Terms & Conditions

Last Updated: April 2, 2025

1. Introduction and Acceptance

Welcome to Get Guidance (“we,” “our,” or “us”), the professional counselling practice of Karen Benbassat Ali, MA., RCC. These Terms and Conditions (“Terms”) govern your access to and use of our website, located at getguidance.com (the “Website”), as well as the counselling services provided by Karen Benbassat Ali, MA., RCC.

By accessing the Website or using our services, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree to these Terms, please do not use our Website or services.

These Terms constitute a legally binding agreement between you and Get Guidance. You represent and warrant that you have the legal capacity to enter into this agreement. If you are accessing the Website or using our services on behalf of a company or other legal entity, you represent that you have the authority to bind such entity to these Terms.

2. Counselling Services

2.1 Scope of Services

Get Guidance offers professional counselling services provided by Karen Benbassat Ali, MA., RCC, a Registered Clinical Counsellor with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors. Our services include but are not limited to:

Individual counselling for adults
Youth counselling
Group counselling
Online and telephone counselling

2.2 Professional Relationship

The counsellor-client relationship is a professional one that involves mutual respect, clear boundaries, and collaborative effort. The client acknowledges that successful therapy outcomes depend on their active participation and that no specific outcomes can be guaranteed.

2.3 Clinical Judgment

Karen Benbassat Ali exercises professional judgment in determining appropriate therapeutic approaches, frequency of sessions, and treatment recommendations. If at any time it is determined that a client’s needs are beyond our scope of practice or expertise, we may recommend referral to another healthcare provider or specialist.

3. Appointments and Scheduling

3.1 Scheduling

Appointments can be scheduled through our online booking system, by email, or by phone. Standard counselling sessions are 50 minutes in duration, with initial assessments typically lasting 60-75 minutes.

3.2 Punctuality

Clients are expected to arrive on time for their appointments. Late arrivals may result in shortened sessions, as we must adhere to the scheduled end time to respect subsequent appointments. The full session fee applies regardless of late arrival.

3.3 Availability

We make reasonable efforts to offer appointment times that accommodate various schedules, but cannot guarantee specific time slots on an ongoing basis. Regular appointment times may occasionally need to be adjusted due to holidays, professional development, or other scheduling considerations.

4. Fees and Payment

4.1 Fee Schedule

Our current fee schedule is as follows:

Initial Assessment (60-75 minutes): $150
Individual Counselling Session (50 minutes): $130
Youth Counselling Session (50 minutes): $130
Group Counselling: Varies by program (typically $40-$60 per session)

Fees may be adjusted periodically. Current clients will receive at least 30 days’ notice before any fee changes take effect.

4.2 Payment Methods

We accept payment via:

Credit card (Visa, Mastercard)
Electronic funds transfer (e-Transfer)
Cash (in-person sessions only)

Payment is due at the time of service unless other arrangements have been made in advance.

4.3 Insurance and Third-Party Billing

We do not directly bill insurance companies. Clients are responsible for payment at the time of service and may submit receipts to their insurance provider for reimbursement if applicable. We provide detailed receipts that include all information typically required by insurance providers.

4.4 Extended Health Benefits

Services provided by a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) are often eligible for coverage under extended health benefit plans. It is the client’s responsibility to verify coverage with their insurance provider before beginning therapy.

5. Cancellation Policy

5.1 Standard Cancellation

We require a minimum of 24 hours’ notice for cancellation or rescheduling of appointments. Cancellations made with less than 24 hours’ notice will be subject to the full session fee, except in cases of genuine emergency or sudden illness.

5.2 Exceptions

Exceptions to the cancellation policy may be made at the counsellor’s discretion in cases of:

Medical emergencies (with documentation if requested)
Severe weather conditions that make travel unsafe
Unexpected family emergencies

5.3 No-Shows

Failure to attend a scheduled appointment without any notice (“no-show”) will result in a charge for the full session fee. Repeated no-shows may result in the termination of services.

5.4 Counsellor Cancellation

In the rare event that the counsellor needs to cancel an appointment, we will provide as much notice as possible and offer alternative appointment times. No fees will be charged for sessions cancelled by the counsellor.

6. Confidentiality and Privacy

6.1 Commitment to Confidentiality

We maintain strict confidentiality in accordance with the ethical standards of the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors and applicable privacy laws. Information shared during counselling sessions is kept confidential with limited exceptions (see below).

6.2 Limits to Confidentiality

There are important legal and ethical limits to confidentiality, including:

Risk of harm to self or others: If there is reason to believe you may harm yourself or someone else, we may need to take steps to ensure safety, which may include contacting appropriate authorities or the person at risk.
Child or vulnerable person abuse: If there is disclosure or reasonable suspicion of abuse or neglect of a child or vulnerable adult, we are legally required to report this to appropriate authorities.
Court orders: If ordered by a court of law, we may be required to release information.
Insurance requirements: If you use insurance to pay for services, we may need to provide certain information to your insurance provider.

6.3 Privacy Practices

For detailed information about how we collect, use, and protect your personal information, please refer to our Privacy Policy, available on our Website.

7. Online and Telephone Counselling

7.1 Technology Requirements

For online counselling sessions, clients need:

A reliable internet connection
A device with video and audio capabilities (computer, tablet, or smartphone)
A private, quiet space free from interruptions
Any software or applications specified in your appointment confirmation

7.2 Security and Privacy

We use secure, encrypted platforms designed for healthcare providers to conduct online sessions. However, no technology is completely secure, and clients acknowledge that there are inherent privacy risks in online communication. We recommend:

Using a private, secure internet connection (not public Wi-Fi)
Ensuring your device has up-to-date security software
Using headphones to enhance privacy
Not recording sessions without explicit permission

7.3 Technical Difficulties

If technical difficulties prevent or significantly disrupt an online session, we will attempt to:

Reconnect or troubleshoot the issue
Switch to telephone counselling if video is not possible
Reschedule the session if necessary (without applying the cancellation fee)

If at least half of the scheduled session time was completed before technical difficulties occurred, the session will be considered complete and billed accordingly.

7.4 Limitations of Remote Counselling

Clients acknowledge that online or telephone counselling may not be suitable for all individuals or all therapeutic needs. The counsellor may recommend in-person services if it is determined that remote counselling is not clinically appropriate.

8. Website Use

8.1 Acceptable Use

You agree to use our Website only for lawful purposes and in a manner that does not infringe upon or restrict the rights of others. Prohibited activities include but are not limited to:

Attempting to gain unauthorized access to any part of the Website
Attempting to interfere with the proper functioning of the Website
Using the Website to transmit any harmful code or material
Collecting or harvesting any information from the Website without authorization
Impersonating any person or entity or misrepresenting your affiliation

8.2 Account Security

If you create an account on our Website (e.g., for online scheduling), you are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and for all activities that occur under your account. You agree to notify us immediately of any unauthorized use of your account or any other security breach.

8.3 Third-Party Links

Our Website may contain links to third-party websites or resources. These links are provided for your convenience only. We have no control over, and assume no responsibility for, the content, privacy policies, or practices of any third-party websites or resources.

9. Intellectual Property

9.1 Ownership

All content on the Website, including but not limited to text, graphics, logos, images, audio clips, video clips, and software, is the property of Get Guidance or our content suppliers and is protected by Canadian and international copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws.

9.2 Limited License

We grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable license to access and use the Website for your personal, non-commercial use. This license does not include:

Modifying or copying the materials
Using the materials for any commercial purpose
Attempting to decompile or reverse engineer any software contained on the Website
Removing any copyright or other proprietary notations
Transferring the materials to another person or “mirroring” the materials on any other server

This license shall automatically terminate if you violate any of these restrictions and may be terminated by us at any time.

9.3 Therapeutic Resources

From time to time, we may provide clients with therapeutic resources, worksheets, or other materials for use in their personal therapeutic journey. These materials are for the client’s personal use only and may not be reproduced, distributed, or used for any other purpose without our express written permission.

10. User-Generated Content

10.1 Submissions

If you submit comments, suggestions, feedback, testimonials, or other content to us through the Website, by email, or in person, you grant us a non-exclusive, royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable, and fully sublicensable right to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate, create derivative works from, distribute, and display such content in any form, media, or technology.

10.2 Representations and Warranties

You represent and warrant that you own or control all rights to the content you submit and that the content does not infringe upon the rights of any third party.

10.3 Testimonials

We may publish client testimonials on our Website or in other promotional materials. Testimonials will be published only with the client’s express consent and will be anonymized or use only first names and last initials unless otherwise specified.

11. Disclaimers and Limitations of Liability

11.1 Website Disclaimer

The Website and its content are provided “as is” and “as available” without any warranties of any kind, either express or implied, including but not limited to warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement.

11.2 Informational Content

The information provided on our Website, blog, or other informational materials is for general educational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical or psychological condition.

11.3 Therapeutic Outcomes

While we are committed to providing high-quality counselling services, we cannot guarantee specific outcomes from therapy. The results of counselling vary depending on many factors, including the nature of the presenting issues, client engagement, and external circumstances.

11.4 Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, Get Guidance and Karen Benbassat Ali shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, or any loss of profits or revenues, whether incurred directly or indirectly, or any loss of data, use, goodwill, or other intangible losses, resulting from:

Your access to or use of or inability to access or use the Website or services
Any conduct or content of any third party on the Website
Any content obtained from the Website
Unauthorized access, use, or alteration of your transmissions or content

12. Termination of Services

12.1 Client-Initiated Termination

Clients may discontinue counselling services at any time. We encourage clients to discuss termination with their counsellor to ensure appropriate closure and to address any ongoing concerns. Outstanding fees for services already rendered remain payable upon termination.

12.2 Counsellor-Initiated Termination

The counsellor may terminate services under certain circumstances, including but not limited to:

Determination that the client would be better served by another provider or type of service
Persistent non-payment of fees
Repeated missed appointments without adequate notice
Client behavior that is disruptive, abusive, or incompatible with the therapeutic relationship
Conflict of interest that emerges during the course of therapy

When appropriate, the counsellor will provide referrals to alternative services or providers.

12.3 Records After Termination

Client records will be maintained for the period required by professional standards and applicable laws, typically a minimum of 7 years from the date of last contact. Clients may request copies of their records or transfer of records to another provider in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

13. Emergency Procedures

13.1 Non-Emergency Service

Our counselling services are not designed to provide emergency mental health support. We do not offer 24-hour crisis services, and messages sent outside of business hours may not be received until the next business day.

13.2 Crisis Resources

In case of a mental health emergency or crisis:

Call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room
Call the Crisis Centre: 1-800-784-2433 (1-800-SUICIDE)
Call the Mental Health Support Line: 310-6789 (no area code needed)
Text HOME to 686868 for Crisis Text Line

13.3 Safety Planning

For clients with known risk factors, we may develop a safety plan during therapy. This plan should be followed if crisis situations arise between sessions.

14. Changes to Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. We will post the modified Terms on this page with an updated “Last Updated” date. For significant changes, we may also provide notification by other means, such as email (for existing clients) or a prominent notice on our Website.

Your continued use of the Website or services after any changes to the Terms constitutes your acceptance of the modified Terms. If you do not agree to the modified Terms, you should discontinue your use of the Website and services.

We encourage you to review the Terms periodically to stay informed about our policies and practices.

15. Contact Information

If you have any questions, concerns, or feedback about these Terms, please contact us at:

Get Guidance
Karen Benbassat Ali, MA., RCC
Email: info@getguidance.com
Phone: (555) 123-4567
Address: 123 Healing Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6E 1A1

By using our Website or services, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions. These Terms constitute the entire agreement between you and Get Guidance regarding your use of our Website and services, superseding any prior agreements.

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