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Terms & Conditions

Please read the following before booking an appointment.

WINZ

Payment & Length of Sessions

Individual sessions are 60 minutes long and cost $125 per hour.
I welcome payment by WINZ Disability Allowances.
Payments are due on or before the day of each session.
Please make bank transfers to:

Cynthia Crosse Ltd | 03-1505-0021725-000
Cash payments are accepted, but EFTPOS is unavailable.
Clients are responsible for any debt collection costs incurred.

Office Hours

Parnell Note there are stairs at this venue

Monday 8am – 12 noon

Tuesday 8am – 12 noon

Wednesday 1pm – 7pm

Avondale

Thursday 8am – 1pm

Zoom

I am available for Zoom appointments outside these hours.

Cancellations, Refunds, and Missed Appointments

Cancellations made within 48 hours of a session are still payable.
If you’re feeling unwell, please stay home for the safety of all.
Late arrivals will still need to finish on time to be fair to the next client.

Frequency of Sessions & Length of Therapy

Weekly sessions are recommended, especially in the early stages of counselling, to maintain momentum. However, fortnightly sessions may suit your schedule better.
The length of therapy depends on your individual needs—it could range from a few sessions to many.

Ending Counselling

You may end counselling at any time.
If we’ve been working together for a while, having a final “end” session can be valuable. This session offers an opportunity to review your progress, celebrate achievements, and plan your way forward.
The door is always open for you to return, but acknowledging the changes you’ve made is an important step in recognizing your growth.

Online Counselling

Online sessions are available via Zoom. Face-to-face meetings are preferable, especially for the first session.
For online appointments, I will email you the link on the morning of the session.
To protect confidentiality, please ensure you’re in a private space where no one else can overhear. I will do the same.
For privacy reasons, sessions cannot be recorded.

Confidentiality

Your confidentiality is my top priority. All communication is treated as privileged unless you give explicit consent for specific information to be shared.
I share anonymous information with my supervisor to ensure you receive the best possible care. No identifying details are disclosed.
With your consent, I can liaise with other health professionals involved in your care.
In situations where you or someone else is at risk of serious harm, I may need to break confidentiality to prevent harm, though I will aim to discuss this with you first.
If required by you or a referring agency, I can confirm the number and dates of sessions but will not release personal client files unless ordered by a court.

Privacy of Personal Records

Avondale Counsellor is committed to maintaining your trust and protecting your privacy. Notes are taken during sessions to ensure continuity of care, particularly during long breaks between sessions. These notes are stored on a computer without identifying details.
Contact details and demographic information are securely stored in a locked hard file.
Even after counselling ends, confidentiality and privacy of your records are maintained. You may view your notes at any time.

Boundaries & Professional Practice

Bumping into You: For your privacy, I will not acknowledge you in public unless you approach me first, provided I am alone.
Googling: I do not search for information about clients online, respecting your privacy beyond the information you provide in sessions.
Social Media: To protect boundaries and confidentiality, I cannot accept friend or connection requests from clients on social media.
Dual Relationships: For ethical reasons, I cannot work with individuals I know or have known. I’m happy to discuss referrals if needed.

Ethical Practice

As a provisional member, I follow the professional standards outlined by the New Zealand Association of Counsellors’ Code of Ethics. My practice is guided by the core values of:

Respect for human dignity
Partnership
Autonomy
Responsible caring
Personal integrity
Social justice

I commit to:

Acting with care and respect for cultural differences and human diversity.
Avoiding harm in my professional work.
Upholding the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi.
Promoting the safety and well-being of individuals, families, and communities.
Maintaining honesty and trustworthiness in all professional relationships.

Complaints

I welcome all feedback—positive or negative. If you feel I’ve done or said something harmful or unethical, please discuss it with me directly. You’re welcome to bring a support person.
If we can’t resolve the matter, you can contact the Ethics Secretary at the New Zealand Association of Counsellors by emailing ethicssecretary@nzac.org.nz.

Insurance & Jurisdiction

I hold Public Liability insurance for clients based in New Zealand, both in person and online. Unfortunately, I cannot work with clients located outside New Zealand.

Termination & Right to decline service

Avondale Counsellor reserves the right to decline appointments or terminate counselling at any time if it’s deemed inappropriate to continue.

WINZ Disability Allowance for Counselling

If you or your child has a disability, you may be eligible for a Disability Allowance from WINZ to help with the cost of counselling and travel, regardless of whether you're receiving a WINZ benefit. The Disability Allowance can provide up to $80.35 per week.

How to Apply

Book an appointment with your doctor, who will need to confirm that counselling is required due to a disability. Complete the Disability Certificate – Counselling form, which must be signed by you, your doctor, and your counsellor.

Your doctor may have a copy of the form. If not, you can:

Download it here: Disability Certificate – Counselling form
Pick one up from your nearest WINZ office
Call WINZ on 0800 559 009 to request a copy by post

Next Steps

Once the form is complete, return it to WINZ for approval.

You can choose to:

Top up the weekly allowance to cover the full counselling fee, or
Schedule fortnightly sessions so the allowance covers the full cost
Typically, WINZ funds up to 10 sessions, but more can be requested through your doctor if needed.

Amendments

These Terms & Conditions may be updated at any time and posted on this website.

If you have any questions or need clarification, feel free to raise them during your session, and we can discuss them further.