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TERMS AND CONDITIONS
The online therapy services are offered by makingchanges.com.au (“this site”), a division of Dr. Timothy J. Sharp and Associates (“the practice”). The online therapy services include access to the site’s web-based resources, access to private messageboards, access to the public and private chat room facilities, and online programs.
By subscribing to one of the online therapy services offered on this site you (“the client”) are agreeing to the following terms and conditions.
Collection of Personal Information
Client files are held in a secure database, which is accessible only to employees of the practice. The information on each file includes personal information such as name, address, contact phone numbers, and other information relevant to the online psychological service being provided.
The information is gathered as part of the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of the client's condition and is seen only by employees of the practice. The information is retained in order to document what happens during online sessions, and enables the psychologist to provide a relevant and informed service.
At any stage, clients may request to see, or to have updated or corrected, the information about them kept on file. The psychologist may discuss the contents with them or give them a copy. All requests by clients for access or updating or correcting information held about them should be lodged with their treating psychologist. These requests will be responded to within 14 days.
Click here for further information about the practice’s Policy for Management of Personal Information for Online Therapy Services.
Confidentiality
All personal information gathered by this site will remain confidential except when:
1. It is subpoenaed by a court, or
2. Failure to disclose the information would place you or another person at risk of harm, or
3. Your prior approval has been obtained to communicate with another professional or agency (see below).
Following on from Point 3 above, it may at times be necessary, in order to provide you with the best treatment, for your psychologist to collaborate with other professionals involved in your care. These may include, for example, your general practitioner and/or your medical specialist(s). When you subscribe to one of the online therapy services you will be asked to provide the name and contact details for your general practitioner, medical specialist (eg psychiatrist) and other. Please provide the contact details for the people whom you consent for us to contact.
Further, it might be desirable for relevant issues to be discussed with another member of staff at Dr Timothy Sharp & Associates.
The client should also be mindful that confidentiality is limited by the security of the technology used to provide the online therapy services. Clients should be mindful that security limitations include: system breakdowns; and personal information, messages, session content and back-up records potentially being viewed by authorised (e.g. ISP system administrator) and unauthorised persons. The measures that have been taken to guard against such problems include “password only” access to the online services sections of the site for both staff of the practice and clients and encryption of credit card payment details.
Clients participating in public chat sessions offered on this site are encouraged to act and treat other clients with respect. However, clients should be mindful that due to the number of people that may be involved in a public chat session confidentiality cannot be guaranteed.
Informed Consent
The client should be mindful that there are both potential benefits and potential risks associated with engaging in an online therapy service. The potential benefits include:
1. the client is able to post questions on the messageboard and read the psychologist’s responses at any time of the day
2. both the client and psychologist can take the time to make a considered response to messages posted on the messageboard
3. a written record of online public and private chats (i.e. sessions) and messageboard content can be retained for future reference
4. the client may feel less inhibited or more comfortable because they do not see the psychologist face-to-face
5. clients who live in remote locations, or who have difficulties accessing face-to-face services during business hours can have access to psychological treatment.
The potential risks include:
1. Misunderstandings may arise due to a lack of non-verbal cues
2. Messages may not be received due to technical or system failure
3. Any communication on the internet has the potential to be intercepted or viewed by unauthorised persons
4. The capacity for crisis intervention may be diminished
Following on from point 4 above, all clients should also be aware that some problems are more suitable for face-to-face sessions than for online therapy. Such issues may include:
1. psychiatric disorders that involve distortions of reality (eg. if you are seeing or hearing things that are not there),
2. if you are suicidal or are harming yourself,
3. sexual abuse, and
4. violent relationships.
Any condition that poses a serious risk to the client or to others and which cannot be managed appropriately via the internet will be referred as necessary.
Clients should also be mindful that the provision of psychological therapy over the internet is a relatively new endeavour and clients choosing to participate should be aware that at this point in time, there is limited research supporting its efficacy.
Questions posted on private messageboards and requests for online private chats will be forwarded to the appropriate person. We will endeavour to respond to most questions or request for private chat sessions within 24 hours (excluding weekends) and to all others within 48 hours.
Legal aspects
Due to variance in legal requirements between Australian states and other nations, the online therapy services offered on this site are not suitable for international audiences. If you reside outside of Australia you should locate an online therapy service in the country that you reside.
Client use of information provided through the online therapy services
Clients subscribing to this site’s online therapy services must agree not to forward to other people the information they receive through the online therapy services without the written consent of the practice. This includes all web-based resources, content of messageboard responses from the psychologist, and content of private and public chat sessions. It is important to be mindful that this information is tailored by the psychologist to the client’s particular situation and is not likely to be appropriate for another person.
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