Policies

Confidentiality

Tiera follows the New Zealand Association of Counsellors (NZAC) Code of Ethics. Everything shared in the counselling space with Tiera – either face-to-face or virtual – during a session remains confidential, with some exceptions:

  1. SUPERVISION: Tiera attends regular clinical supervision. Session information may be shared with the supervisor (who maintains confidence) in order to improve professional skills. Identities are not shared. It is a professional requirement for counsellors to attend professional supervision and information is only shared to provide the best possible care to the client.

  2. RISK OF HARM: If Tiera believes that a client is at imminent risk of serious harm to themselves or others then legally the relevant information must be shared with appropriate authorities or individuals. If this client is under 18 years old, this may include notifying a guardian.

  3. In the event that confidential information needs to be passed on to reduce risk, the minimum possible information is shared, and only to those with whom it is absolutely necessary.

  4. Personal details may be shared with an external collection agency in the case that payment is outstanding longer than 3 months / 12 weeks.

  5. The usual filing system for sensitive documents is used for client details and notes. The digital information is stored on a password protected device, using a unique identifier for each client.

  6. All notes and details are destroyed 10 years after the client’s last session.

Availability

Available counselling hours are clearly listed on the website footer and under the Fees & Appointments page.

  1. For sessions during those hours, standard fees are charged.

  2. Out-of-hours or urgent sessions may be provided at Tiera’s discretion, and may incur different fees. This will be clearly communicated and consented to prior to the appointment booking is confirmed.

Sessions

All sessions are 50 minutes long.

  1. There is time worked into the session for arrival and future appointment bookings. Clients should expect the total time together will be about 1 hour or 60 minutes.

  2. Sessions may go over time upon mutual agreement. Further fees may apply and will be agreed upon verbally at the time, and invoiced after the session. Payment is to be completed before the next session in these cases.

  3. All sessions will take place in the professional rooms in Auckland; or virtually via Zoom.

  4. Virtual sessions and face-to-face sessions are the same length.

Cancellation & Rescheduling

For good sustainable practice, Tiera does need certainty about appointments. To assist in this, please communicate when you need to cancel or reschedule with ample notice. It would be preferable to receive several days notice if the client is cancelling or rescheduling an appointment. This gives the opportunity to reallocate the time to someone else.

In the case of a serious emergency, please reach out at your earliest convenience.

  1. If cancellation or rescheduling takes place at least 48 hours in advance, no fees will be charged.

  2. Cancellation with less than 48 hours will incur a 50% charge of standard fees. Rescheduling that takes place under 48 hours, will be charged an administrative fee of $35. The rescheduled appointment must occur within 2 weeks of the original appointment.

  3. If cancellation takes place with less than 24 hours notice then the client will be charged full price for the session.

  4. If a client does not attend their scheduled appointment, the client will be charged full price for the session.

  5. Exceptions may be made (e.g. in the case of accident or emergencies) but are at Tiera’s discretion.

  6. Continual patterns of booking, cancellation, and rescheduling will be discussed with the client. If a solution is not found, the client may be charged a full fee for the next cancellation regardless of the advance notice.

  7. Outstanding payments must be made before another session can be booked.

  8. This policy applies to clients who are booking through EAP providers as well.

    Cancellation Fee Structure [January 2025]

48+ hours

Cancel - no charge

Reschedule - no charge

Under 48 hours

Cancel - 50% standard fee

Reschedule, within a fortnight - $35 fee

Less than 24 hours

Cancel or no show - Full standard fee

Reschedule, within a fortnight - $35 fee

Payment

The price of a session will be provided to the client in advance.

  1. It is preferred that payment is made in advance by internet banking. If this is not possible, please pay within 3 days of your session. Further appointments will not be confirmed until payment is made.

  2. For bank transfers please pay:

    TIERA FOY

    03-0415-0759975-000

    Include the session date as reference. For example, 20.2 or 20Feb

  3. In the event that payment is not made by the end of a session or the client has outstanding payment from cancelled or rescheduled appointments, then no further sessions for that client will be booked until payment has been received.

  4. Tiera Foy Counselling is GST registered. GST is included in all fees.

  5. Invoices will be provided for all fees.

  6. Goods and services, koha will not be accepted in lieu of payment.

Complaints

Tiera takes all complaints seriously. If any issues arise with Tiera’s professional practice, in good faith, bring this up with her directly. As a professional, she will endeavour to remedy the concern or take the necessary actions to reduce any further risk.

In the case that this conversation does not resolve your concern or the issue is one of a serious nature, a complaint procedure will be followed.

The professional body responsible for hearing any complaints about Tiera Foy as a counsellor is the New Zealand Association of Counsellors.