Terms and Conditions.

Welcome to Brighter Life Therapy, a professional counselling therapy service.

Please find following the ‘Terms and Conditions’ page for my services. These are necessary to keep you, the client and me, a provider, safe. Please read and feel free to ask me any questions you may have at any time throughout our time together.

Throughout this document, the terms “we”, “us” and “our” refer to Brighter Life Therapy. The terms “you”, “your”, “client” and “user” refer to you.

This document constitutes a contract between Brighter Life Therapy and you, the Client or User. You should read it carefully and raise any questions and concerns that you have before you accept it.

Brighter Life Therapy offers this service, including all information, tools, website and therapy available to you conditional upon your acceptance of all terms, conditions, policies and notices stated here.

By visiting our site and/or purchasing something from us, you agree to be bound by the following terms and conditions (“Terms and Conditions”, “Terms”), including those additional terms and conditions and policies referenced herein and/or available by us. These Terms and Conditions apply to all users of the service.

If you do not agree to all the terms and conditions of this agreement, then you may not access or use any services.

We reserve the right to update, change or replace any part of these Terms and Conditions by posting updates and/or changes to our website. It is your responsibility to check this page periodically for changes. Your continued use of or access to the service following the posting of any changes constitutes acceptance of those changes.

We reserve the right, but are not obligated, to limit the provision of our services to any person, geographic region or jurisdiction. We may exercise this right on a case-by-case basis.

We reserve the right to limit the quantities of any products or services that we offer.

All descriptions of products, services or prices are subject to change at anytime without notice, at the sole discretion of us.

We reserve the right to discontinue any product/service at any time.

Our Service

The service we provide may be based on personal goal(s) that you want to address and concerning the general conditions of your life. These will be discussed at the start of your therapy and during treatment as/if new goals are identified. We will ask for your feedback and views on how your therapy is progressing, and welcome your honesty. Progress will be monitored throughout the duration of your sessions. Working toward identified goals requires your participation and engagement in the process.

Brighter Life Therapy makes no claim that all clients will experience an improvement of their condition, feelings, thoughts or symptoms. Therefore, Brighter Life Therapy makes no claims of specific results.

Brighter Life Therapy makes no guarantee of what you will experience or how you will feel during or after using this service. This service may involve remembering or talking about unpleasant events, however is predominantly not past focused but present and future solutions focused. Our intent is to use hypnotherapy during your sessions and we will explain the process and what you can expect beforehand.

Sessions

A standard “session” duration is approximately 60 minutes however we ask that you allow an additional 15 minutes in case this is required. We also offer extended sessions and will discuss this option with you should it be relevant to your specific treatment requirements.

We understand each client has their own journey to navigate and we will discuss the most appropriate sessions to meet your specific needs.

Attendance to Sessions

It is your choice to undertake treatment to achieve your goals and it is important that you are committed. Brighter Life Therapy is also committed to you and our other clients. With this is mind we have clear conditions attached to attendance.

Cancellation and rescheduling are accepted any time before the date of the appointment. Please be respectful of other clients and give as much notice in case they want the time you had booked.

Cancellations on the day of the appointment will incur 50% of the consultation fee.

Not attending an appointment will incur 100% of the consultation fee.

Payment is required at the time of booking unless prior arrangement has been made. Payment must be made in all instance prior to the session commencing. It is your responsibility to ensure that you attend the sessions booked and to be on time. Attending late may mean you don’t get your full session as it is likely there will be another client booked after your session.

If you are unable to physically attend your session for any reason, please let us know as soon as possible as we may be able to offer online sessions to allow you to still reap the benefits. These are charged at the same rate as face to face consultations. Both methods are highly successful.

Your session is scheduled at the mutual convenience of the therapist and the client. Wherever possible the day and time for the next session will be scheduled at the close of each session.

We reserve the right to cancel an appointment, although rare, as much notice as possible will be given. It will be re-booked at the next convenient time for you and the therapist.

We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone for any reason at any time. For example arriving under the influence of alcohol/drugs or becoming abusive/aggressive we reserve the right to cancel that session immediately. Note that in this situation session will still be charged for.

We will take notes during the session, which are to support the work undertaken in the session and are for the benefit of the therapist in assessing progress and assisting in preparing for your ongoing treatment.

The information you provide will be stored electronically in a secure format and only accessible by authorised persons. Notes may be made available via the Freedom of Information Act (1992) upon your request.

You are provided the opportunity to view and discuss these Terms and Conditions before and during therapy. They cannot, be disputed should they not be adhered to.

Confidentiality

All information disclosed within sessions and any written communications and records pertaining to those sessions are confidential and are not be revealed to anyone without your written permission, except where disclosure is required by law, if there is significant risk of harm to others or if there are concerns about the safety of a child or vulnerable adult.

Additionally, we are required by the ethical standards set by the profession to discuss our work with a qualified Supervisor. Individual clients will not be identified in such discussions which are intended to support the therapist in their work.

In some circumstances we may be required to disclose information of appointment times without your authorisation. These include but are not limited to:

Court order for information about your psychotherapy if you are involved in litigation, having mandated counselling or any forensic matters
If a client files a complaint or lawsuit against a therapist.
Worker’s compensation claims details of appointments
When the client is a minor the parents/guardians have the right to information and the clinical record

Harm to Self or Others

If your personal safety, or there is the possibility of you injuring someone else, or if you are receiving proper psychiatric or medical care, the therapist must do whatever they can within the limits of the law, to prevent you from injuring yourself or others and to ensure that you receive the proper care. For this purpose, the therapist may need to contact the police, hospital or an emergency contact whose name you have provided at the commencement of the counselling. This is, however, very rare and in any circumstances like this, your therapist will make every reasonable effort to discuss the situation with you first and limit the disclosure to what is necessary.

These include but are not limited to:

Suspected or known child abuse/neglect
Suspected or known elder abuse, neglect, exploitation or isolation
Risk of imminent serious harm to another
Risk of imminent serious harm to yourself

Dual Relationships

A dual relationship arises when your personal life intersects with the professional relationship you share with your therapist. In the event that you happen to encounter your therapist in a different context – perhaps due to local residency or shared acquaintances – your therapist will maintain appropriate boundaries and ensure your status as their client remains confidential.

It is crucial to note that any form of sexual involvement between therapist and client is strictly prohibited within the therapeutic process. Likewise, any actions or scenarios involving dual relationships that could compromise the therapist's objectivity, clinical judgment, therapeutic efficacy, or carry exploitative undertones are prohibited as well. Furthermore, the therapist will refrain from disclosing their therapeutic work with anyone without explicit written consent, except in the rare situations outlined in our privacy statement. Even when permission is granted, the therapist will prioritize the integrity of the therapeutic relationship.

As a precautionary measure, your therapist will not entertain or accept invitations via social networking platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or Pinterest. This is done to maintain the professional boundaries necessary for effective therapy.

Mutual Non-Disclosure

Brighter Life Therapy and yourself acknowledge the potential for discussing future strategies, financial information, job information, goals, personal information, and other private information. We are committed to not sharing your information with any third parties without your consent. Additionally, to uphold and safeguard our intellectual property, you also agree not to divulge or communicate any details about our practice, resources, or methods to any third parties.

Limitation on Legal Involvement

Given the inherent nature of the therapeutic journey, which often entails comprehensive disclosure of confidential subject matter, it is mutually understood that in the event of legal actions (including, though not restricted to, divorce and custody disputes, injuries, lawsuits, etc.), neither you nor your legal representative, nor any other authorized party representing your interests, shall seek my testimony in court or any other proceeding, nor request the release of counseling records.

Modifications to Services and Prices

We may change the prices of our services without notice beforehand. We may also decide to modify or discontinue a service (or any part of it) without notice at any time. We shall not be liable to you or to any third-party for any modification, price change, suspension or discontinuance of the Service.

Accuracy of Billing and Account Information

You agree to provide current, complete and accurate account information for all payments and purchases (bookings) made. You agree to keep this information up to date, including your email address and credit card numbers (if relevant to payment method) and expiration dates, so that we can complete your transactions and contact you as needed.

Optional Tools and Resources

We may grant you access to third-party tools and resources, for which we neither monitor nor possess any control or influence. You acknowledge and consent that we provide access to these tools and resources "as is" and "as available," without any warranties, representations, or conditions of any nature, and without endorsement. We assume no liability whatsoever arising from or pertaining to your utilization of optional third-party tools. Your use of optional tools provided through our service is completely at your own discretion and risk, and it's important that you are acquainted with and accept the terms offered by the respective third-party provider(s).

Furthermore, we might introduce new services and/or features in the future, including the launch of novel tools and resources. Such additional features and/or services shall also be subject to these prevailing Terms and Conditions.

Third-Party Links

Certain content, products, and services accessible through our service may incorporate materials provided by third parties. The presence of third-party links on this site might guide you to external websites not affiliated with us. It's important to note that we do not assume responsibility for the scrutiny or assessment of content accuracy. Consequently, we do not provide any warranties and shall not be held liable or accountable for any materials from third parties or external websites, nor for any other offerings, products, or services originating from third-party sources.

Any potential harm or damages associated with the acquisition or utilization of goods, services, resources, content, or any other transactions involving third-party websites are beyond our liability. We strongly urge you to diligently review the policies and practices of the relevant third-party before engaging in any transactions. If you have any complaints, claims, concerns, or inquiries pertaining to third-party products, kindly direct them to the third party itself.

User Comments, Feedback, and Other Submissions on Our Website

If we ask you to send specific submissions (such as contest entries), or if you send creative ideas, suggestions, proposals, plans, or other materials to us without our request, whether online, via email, postal mail, or other means (collectively referred to as "comments"), you agree that we have the right to edit, copy, publish, distribute, translate, and use any comments you forward to us, without any limitations or restrictions.

We are not obligated to maintain comments in confidence, compensate for them, or respond to them. We may, but are not required to, monitor, edit, or remove content that we find, at our sole discretion, to be unlawful, offensive, threatening, libelous, defamatory, pornographic, obscene, or objectionable, or that violates intellectual property rights or these Terms and Conditions.

You agree that your comments will not infringe on any third-party rights, including copyright, trademark, privacy, personality, or other personal or proprietary rights. Your comments will not contain unlawful, abusive, or obscene material, or any computer viruses or malware that could impact the functionality of the service or related websites. You must not use a false email address, impersonate someone else, or mislead us or third parties regarding the origin of any comments. You are solely responsible for the accuracy of your comments. We hold no responsibility and assume no liability for any comments posted by you or third parties.

Personal Information

Your submission of personal information through the website is governed by our Privacy Policy.

Errors, Inaccuracies, and Omissions

Occasionally, there might be typographical errors, inaccuracies, or omissions in information on our site or within the service, including product descriptions, pricing, promotions, offers, product shipping charges, transit times, and availability. We reserve the right to correct errors, inaccuracies, or omissions, and to change or cancel orders if information within the service or on related websites is inaccurate, without prior notice (even after you have placed an order).

We are not obligated to update, amend, or clarify information within the service or on related websites, including pricing information, except as required by law. Any stated update or refresh date in the Service or on related websites should not be taken as an indication that all information has been modified or updated.

Prohibited Uses

Alongside other prohibitions outlined in the Terms and Conditions, you are forbidden from using the site or its content:

a) For unlawful purposes;

b) To encourage others to engage in unlawful activities;

c) To violate international, federal, provincial, or state regulations, rules, laws, or local ordinances;

d) To infringe upon our intellectual property rights or those of others;

e) To harass, abuse, insult, harm, defame, slander, disparage, intimidate, or discriminate based on various characteristics;

f) To provide false or misleading information;

g) To upload viruses or other malicious code that could affect the functionality of the Service, related websites, or the Internet;

h) To collect or track personal information of others;

i) To engage in spam, phishing, or other harmful activities;

j) For obscene or immoral purposes;

k) To interfere with or circumvent the security features of the Service, related websites, or the Internet.

We reserve the right to terminate your use of the Service or related websites for violating any of these prohibitions.

Disclaimer of Warranties; Limitation of Liability

We do not guarantee that your use of our service will be uninterrupted, timely, secure, or error-free. We do not guarantee the quality of any products, services, information, or other material obtained through the service, or that errors will be corrected. We do not guarantee that results obtained from using the service will be accurate or reliable.

You agree that we may remove the service for indefinite periods of time or cancel it at any time, without notice.

Your use of the service and all products and services provided through it are "as is" and "as available," without any representation, warranties, or conditions, whether express or implied, including implied warranties or conditions of merchantability, merchantable quality, fitness for a particular purpose, durability, title, and non-infringement.

In no case shall Brighter Life Therapy be liable for any injury, loss, claim, or any direct, indirect, incidental, punitive, special, or consequential damages, whether based in contract, tort (including negligence), strict liability, or otherwise, arising from your use of the service or any products procured using the service, or for any other claim related in any way to your use of the service or any product, including errors or omissions in content or any loss or damage incurred due to the use of the service or any content (or product) posted, transmitted, or made available through the service. This applies even if you were advised of the possibility of such damages. In jurisdictions where exclusion or limitation of liability for consequential or incidental damages is not allowed, our liability shall be limited to the maximum extent permitted by law.

Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Brighter Life Therapy, (our parent, subsidiaries, affiliates, partners, officers, directors, agents, contractors, licensors, service providers, subcontractors, suppliers, interns, and employees) from any claim or demand, including reasonable legal fees, arising from your breach of these Terms and Conditions or violation of any law or third-party rights.

Severability

If any provision of these Terms and Conditions is deemed unlawful, void, or unenforceable, it shall still be enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, and the unenforceable part shall be severed from these Terms and Conditions without affecting the validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions.

Termination

The rights and obligations of the parties before the termination date shall persist after the termination of this agreement.

These Terms and Conditions remain in effect until terminated by either you or us. You can terminate these Terms and Conditions at any time by notifying us that you no longer wish to use our services. We may also terminate this agreement at any time without notice if we suspect or determine that you have failed to comply with any term or provision.

Entire Agreement

Our failure to enforce any right or provision of these Terms and Conditions does not waive that right or provision. These Terms and Conditions, along with any posted policies or rules, constitute the entire agreement between you and us, governing your use of the service. This supersedes any prior or contemporaneous agreements, communications, or proposals, whether oral or written, between you and us, including previous versions of the Terms and Conditions. Any ambiguities in interpreting these Terms and Conditions shall not be construed against the drafting party.

Governing Law

These Terms and Conditions, along with any separate agreements where we provide you services, are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Australia.

Changes to Terms and Conditions

You can always review the most recent version of the Terms and Conditions on this page. We reserve the right, at our sole discretion, to update, modify, or replace any part of these Terms and Conditions by posting updates and changes on our website. It is your responsibility to periodically check our website for any changes. By continuing to use or access our website or the Service after posting changes to these Terms and Conditions, you agree to accept those changes.

Contact Information

Questions about the Terms and Conditions can be sent to us at support@brighterlifetherapy.com.au.