Terms & Conditions

Agreement to Terms

By booking an appointment or using the services of Solace Counselling, you agree to the following terms and conditions. These terms apply to all clients of Kate Gates, RCC, operating as Solace Counselling in Vancouver, British Columbia.

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Professional Services

Solace Counselling provides professional counselling services delivered by Kate Gates, a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) in good standing with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC). Counselling is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Clients are encouraged to consult with their physician for any medical concerns.

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Session Fees

Fees are due at the time of each session. Payment methods accepted will be confirmed at the time of booking. An official receipt will be provided for submission to extended health benefit plans that cover Registered Clinical Counsellors.

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Cancellation Policy

A minimum of 24 hours notice is required for all appointment cancellations or rescheduling requests. Appointments cancelled with less than 24 hours notice may be charged the full session fee, except in cases of genuine emergency.

Repeated late cancellations or no-shows may result in the requirement of prepayment for future sessions.

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Confidentiality

All information disclosed within counselling sessions is held in strict confidence. Please refer to our Privacy Policy for full details on how your information is collected, used, and protected.

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Limits of Confidentiality

Confidentiality may be ethically and legally required to be broken in the following circumstances:

• When there is risk of imminent harm to the client or another person
• When there is reasonable suspicion of child abuse or neglect
• When disclosure is ordered by a court of law
• When required by other applicable law

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E-Counselling and Virtual Sessions

Virtual counselling sessions are available to clients located in British Columbia. By participating in virtual sessions, you acknowledge that online communications carry inherent privacy risks. Clients are responsible for ensuring they are in a private, secure location during virtual sessions.

Solace Counselling uses secure, encrypted platforms for virtual sessions and takes reasonable precautions to protect the confidentiality of online communications.

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Scope of Practice

Kate Gates provides counselling services within the scope of practice defined by the BCACC. If a client's needs fall outside this scope, Kate will discuss this with the client and provide appropriate referrals. Solace Counselling does not provide crisis intervention services. If you are in crisis, please contact the Crisis Centre BC at 1-800-SUICIDE (784-2433) or 310-6789, or call 911.

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Changes to These Terms

Solace Counselling reserves the right to update these Terms and Conditions at any time. Clients will be notified of any significant changes. Continued use of our services following notification of changes constitutes acceptance of the updated terms.