Counselling sessions carry both benefits and risks. They can significantly reduce distress, improve relationships, and/or resolve other issues. However, these changes or improvements cannot be guaranteed due to many variables that affect counselling sessions. Experiencing uncomfortable feelings, as well as discussing unpleasant situations, are considered risks of counselling sessions.

Counselling sessions are 50 minutes long, with longer sessions available at pro-rated fees.

Holly’s fee for face-to-face and online video counselling is 120 USD / 950 HKD / 3,800 NTD per session. Her fee for email counselling is 50 USD / 400 HKD / 1,600 NTD per letter.

If you have insurance coverage — either privately or through employee benefits — please confirm if your coverage includes therapy or counselling sessions prior to beginning counselling.

If Holly’s fees are a barrier, Holly has limited availability for sessions at a reduced fee. Please inquire about availability prior to beginning counselling.

Counselling is most effective when sessions happen on a weekly basis, at least in the first 4-6 weeks. Alternative scheduling requests should be discussed in the first session.

Holly processes payment by Visa or Mastercard on the day of the session.

If you need to cancel or reschedule, please get in touch with Holly at least 24 hours before the appointment. A full fee is charged for under 24 hours’ notice of cancellation, unless the session can be rescheduled within a week’s time. This would depend on mutual availability.

If you are unable to attend a session due to sickness or an emergency that arises within 24 hours of the appointment, please get in touch ASAP. Clients are entitled to one free cancellation per year under these circumstances. Thereafter, standard cancellation procedures apply.

If you fail to attend or are 15+ minutes late to a session without notice, Holly reserves the right to charge a full fee and end the session.

If you or anyone you know are in danger or a crisis, call your local emergency hotline, e.g. 999 (Hong Kong) or 911 (USA), for emergency assistance. Other hotlines and resources are listed below:

• International suicide prevention hotlines: see www.suicide.org

• Hong Kong: The Samaritans - support for those in distress or experiencing suicidal thoughts and behaviours. Tel: 2896 0000 / English, Cantonese, Mandarin and other languages

• Hong Kong: The Samaritan Befrienders - Tel: 2389 2222 / Cantonese only

• Hong Kong: Suicide Prevention Hotline - Tel: 2382 0000 / Cantonese only

• Taiwan: dial 119 for emergency

• Taiwan: dial 113 for reporting domestic violence, sexual harassment or abuse / Mandarin & English

• Taiwan: dial 110 if you’re in danger / Mandarin with English available

Holly does her best to respond to emails within 24 hours, but this may not always be possible. All contact with Holly outside of counselling sessions should be made through email, and discuss scheduling and counselling content only, e.g. session summaries, relevant resources. Instant messaging is not appropriate unless it concerns your arrival to a face-to-face session.

All disclosures that occur between you and Holly are confidential. There are two exceptions:

1. You indicate that you have a plan to harm yourself or others.

2. If Holly has any reason to suspect abuse – physical, emotional, or sexual – of a minor (16 years old and below).

Should any of these situations arise, Holly would attempt to speak with you before disclosure.

Holly is a Registered Counsellor with the Asian Professional Counselling and Psychology Association.

Holly holds a Masters Degree in Counselling from Monash University (Australia). She is a Full Member of the Hong Kong Professional Counselling Association and Hong Kong Society of Counselling & Psychology. She is an Associate Member of the Psychotherapy Society of Hong Kong, and is Mental Health First-Aid trained.

Additionally, Holly holds a Masters Degree in Film and Television Studies from the University of Warwick (U.K.) and a Bachelor's Degree in English Literature and Film from King's College London (U.K.). Prior to working full-time as a counsellor, Holly had a decade of experience in education as a teacher of literature and film, curriculum-creator and educational consultant.

At some point in your work with Holly, it may feel right to end or pause your sessions. When this is the case, you can discuss with her and agree on a comfortable timeline for this to happen. This could take anywhere from 1-3 sessions, and would depend on what feels appropriate for you.

Should you want to resume or start a new course of counselling at a later time, you can reach out to Holly as needed.