Terms & Conditions

Section 1: I, The Facilitator

Rev. Ryan Edmonds - Registered Wellness Counsellor & Holistic Healing Practitioner

(ASCHP, WC23/1638 | BA Psych, UJ | ISHTA YT, YTF | KYYT, IKYTA)

What is a Registered Wellness Counsellor?

A Wellness Counsellor is a member with an applicable graduate qualification on NQF level 7 including a minimum of 100 hours of practical experience. 

Wellness Counsellors serve to enhance the total wellbeing of their clients by making use of a systems approach to counselling – working towards achieving wholeness within the integrative unity of body, mind and spirit. The level of counselling is that of primary health care. This includes individual counselling, group counselling and marriage counselling, life style coaching, counselling for problems, trauma counselling, drug and alcohol abuse counselling, HIV/AIDS counselling, counselling for gambling addiction, bereavement counselling, hospice counselling and support and assistance in human development.

The Wellness Counsellor is competent to lend comprehensive counselling support towards the improvement of the quality of life by assisting clients in resolving conflicts, improving relationships, sorting out general problems, coping with life’s challenges and finding inner peace.

Wellness Counsellors are required to refer clients to medical and psychological professionals if they identify needs that require specialised intervention such as mood, personality and anxiety disorders and health related problems that require medical attention.

More information may be found at https://www.aschp.net/designations.html (heading "Wellness Counsellor")

Scope of practice

The counsellor is bound to a specific scope of practice which is comprehensive but excludes psychotherapy, social work, medical health work and occupational therapy.

The generic scope of a life skills practice is that of wellness which includes, but is not limited to, providing support in interpersonal social relationships, spiritual growth, marital relationships, parental relationships, health related issues such as stress management, lifestyle management in prevention of chronic diseases, victim empowerment, domestic violence, trauma debriefing, household planning, HIV/AIDS, counselling, workplace adaptation, risk taking, study methods, management of anxiety and depression, substance abuse, support of vulnerable people, meeting cultural issues and diversity in the workplace, improvement of employment prospects, support to people with disabilities, mental preparation for retirement, and any other general problem that people encounter in day to day living.

Holistic Counsellors work on primary health care level, and are as such obliged to terminate counselling and refer clients to a professional (doctor, psychologist, social worker or psychiatrist) where their counselling, with reference to possible pathology or dysfunction, falls outside the scope of their practice.

Counselling competencies within scope of practice include the ability…

• To apply interpersonal skills by entering into a helping relationship.

• To apply counselling tools and techniques to assist, support, guide, debrief and encourage a client in need.

• To apply knowledge of health and wellness in a counselling context in order to screen for a health profile.

• To manage a counselling consultation with reference to record keeping, confidentiality, ethical codes, legal requirements and professional conduct within own scope of practice.

• To apply communication and numeracy skills in order to be able to analyse, interpret and evaluate information in a counselling context.

A counsellor is also required to demonstrate the following critical cross-field outcomes in counselling:

• Identify and solve problems to make responsible decisions using critical and creative thinking in the counselling process.

• Work effectively with others as a member of a team, group, organisation or community.

• Organise and manage him/herself and his/her activities responsibly and ethically with reference to scope of practice and ethical code of the profession.

• Organise and manage a practice by keeping routine records of counselling interventions according to the work context.

• Collect, organise and critically evaluate information in screening a client to determine needs and recommend appropriate interventions.

• Communicate effectively with clients and colleagues.

• Make use of science and technology in maintaining records in a database.

• Demonstrate cultural, religious, gender, social standing and language sensitivity across a range of counselling contexts in applying knowledge of interpersonal relationships to enhance the effectiveness of the counselling process.

• Demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of related systems by recognizing that problem-solving contexts do not exist in isolation.

• Demonstrate an understanding of the integration between human behaviour and health and wellness in terms of short term interventions and potential long term effects.

• Reflect on and explore a variety of strategies to learn more effectively in reflecting on own practice.

• Participate as a responsible citizen in the life of local, national and global communities in counselling within a structured environment.

I Ryan Edmonds (Wellness Counsellor, ASCHP NQF* REGISTRATION NUMBER: 895, MEMBERSHIP REGISTRATION NO: WC23/1638) am acknowledging the above roles, responsibilities and scope of practice, and agree to offering the best service I can within my ability.  I cannot legally diagnose, prescribe or treat.  

The use of non-medical, alternative, complimentary, natural, nutritional or spiritually-based healing techniques cannot replace or substitute the services of licensed professionals.

Where necessary I will refer my client to a licensed medical / clinical professional, as their wellbeing is always of the utmost importance. 

Section 2: I, The Client

Accountability

Agree that, in order for these sessions to have a positive impact on my life, I am accountable to my process. This includes doing the recommended / prescribed self-reflection exercises, homework, meditations, etc, and doing my best to apply the tools taught to me during my sessions. I take personal accountability for my life, my choices and actions.

I know that I am accountable to regularly consult a physician in all matters pertaining to physical/mental health, particularly concerning any symptoms that may require urgent diagnosis, or medical/psychological attention.

If I, the Client, have been medically diagnosed with any relevant medical / mental health disorders, I am encouraged to first gain the approval of my medical / mental health professional before beginning sessions with Wellness Counsellor, Ryan Edmonds (which may act as a form on complimentary support).

Cancellation Policy

Agree to honour my appointments. If I need to cancel or re-schedule an appointment, I am away that this must please be done with a minimum of 24 hours notice. Sessions cancelled with less than 24 hours notice will be charged at 50% of the full session fee, with 50% balance being refunded, or used as credit for a later appointment. Missed/no-show appointments will be charged as having been attended, with 0% refund or credit!

Payments

I agree that payments may be done with cash, card, or via EFT, and are due either 

1) BEFORE the session (digital payments), or 

2) AT the session (if paying in cash)

Paypal payments will be charged an additional 10%. 

In the case of regular weekly sessions, I can also choose a discounted package rate of 4 sessions.

If a session is cancelled by the Counsellor, that session shall be re-scheduled, and credited to the Client at no extra charge.

Session Times

Sessions should start and end promptly as per the selected booking times. I see a lot of clients in a day, and thus I need a short break between each to prepare for the next client. I cannot start sessions early, and all sessions must finish on time. Late arrivals will unfortunately not be granted extra time. I always let each client know when we are 10min away from session closure to provide time for summarisation of the work done.

Appointments

I understand that healing and positive change can take time. I agree that I need to commit to a journey if I am to see positive results. It is up to me as to how I wish to pace my sessions, and can opt in for:

1) weekly sessions

2) bi-monthly (twice a month)

3) monthly options, or

4) as the "when the need arises"

I can change my appointment structure at any time by communicating to the Counsellor.

POPI Act

I hereby give AFRISHANTI WELLNESS (and its Director, Ryan Edmonds) consent to process my personal information, in accordance with the provisions of the Protection of Personal Information Act, for all purposes related to the carrying out of this mandate. I will be added to the monthly Afrishanti Wellness Newsletter, and may at any time opt out by clicking "Unsubscribe" at the bottom of the mail. 

Conclusion of Sessions

I understand that there may be a time when I may feel that I have reached a conclusion of my time with my Wellness Counsellor.  This is natural.  Each client’s journey is unique.  

Some clients only need 4-6 sessions, others enjoy regular coaching and counselling once a month for many years as a way to stay aligned to personal goals, and accountable to their journey, or to help deal with the challenges of life when they present.  

Whenever I (as the Client) feel that I have received all I needed from our sessions together, I am encouraged to communicate clearly to my Counsellor.  I may then choose to decide if I want to terminate sessions completely, re-structure (continuing with ongoing work with longer gaps between appointments), or decide to keep my Counsellor “on call” should the need ever arise.  All approaches are respected.