Policies, Privacy and Your Rights
Inclusivity & Welcome
The Hearth Space welcomes women of all backgrounds, cultures, abilities, spiritual beliefs and sexualities. I strive to create a space where you feel safe, respected and able to be fully yourself.
About This Page
The Hearth Space is committed to providing a safe, respectful space for our work together. This page outlines what you can expect from counselling with me, along with how your personal information is collected and protected.
Fees & Bookings
Standard 1-hour individual sessions are $150. A 10% surcharge may be applied to appointments that fall on a Sunday or Public Holiday. Bookings and payments are managed securely through Zanda.
Cancellations
Life happens — if you need to reschedule or cancel, please give at least 24 hours' notice where possible. A cancellation fee of $75 applies for missed appointments or cancellations made with less than 24 hours' notice. A first missed session is treated with a grace period.
Confidentiality
What you share in our sessions is private and confidential. The only exceptions are if I believe you or someone else is at risk of serious harm, if a child is at risk, or if I'm legally required to disclose information (for example, a court subpoena). I'll always try to talk with you first wherever possible.
If we meet for a walk-and-talk or outdoor session, I take reasonable care to protect your privacy in that setting. For example, choosing quieter paths and times, and being mindful of who's nearby. If you happen to see personal friends while we're out, I won't disclose to them that I'm a counsellor.
A Note on Safety
The Hearth Space is not a crisis service. If you're experiencing a mental health emergency, please call 000 or contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Privacy Policy
We collect personal information such as your name, contact details, and emergency contact information, along with information shared during counselling sessions. This may be collected by phone, email, in person, through our website (thehearthspace.com.au), or via our booking platform. We use this information to provide counselling services to you, and (only if you opt in) to send occasional updates, which you can unsubscribe from at any time.
As a counselling practice, we may also hold sensitive information, including health information. This is used only for the purpose it was collected, a closely related purpose, with your consent, or where required by law.
Third parties we work with
To run our practice, we use a small number of trusted service providers who may handle your information on our behalf:
Zanda: practice management, bookings, and client records
Stripe: payment processing
Google Workspace: email and calendar
Zoom: Online sessions
These providers are used only to deliver our services to you, and we take reasonable steps to ensure your information stays protected when handled by them.
Security & retention
Your information is stored securely and protected from misuse, loss, or unauthorised access. Client files are retained for a minimum of 7 years, in line with professional record-keeping obligations, after which they are securely destroyed or de-identified.
Access to your Information
You can request access to a summary of your counselling files, and your personal information at any time by contacting us in writing. You may also ask us to correct any personal information we hold about you that is inaccurate or out of date. We may require identification before releasing your information, and we aim to respond to requests within 30 days. There's no fee to request access, though a small administrative fee may apply for providing copies. If we're unable to provide access or make a correction, we'll explain why in writing.
If you're not satisfied with how we've handled your personal information, you can contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (oaic.gov.au).
Questions or Feedback
P.O. Box 31, Woody Point, QLD 4019
hello@thehearthspace.com.au