TL;DR:
This page covers all the essential fine print — privacy, confidentiality, cancellations, fees are here, consent, and how your information is handled. It’s long. It’s not thrilling. But it is important. Please give it a read (or at least a skim). If anything’s unclear, please ask. I promise not to quiz you on it later!
Cancellation Policy
At Michelle Saleeba Psychology, we understand that unforeseen circumstances may arise that require you to reschedule or cancel your appointment. To ensure fairness and allow adequate time to offer appointments to other clients, the following cancellation policy applies:
Late Cancellations and Missed Appointments
Cancellations under 24 hours of the scheduled appointment time may incur a cancellation fee equivalent to 70% of the session fee will apply with no Medicare rebate.
Missed appointments (no-shows) without prior notice will incur the full session fee.
Exceptions
We understand that emergencies and unforeseen situations can occur. If you are unable to provide sufficient notice due to circumstances beyond your control, please contact us as soon as possible. Exceptions to the cancellation fee will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
How to Cancel or Reschedule
To cancel or reschedule your appointment, please contact us via:
Use the client portal here
Payment of Cancellation Fees
Any applicable cancellation fees must be paid prior to attending your next session.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. This policy helps us to manage our schedule and waitlist effectively, providing the best possible care to all clients. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Walk and Talk Therapy offers an alternative to traditional, office-based sessions by conducting therapy outdoors. While this approach is not suitable for all clients or clinical presentations, it can be a meaningful and effective way of engaging in therapy for those who feel more comfortable in natural environments or prefer movement-based sessions.
Before we begin, please review the information below and confirm your consent.
Key Considerations
Walk and Talk Therapy is not superior to traditional therapy. Evidence suggests it can be equally effective for some individuals.
The benefits of therapy – regardless of setting – are most often linked to what are known as common therapeutic factors: the quality of the therapeutic relationship, your belief in the process, personal insight, and the ability to meaningfully apply what’s discussed.
This form of therapy may be helpful if you feel more at ease outdoors or prefer walking to sitting. It can also support emotional clarity and regulation through physical movement and connection to nature.
Your Role in Preparing for Outdoor Sessions
Please take responsibility for attending to your own needs when participating in therapy outdoors. This may include:
Wearing appropriate clothing and footwear for walking on uneven terrain or in varying weather
Bringing items such as:
- A hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, and water bottle
- A rain jacket or umbrella if wet weather is expected
- Antihistamines, an EpiPen, or insect repellant as needed
Informing your psychologist if you:
- Require support when walking downhill or on uneven surfaces
- Need to adjust the walking pace
- Prefer to switch to a telehealth session that week due to weather, physical needs, or comfort
Health and Medical Responsibility
Please consult your General Practitioner (GP) before beginning Walk and Talk Therapy, particularly if you have any health conditions that may impact your ability to walk safely.
We recommend discussing this therapy format with your GP when they prepare a referral (e.g., Mental Health Care Plan), so that appropriate medical checks or considerations can be made.
You acknowledge that your participation in outdoor movement is voluntary, and you are responsible for managing your physical safety and health needs during sessions.
Confidentiality and Public Space
While every effort will be made to maintain confidentiality, please be aware that we are in public settings. We may encounter other people, including acquaintances or members of the public.
If we do encounter someone, your psychologist will not introduce you and will follow your lead unless you indicate otherwise.
We will choose routes that offer as much privacy as reasonably possible, but complete privacy cannot be guaranteed in an outdoor setting.
Informed Consent
At intake you will be sent a form to confirm that you understand the following:
- Walk and Talk Therapy is a voluntary and optional alternative to standard therapy
- It may not be suitable for all sessions or clinical needs
- You can request to return to indoor or telehealth sessions at any time
- You are responsible for your own health, physical readiness, and personal items during outdoor sessions
- You have had the opportunity to ask questions about this therapy format
Walk and Talk Therapy
Confidentiality and Limitations
Your privacy and confidentiality are taken seriously. All information you share in sessions is treated with the utmost respect and is protected in accordance with Australian privacy law and ethical guidelines set by the Psychology Board of Australia.
Information shared in therapy will not be disclosed to others without your written consent, except in the following circumstances, where disclosure may be required by law or ethical duty:
If there is a serious risk of harm to you or someone else;
If there is a legal obligation to do so (e.g. a subpoena by a court);
If there is a disclosure of child abuse or risk of harm to a child;
In supervision or professional consultation, where identifying details are removed to protect your privacy.
If you have been referred under a Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP), brief progress reports are required to be shared with your referring GP as part of Medicare requirements.
If you have any concerns or questions about confidentiality, please feel free to raise them at any time.
Privacy Policy
This privacy policy outlines how we collect, use, store, and protect your personal information in compliance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs), and the professional obligations of psychologists registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). By engaging our psychological and wellbeing services, you consent to the practices described in this policy.
Collection of Personal Information
We collect personal information to provide high-quality psychological care and meet our professional and legal obligations. The types of information we may collect include:
Personal details: Name, contact information, date of birth, and emergency contact details.
Health information: Medical history, psychological history, and details relevant to your care.
We only collect information that is relevant and necessary to deliver our services. Wherever possible, we will collect information directly from you.
Use and Disclosure of Personal Information
Your information is used for the following purposes:
To provide psychological services, including assessment, diagnosis, and treatment.
To communicate with you regarding appointments or follow-up care.
To manage billing and administration processes.
To comply with legal, regulatory, and professional obligations.
Your personal information will not be disclosed to third parties without your consent, except in the following circumstances:
If required by law (e.g., mandatory reporting of harm or risk to yourself or others).
When sharing information with other health professionals is necessary for your care and you have provided consent.
In rare circumstances where a court subpoena or legal request mandates disclosure.
Storage and Security of Information
We take all reasonable steps to ensure your personal information is stored securely, whether in electronic or physical formats. This includes:
Encryption and password protection for electronic records.
Secure storage for physical records.
Limiting access to authorised personnel only.
Using Zanda Health a secure practice management system, to store and manage your information. Zanda Health complies with Australian privacy standards and employs robust security measures to protect your data.
We retain records for a minimum of 7 years (or longer for minors, as per AHPRA requirements), after which they are securely destroyed.
Your Rights
You have the right to:
Access your personal information: You may request access to your records by contacting us directly. In some cases, legal or ethical requirements may restrict access.
Request corrections: If you believe any information we hold is inaccurate, you may request corrections.
All requests by clients for access to or correction of personal information held about them should be lodged with admin@michellesaleeba.com. These requests will be responded to in writing within 14 days days, and an appointment will be made if necessary for clarification purposes.
Website and Online Privacy
When you visit our website, we may collect non-identifiable information, such as IP addresses or browsing behaviour, to improve your experience. Our website uses secure technologies to protect any information you submit online. However, no online system can guarantee absolute security, so we encourage you to use discretion when sharing sensitive information via the internet.
We do not share your information with third parties for marketing purposes.
Complaints and Concerns
If you have any concerns about the way your personal information is handled, please contact us directly. We will take your complaint seriously and work to address it promptly. If you are not satisfied with our response, you may contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC). Or the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
Contact Us
If you have any questions about this privacy policy or how your information is managed, please CONTACT US.
This policy is reviewed regularly to ensure compliance with relevant laws and guidelines and updates will be published on this page. By using our services, you consent to the terms of this privacy policy. If you do not agree with this policy, please discuss your concerns with us before proceeding with treatment.
Use of NovoNote for AI-Assisted Note‑Taking
With your explicit consent, we may use NovoNote, an AI-powered assistant created by NovoPsych, to generate session summaries in real time. Audio is not recorded or stored, and transcripts are deleted after the summary is produced. Only the clinician-reviewed summary remains in your confidential file.
NovoNote operates under strict privacy and security controls, compliant with AHPRA, the Australian Privacy Principles, HIPAA, GDPR, AES‑256 encryption, and more. Your data is never used to train AI models or shared without proper agreements.
At any time, you may decline or withdraw consent to use NovoNote, and the clinician will take session notes manually as usual. The use of NovoNote does not alter the nature or quality of your clinical service.
Terms & Conditions of Website Use
These Terms and Conditions (“Terms”) govern your use of the Michelle Saleeba Psychology website (“the Practice,” “we,” “our,” or “us”). By using this site, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agreed to the following:
1. Website Content and Purpose
This website provides general information about our services, creative wellbeing offerings, and therapeutic approaches. It is not a substitute for professional psychological advice, assessment, or treatment. Nothing on this site is intended as personal mental health guidance.
2. No Therapeutic Relationship Formed
Accessing this website, subscribing to updates, or downloading resources does not establish a therapeutic relationship. A formal therapeutic relationship is only formed after intake procedures are completed and mutual agreement to commence treatment is in place.
3. Crisis and Emergency Disclaimer
This website is not monitored continuously and should not be used to seek urgent psychological assistance. If you are in distress, please contact your GP, Lifeline (13 11 14), or Emergency Services (000).
4. External Links
We may include links to third-party websites or resources for your convenience. These links do not imply endorsement, and we are not responsible for the accuracy, security, or content of external sites.
5. Intellectual Property
All content on this website, including downloadable guides, meditations, audio recordings, written materials, and branding, is the intellectual property of Michelle Saleeba, unless otherwise credited. These materials are provided for personal, non-commercial use only and may not be reproduced, republished, or distributed without written permission.
6. Website Security
We take reasonable steps to ensure this site is secure. However, we cannot guarantee it is free from viruses, malware, or other harmful components. Use of this website is at your own risk, and you are encouraged to have appropriate digital security measures in place.
7. Jurisdiction
This website is intended for use by individuals residing in Australia. Services are delivered in accordance with Australian laws and the professional standards of psychologists registered with AHPRA.
Client Feedback Form
We welcome your reflections to help improve the care we offer. You can access the feedback form via this QR code. Please Note: The password is included in your intake email and is also noted at the bottom of all client invoices and receipts for ease of access.
