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FAQ
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Can you help someone in a crisis situation?We are not a 24/7 crisis service, we are not set up to see people who are acutely suicidal. We can help people who do have periodic suicidal thoughts. We recommend calling a crisis line if you are acutely suicidal.
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Do I need a referral or a diagnosis?No, anyone can use our services. We try to make accessing our services as easy as possible.
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I feel nervous, can I bring a support person with me?Absolutely. We want to do everything we can to make you feel as comfortable as possible. It is also your right to have a support person under the Health and Disability Act. We encourage friends and family to be involved with a person's treatment, where appropriate/possible.
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What ages do you see?We have no age limit, we may see very young children with a suitable adult (although please note that not all of our staff will see all ages).
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Are there any people you do not see?We do not have the resources to adequately help people who have addictions, eating disorders or psychosis as their primary reason for seeking help. We will see people who have had this in the past and their condition is being managed well.
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Are there any side effects from your treatments?We try to find treatments that have the fewest possible side effects. If there are possible side effects our team will discuss this with you before treatment begins. If someone is not in a good frame of mind, we may get a second opinion from a family member or a trusted friend.
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Where are you based?We offer in person appointments in Christchurch and online appointments for people elsewhere in NZ.
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Do I have to earn below a certain income to receive help from you?No, our services are open to anyone and some of our services have rates specifically for low income earners.
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When do I need to pay?We require payment at the time of booking.
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What can I do if I need your service but can't afford it?We are a not-for-profit organisation offering low-priced therapy. We have made our services as affordable as possible by supplementing the amount you pay with grants and donations. Grants and donations are also used to cover the cost of specialised machinery and therapists, and we hope to eventually have enough funding to make some of our services free for people who genuinely can't afford them. However, if the cost of our therapy is still too expensive for you right now, you may be able to get financial support through: Work and Income New Zealand - Te Hiranga Harata (WINZ) have a disability allowance that includes counselling. See: https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/eligibility/health-and-disability/counselling.html. ACC Sensitive Claims is available to New Zealanders who have suffered physical injury or sexual abuse. See: https://www.acc.co.nz/im-injured/types-of-ongoing-support/counselling-therapy/. and Your employer may have an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), and this may cover mental health services, and we have therapists who perform EAP services for workplaces. If your employer doesn't have one already set up, they are welcome to talk to us about doing so. You may even find that you could set up a Gofundme page and get friends and family to all chip in to help. Many people would be happy to support their loved ones get healthy; if they only knew that help was needed. If none of these are an option and you can't afford help, we would rather you contact us and talk with us about your situation, in case we can help in some way. Please don't walk away from getting help because you think you can't afford it. Talk to us first.
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What happens if I need to cancel my appointment?There are a lot of people who need help. If you are unable to make your appointment please let us know as soon as possible so we can offer it to someone else. If you cancel your appointment within 48 hours there is no charge. If you within 48 hours you will be charged 60% of the appointment cost.
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What happens to my information?We record what happens in your treatment sessions so we can refer to them as we work with you. This information is held on a secure server. You can request to see your notes at any time, and if you would like us to pass our notes on to your GP or other provider, we can, but we do not automatically do so. When you stop seeing us we will hold your notes for seven years as this is a NZ coronial legal requirement. After this time your records will be destroyed, unless you instruct us otherwise. You can nominate someone, such as a family member, to be informed of your treatment progress, but this is your choice.
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I'm a mental health or medical professional and I'm struggling, can you help me?Yes. We understand that everyone can struggle and will need help from time to time, and that includes people who work in the field. We can provide support to you as you support your clients.
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What can I do if I am not happy with your service?We always try to deliver the best service we can. If you are unhappy with our service we encourage you to raise your concerns with the person you are seeing. If you are unable to do this, you can talk to our director, Michael Hempseed, or you can make a complaint to the Health and Disability Commissioner. Their website is https://www.hdc.org.nz
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If the treatment is unsuccessful will I get a refund?No treatment can ever guarantee success, but we are proud of how well our treatments work for most people and are hopeful that you will also notice improvements. If you believe treatment has not worked we are unable to refund you as the services are already offered at a reduced cost, relying on grants and donations to cover the rest. Plus, we have already incurred the cost of delivering the treatment and as a not-for-profit, only have the funds necessary to do so.
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