Terms and Conditions

1. Confidentiality

1.1 All information shared during counselling sessions is treated with strict confidentiality. Your counsellor will not disclose any details of your sessions to third parties without your explicit consent.

1.2 However, confidentiality has the following legal and ethical limits. Sitara and its counsellors reserve the right, and may be legally required, to break confidentiality if:

• You are at immediate risk of harming yourself or others.

• There is reason to believe that a vulnerable person or group is at risk (e.g., suspected child abuse, elder abuse, or abuse of a person who cannot protect themselves).

• Information is required for processing payments and claims (e.g., sharing diagnosis or service information with authorised billing/payment entities).

• Disclosure is required by law, court order, or by statutory authorities.

Where possible and appropriate, your counsellor will discuss any such disclosure with you before taking action.

2. Payments and Session Bookings

2.1 A counselling session/slot is confirmed only upon receipt of advance payment.

2.2 Each counselling session is typically 55–60 minutes in duration, unless otherwise agreed in advance.

2.3 The counselling fee is subject to annual review. Sitara reserves the right to revise fees and will endeavour to communicate changes in a reasonable timeframe.

2.4 All payments are non-refundable unless otherwise specified under these Terms & Conditions or at Sitara’s discretion.

3. Validity of Sessions and Packages

3.1 Sitara offers counselling packages of different durations (e.g., a set number of sessions or time-bound packages). Each package will have a clearly stated validity period.

3.2 All sessions within a package must be used within the specified validity period. Any unused sessions after the expiry date will be forfeited and are not refundable or transferable.

3.3 Referral bonuses, when credited, are valid for 2 (two) months from the date of credit. Any unused bonus sessions after this period will be forfeited.

4. Referral Bonus Programme

4.1 Sitara offers referral bonuses to clients who refer others to our services. The current referral structure is as follows:

• You receive one free counselling session as a referral bonus each time a referred client either:

  • signs up for a counselling package, or

  • completes five (5) counselling sessions.

• For every five (5) successful referrals, you receive an additional one hour of counselling free.

4.2 All referral bonus sessions:

• Are non-transferable and cannot be exchanged for cash.

• Are valid for 2 (two) months from the date of credit.

• Must be scheduled subject to counsellor availability.

4.3 Sitara reserves the right to modify or discontinue the referral bonus programme at any time. Any changes will not affect bonuses already credited within their validity period.

5. Cancellation and Rescheduling Policy

5.1 If you are unable to attend a scheduled session, the following terms apply:

• Planned Absence:
  Please inform your counsellor at least 5 (five) days in advance so that the session can be rescheduled without penalty.

• Less than 5 Days’ Notice:
  Cancellations or rescheduling requests made with less than 5 days’ notice will be charged at 50% (half) of the normal session fee.

• Less than 24-Hour Notice / No Show:
  Cancellations with less than 24 hours’ notice, or failure to attend a scheduled session without notice (“no show”), will be charged at the full session fee.

5.2 If your counsellor is unable to attend a session:

• Sitara will inform you as soon as possible.

• You will not be charged for that session.

• An alternative session time will be offered at the earliest possible availability.

5.3 Sitara undertakes to avoid counsellor cancellations as far as reasonably possible and will usually cancel only in cases of emergencies or unavoidable circumstances.

6. Website Content and Intellectual Property

6.1 All unregistered and registered trademarks, logos, slogans, text, graphics, and other content on this website are the exclusive property of Sitara, unless otherwise stated.

6.2 No part of this website may be copied, reproduced, distributed, or used in any manner without the prior written consent of Sitara.

7. Full Client Disclosure & Right to Refuse Services

7.1 In order to ensure safe and appropriate care, you are required to disclose any history of:

• Major psychiatric episodes or hospitalisation

• Drug and/or alcohol dependence

• Diagnoses such as (but not limited to):

  • Borderline Personality Disorder

  • Major Depressive Disorder

  • Bipolar Disorder Type I

  • Mentally Ill/Chemically Addicted (MICA)

  • Schizophrenia

7.2 This information must be shared with Sitara prior to commencing counselling services.

7.3 Failure to disclose, or knowingly withholding or misrepresenting such information, releases Sitara and its counsellors from liability related to your diagnosis, prognosis, treatment outcome, and actions.

7.4 If at any point during the course of counselling it is determined that your needs fall outside Sitara’s scope of practice or expertise, Sitara reserves the right to refuse and/or discontinue services. In such cases, reasonable efforts will be made to provide you with appropriate referral options.

8. Nature and Limits of Counselling

8.1 Counselling can be a deeply beneficial process. Potential benefits may include:

• Improved relationships and communication

• Increased self-awareness and insight into your thoughts, feelings, and behaviours

• Clarification of personal values and goals

• Reduction in distress and more effective coping strategies

8.2 However, counselling may also involve discussing difficult or painful experiences and emotions, which can feel uncomfortable at times.

8.3 While many clients experience positive outcomes, there are no guarantees regarding what you will gain or how you will feel during or after counselling. By engaging in counselling with Sitara, you acknowledge that you do so at your own risk.

8.4 You agree that you understand the potential benefits and limitations of counselling, and you will not hold Sitara liable for how you choose to use the information, insights, or tools shared in sessions.

9. Record Keeping and Data Management

9.1 Case Notes
Counsellors may keep brief case notes to support the therapeutic process, track progress, and recall important themes. These notes are:

• Kept securely by the counsellor or Sitara

• Used solely for professional purposes

• Written in a way that avoids using directly identifying personal information where possible

9.2 Assessment Tools
Assessment tools may be used to better understand your concerns and track progress. Any paper-based or digital assessments are stored securely. Identifying information will be minimised and protected in line with Sitara’s confidentiality and data protection practices.

9.3 Sitara complies, as far as practicable, with applicable data protection and privacy standards in managing your information.

10. Personal and Professional Boundaries

10.1 To maintain a safe, ethical therapeutic relationship, the following boundaries apply:

• Contact with your counsellor is limited to agreed professional channels (such as official email, messages for scheduling, or agreed platforms).

• Social, personal, or informal contact with your counsellor outside sessions is generally not appropriate.

• Physical contact between client and counsellor is not appropriate at any time.

10.2 If there is a chance meeting with your counsellor in a social or public setting, the counsellor may discuss with you in advance how such encounters may be handled to protect your privacy and comfort.

11. Non-Advisory Clause

11.1 Counsellors associated with Sitara do not provide:

• Legal advice

• Financial or benefits-related advice

• Medical or psychiatric diagnosis or treatment (unless they are separately qualified and acting within that role, which will be clearly communicated)

11.2 Counselling at Sitara focuses on emotional, psychological, and relational support. You are encouraged to seek appropriate professional advice (legal, medical, financial, etc.) as needed.

12. Reciprocal Commitment and Continuity

12.1 Regular and consistent attendance is important for effective counselling.

12.2 Sitara is committed to providing continuity of care wherever possible, including offering a regular session time when feasible.

12.3 We ask that you match this commitment by:

• Arriving (or logging in, for online sessions) on time and prepared for your session

• Understanding that sessions must end at the scheduled time and cannot be extended due to late arrival

• Engaging with any reflective tasks or practices suggested between sessions, where possible

12.4 If you find yourself unable to commit to regular sessions, Sitara may, at its discretion:

• Discontinue a fixed recurring slot, and

• Offer you ‘ad-hoc’ sessions subject to availability, without guarantee of regular future bookings.

13. Changes and Modifications to Terms

13.1 Sitara reserves the right to amend, update, or modify these Terms and Conditions, website content, and any other related information at any time without prior notice.

13.2 Your continued use of this website and/or Sitara’s services following any changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated Terms and Conditions. You are responsible for reviewing the Terms regularly.

14. Complaints and Feedback

14.1 Sitara welcomes honest feedback and aims to resolve concerns in a respectful and constructive manner.

14.2 If you have any difficulty or concern about your counselling, you are encouraged to discuss it directly with your counsellor in the first instance.

14.3 If the matter remains unresolved, you may write to:
Email: sitaradazzele@gmail.com

14.4 We understand that raising concerns can feel difficult. You will receive a thoughtful and respectful response, and we will take all reasonable steps to address your concerns.

15. Acceptance of Terms

By:

• Accessing or using this website, and/or

• Booking or attending counselling sessions with Sitara,

you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to abide by the above Terms and Conditions. If you do not agree, please refrain from using this website and Sitara’s services.

If you have any questions or require clarification about these terms, please contact Sitara using the contact details provided.