Victims Referral and Assistance Service (VRAS) Client Information Sheet

Dear client,

My name is Dr Adam Smith and I am a clinical psychologist working in private practice. I have written this information sheet so that you have a one page summary of the more ‘practical’ aspects of the therapeutic contract. I’ve put the most important information below in point format, but please ask if anything is unclear or needs further explanation. Either way, I will be talking through this with you:

  • Consultation times are usually available Monday to Wednesday 9am to 5pm, Thursday 12pm to 8pm and Friday 9am to 12pm. On rare occasions consultation times will be available Saturday morning.
  • I tend to work using what is known as Cognitive and Behavioural Therapy (CBT). This process works by focussing on current thoughts, feelings and behaviours within the greater context of your history and learning experiences. CBT has the highest demonstrated success rates in treating victims of crime.
  • I may ask you to complete some questionnaires at the start of therapy and again at the end of therapy. This process enables me to assess the different areas of your life which have been affected by the crime, allows me to assess the severity of your problems and hence an estimate of therapy length. Furthermore, this process permits both you and I to gauge whether the therapy is helping and, at the end of our sessions, whether it has been successful.
  • I will be taking notes during our sessions that will enable me to understand your problems and allow me to formulate and implement a treatment plan. However, you should be aware that whilst our time in therapy is confidential, within the constraints of the law, under special circumstances a senior psychologist from VRAS may ask me to provide a summary report or request to see my notes. I will contact you in the unlikely event this should ever occur.
  • Therapy sessions as a result of being a victim of crime will be payed for by VRAS directly. VRAS pay for 5 sessions and a further possible 5 can be applied for if necessary.
  • Should a further 5 sessions be necessary then you must contact VRAS yourself by telephoning 9603 9797 (Melbourne) or 1800 819 817 (country) and requesting a second Counselling Claim Form (CCF2).
  • The Counselling Claim Forms should be kept by you at all times, but must be brought to each session so that we can sign them (we cannot sign sessions in advance or retrospectively).
  • All therapy payed for by VRAS must be specifically aimed at helping you recover from the effects of crime. Should some of your needs during therapy be unrelated to the crime then you will be responsible for the sessions spent addressing those issues. For example, if you already had a phobia of spiders before the crime then you will be responsible for payment for the sessions which focus on treatment for this phobia.
  • Group sessions are available. However, these are only for members of the same family or victims of the same specific crime.
  • Messages can be left on my answering machine out-of-hours on 5556 7777. However, should you need to speak to someone urgently due to emotional problems then please phone either Lifeline on 1300 651 251. I will, of course, return any phone calls that are left out-of-hours as soon as possible.
  • Should you have any further questions regarding my practice policy you should phone my secretary on 5556 7777. If you have any questions of VRAS they can be contacted on the above numbers.