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Thank you for choosing this counselling practice.
Counselling offers a safe, respectful space for individuals and couples to explore challenges, deepen self-understanding, improve relationships and work towards meaningful change.
This practice provides counselling services to adults aged 18 years and over, offering:
Counselling follows professional ethical standards, including PACFA’s Code of Ethics and Practice Standards, Australian privacy law and accepted professional practice.
Please find below:
Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct
Confidentiality and Record Keeping Policy
Domestic and Family Violence Policy
Fees, Payments and Cancellation Policy
Telehealth and Electronic Communication Policy
Professional Boundaries Policy
Counselling is more than applying psychological techniques; it is meaningful dialogue that supports understanding, growth and change.
The counselling relationship offers a space to explore how relationships, stories, experiences and choices shape us.
Counselling supports not only reduced distress, but greater self-awareness, emotional maturity, healthier relationships and meaningful living.
This practice recognises that counselling is not entirely value-neutral. Both counsellor and client bring lived experience, knowledge, assumptions and interpretive frameworks to the counselling relationship.
Therapeutic conversations are shaped by the questions, perspectives and assumptions that both client and counsellor bring, with the counsellor guiding and influencing the process.
This influence is offered ethically, transparently and respectfully.
The counsellor supports clients to explore beliefs, values and decisions, and may offer options, identify patterns, consider alternatives and help clients make informed choices aligned with their values, responsibilities and wellbeing.
Counselling in this practice is active and collaborative.
At times, counselling may involve:
The counsellor may offer options, observations and professional perspectives, while clients remain responsible for their decisions and choices.
Every client has the right to:
Clients are encouraged to:
Clients will be provided with information regarding:
By choosing to participate in counselling and agreeing to goals discussed, clients confirm that they understand the nature of the service and consent to participate voluntarily.
Commitment to Confidentiality
Confidentiality is a fundamental part of the counselling relationship.
Information shared during counselling sessions will be treated with respect and kept confidential. The purpose of confidentiality is to create a safe environment where clients can speak openly and honestly.
Limits to Confidentiality
There are circumstances where confidentiality may be limited.
Information may be disclosed where:
Where possible and appropriate, the client will be informed before information is disclosed.
Professional Consultation and Supervision
Professional counsellors have an ethical responsibility to engage in ongoing professional development and supervision.
At times, aspects of client work may be discussed in professional supervision or consultation. Any information discussed will be managed respectfully and, wherever possible, presented in a way that protects client identity and confidentiality.
Individual Counselling
Individual counselling provides a confidential space for clients to explore personal experiences, emotions, relationships, life transitions and challenges.
Counselling may support clients experiencing difficulties including:
The counselling process is tailored to the individual needs and goals of each client.
Commitment to Privacy
This practice respects the privacy of all clients and is committed to managing personal information responsibly, ethically and securely.
Personal information is handled in accordance with applicable Australian privacy legislation, including the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs), as well as professional ethical standards.
The purpose of collecting personal information is to provide safe, effective and appropriate counselling services.
Information collected may include:
Only information reasonably necessary for providing counselling services will be collected.
How Information is Collected
Information is gathered transparently, securely, and in accordance with PACFA clinical and ethical standards. Data may be provided directly by you or collected from external sources under strict consent protocols:
Why Information is Collected
The collection of personal and sensitive health data is fundamentally designed to support your therapeutic care and fulfill professional obligations:
Use of Personal Information
Personal information may be used for:
Personal information will not be used for unrelated purposes without appropriate consent.
Storage and Security of Information
Client information is stored securely.
Reasonable safeguards are used to protect information from:
Electronic records are protected through appropriate security measures. Paper records are not kept in this practice.
Access to and Correction of Personal Information
Clients have the right to request access to their personal information. To be able to correct information or where that information is considered out of date.
Requests for access will be considered in accordance with privacy legislation and ethical obligations.
In some circumstances, access may be limited where providing information would:
Access to and Correction of Personal Information
Clients have the right to request access to their personal information. To be able to correct information or where that information is considered out of date.
Requests for access will be considered in accordance with privacy legislation and ethical obligations.
In some circumstances, access may be limited where providing information would:
Confidentiality Commitment
Confidentiality is central to creating a safe therapeutic relationship.
Information shared during counselling sessions will remain private except where disclosure is required or permitted by law, ethical obligations or client consent.
Clinical Notes
Counselling records are maintained to support safe and effective professional practice.
Notes may include:
Presenting concerns.
Relevant history.
Therapeutic themes.
Interventions used.
Progress and treatment planning.
Professional observations.
Clinical notes are professional records and are not verbatim transcripts of counselling conversations.
Record Management
Records are:
Maintained accurately and professionally.
Stored securely.
Accessed only for legitimate professional purposes.
Retained according to legal and professional requirements.
Securely destroyed when no longer required.
Counselling sessions are not electronically recorded unless agreed with the client.
Supervision and Professional Development
Professional supervision is an important part of ethical counselling practice.
Where client work is discussed in supervision, information will be managed respectfully and confidentiality will be protected. Client identity will be protected wherever possible.
Purpose of Couples Counselling
Couples counselling provides a structured environment where partners can explore relationship difficulties, improve communication, understand patterns of interaction and work towards healthier ways of relating.
Both Partners as Clients
In couples counselling, both individuals are considered clients of the therapeutic relationship.
The counsellor’s responsibility is to work with the relationship dynamic.
Confidentiality in Couples Counselling
At the beginning of couples counselling, expectations regarding confidentiality will be discussed.
Information shared within individual conversations connected to couples counselling may require careful consideration because both partners are clients of the therapeutic relationship.
The counsellor will discuss how information is managed to maintain fairness, trust and safety.
Confidentiality is more difficult to maintain where multiple parties are involved such as conjoint couples therapy and within family therapy. During conjoint couples counselling the counsellor will generally ask for a no secrets rule however in more sensitive situations it may be quite valid for an individual within a couple-ship to maintain a level of privacy. The counsellor may ask for permission from one client to communicate session content to the other.
Safety Comes First
Couples counselling is not appropriate where there is current domestic or family violence, coercive control, intimidation, threats, fear or ongoing abuse.
Relationship conflict and relationship abuse are not the same.
Where one person is experiencing fear, control or harm from the other, couples counselling may unintentionally increase risk or provide an unsafe environment for disclosure.
When Domestic Abuse Issues Are Identified
If indicators of Domestic Abuse or Coercive Control emerge before or during couples work joint counselling will cease. Couples counselling will be concluded immediately. Any decision to discontinue joint work is guided by the counsellor’s absolute ethical responsibility to protect client safety.
Safety is Prioritised
The counsellor will prioritise the immediate safety and wellbeing of the vulnerable individual.
Specialized referrals will be offered to clients.
To maintain neutrality and ensure the ongoing safety of the affected individual the counsellor will not generally pivot into long term individual therapy with either partner once joint counselling has been terminated due to safety concerns.
Fees
Counselling fees and payments will be clearly outlined prior to the first session.
Payment is required at the time of consultation unless another arrangement has been agreed.
Payments may be made online through the website booking system.
Cancellations. A 24-hour notice is required for cancellations. This practice acknowledges that illness and unforeseen events can arise and so there is an understanding around this and no cancellation fee is charged.
Counselling service will be withdrawn however if there is a clear pattern of booking and non-attendance.
Telehealth Counselling
This practice provides in-person counselling sessions only. Online or telehealth counselling is not currently offered.
Limitations of Electronic Communication
Email, text messages and other electronic communication are primarily used for:
Electronic communication is not considered a substitute for counselling sessions.
Clients are encouraged not to send detailed personal or sensitive information by email or text unless specifically discussed with the counsellor.
This practice is not an emergency or crisis service.
Messages and emails are not monitored continuously.
If you or another person is at immediate risk, contact:
The Therapeutic Relationship
The counselling relationship is a professional relationship based on trust, respect, safety and ethical responsibility.
The counsellor is committed to maintaining appropriate professional boundaries that protect both clients and the integrity of the therapeutic process.
Appropriate Boundaries
Professional boundaries include:
Between-Session Contact
Contact outside scheduled sessions should generally be limited to administrative matters.
Clients are encouraged to bring therapeutic issues, concerns or significant experiences into counselling sessions where they can be explored safely and appropriately.
To protect confidentiality and professional boundaries:
This policy exists to protect client privacy and maintain the integrity of the counselling relationship.
Commitment to Feedback
Feedback is valued as an opportunity for professional reflection and improvement.
Clients are encouraged to raise concerns directly with the counsellor wherever possible.
Commitment to Feedback
Feedback is valued as an opportunity for professional reflection and improvement.
Clients are encouraged to raise concerns directly with the counsellor wherever possible.
This practice is committed to:
Ending Counselling and Referrals
Counselling may conclude when:
Where appropriate, ending counselling will be discussed as part of the therapeutic process.
Referrals
Where a clients clinical needs fall outside the scope of this practice of if specialised care is required a referral may be recommended to:
Referrals are made in the best interests of and in agreement with the client.
The collaborative Care and Safety Exceptions:
Referrals are generally in the best interests of and in consultation and agreement with the client.
However, in exceptional circumstances where there is an immediate risk to life or safety the counsellor reserves the right to make emergency referrals to crisis or medical services in accordance with legal and ethical duties of care.
External Provider Disclaimer
Please note that external practitioners and services operate independently of this practice. Mark Roussel Counselling is not liable for the advice, care or outcome provided by an external professional to whom you have been referred.
Mark Roussel is a caring and compassionate family man who is a highly-experienced family, and relationship counsellor.
I acknowledge the Noongar people as the traditional owners of the lands where I live and work. I pay respect to their elders, past and present.
