangements already agreed unless required by law or otherwise agreed.
16. Consumer Rights and Applicable Law
These Terms & Conditions are governed by the laws applicable in Queensland, Australia, together with relevant Commonwealth legislation.
Nothing in these Terms & Conditions is intended to exclude, restrict or modify any rights or remedies available to consumers under the Australian Consumer Law or other applicable legislation.
Where any provision of these Terms & Conditions is found to be unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue to apply to the extent permitted by law.
17. Feedback and Complaints
Your experience of therapy matters.
If you have concerns about the services provided, I encourage you to raise them directly so they can be considered and addressed respectfully.
Feedback and complaints will be taken seriously and handled with appropriate care, discretion and professionalism.
You are also entitled to seek independent advice or make a complaint to a relevant external organisation where appropriate.
18. Contact Information
For questions regarding these Terms & Conditions, appointments or the services provided, please contact:
Sophie Chantel Psychotherapy
Sophie Chantel
Email: hello@sophiechantel.com
Website: www.sophiechantel.com
Thank you for considering Sophie Chantel Psychotherapy. I appreciate the trust involved in engaging in therapeutic work and remain committed to providing a respectful, supportive and ethically grounded therapeutic experience.