Mental Health
Policy & Guidelines

Introduction

Welcome to MINDAKAMI! MINDAKAMI provides client-centred mental health services utilising evidence-based counselling, psychotherapy, treatment, or psychological assessment, with a focus on assisting individuals in managing their mental and emotional well-being. This involves collaboration between the therapist and the client to achieve goals through discussions about thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. The process also includes exploring ways to cope with issues related to family, career, anger, self-development, inner struggles, stress, anxiety, depression, and other mental health concerns.

Therapeutic Relationship

Our mental health services will be provided by trainee and registered counsellors or clinical psychologists, often referred to as mental health therapists. The relationship between the therapist and you, the client, is founded on trust and confidentiality. The therapist will attentively listen to your concerns in a safe, non-discriminatory, and non-judgemental environment. They will take notes, provide support and guidance, explore appropriate treatments, and display professional skills while adhering to the Code of Ethics of their professional regulatory bodies.

As the client, you are expected to be honest and open in your discussions with the therapist and be willing to participate in the discussions, interventions, and treatment for your ultimate benefit.

Potential Benefits and Risks 

Mental health services such as therapy can have many potential benefits, including increased self-awareness and reduced symptoms of mental health disorders. It is also included, but not limited to:

1. Improved mental health and overall well-being
2. Increased understanding of one’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviours
3. Improved communication and interpersonal skills
4. Increased ability to cope with stress and difficult emotions
5. Enhanced problem-solving skills
6. Greater insight into personal strengths and areas for growth
7. Increased self-esteem and self-confidence
8. Enhanced ability to form and maintain healthy relationships
9. Improved physical health, as addressing mental health issues, can have a positive impact on physical health conditions

Just as medications that can cause unexpected side effects, therapy can stimulate painful memories, unanticipated changes in your life, and uncomfortable feelings like sadness, guilt, anger, frustration, loneliness, and helplessness, where at times these feelings can be unsettling. It is essential to discuss any potential risks and benefits with the therapist before beginning the session. It is also important to note that therapy should not be used as a substitute for medical treatment, and you should continue following relevant medical professionals’ advice.

Mental Health Services

MINDAKAMI offers mental health services for teenagers (13-17 years old) and adults (18-59 years old). The services offered are as follows:

• Individual Therapy
• Couples or Marriage Counselling 
• Group Therapy
• Psychological Assessment
• Career Assessment

The duration of our mental health services can be shortened or lengthened depending on the situation.

For teenagers, a written consent from at least one parent or legal guardian is required before attending the session. MINDAKAMI or the therapist will provide the consent form during the first session, and the parent or legal guardian must be present to sign the form. Failure to provide the required consent will result in the therapist’s inability to deliver mental health services. In such a situation, MINDAKAMI will provide a refund to the client

A full explanation about each of the mental health services can be found in mindakami.org/FAQ.

Duration & Scheduling

The length of our mental health services is determined on a case-by-case basis, depending on the services and the unique needs of the client. Typically, we suggest:

• Individual Therapy: 8-12 sessions.
• Couples or Marriage Counselling: 2-6 sessions.
• Group Therapy: Full attendance is required.
• Psychological Assessment: Full attendance is required.
• Career Assessment: Full attendance is required.

The therapist may recommend longer, or shorter sessions based on your needs and further discussion.

Payment & Packages 

The client, parents, guardian, or any other relevant entity will be responsible for paying in full before engaging in any of our mental health services. The offered fees and services can be found at https://mindakami.org/services.

You can purchase a single session or a package at a discounted rate. The packages are non-shareable and non-transferable. Further information is as follows:

• Individual Therapy: Typically four (4) sessions, valid for two months. It can be renewed at any time. 
• Couples or Marriage Counselling: Typically four (4) sessions, valid for two months. It can be renewed at any time. 
• Group Therapy: You are required to attend all the sessions. If you cannot attend one (or more) of the sessions, your fee will be forfeited.
• Psychological Assessment: You are required to attend the Clinical Interview, followed with the intended assessment. The assessment includes a free basic report. An extra fee may be required for additional assessment session, psychological tool, and a full report, if necessary. It is valid for two months.
• Career Assessment: This package is a 4-in-1 package that includes an Intake Sessions Assessment Session, Review Session, and a free brief Career Profiling report. An extra fee may be required for additional assessment session, psychological tool, and a full report, if necessary. It is valid for two months.

For panel clients, a separate payment method may be arranged. If you prefer a customised package, please contact us via Telegram, WhatsApp, or email us at therapy@mindakami.org.

Reschedule, Cancellation and No-Show

You can reschedule or cancel any session for Individual Therapy and Couples or Marriage Counselling. Your fee will be fully forfeited if you reschedule or cancel the appointment less than 24 hours before the session. No-shows will also forfeit the fee in full. The details for rescheduling and cancellation are as follows:

• Reschedule: Up to one (1) session from the initial booking session. Please inform us 24 hours before the session via Telegram or WhatsApp to reschedule. You will receive a follow-up email or notification once rescheduled.
• Cancellation: Please inform us 24 hours before the session for cancellation. MINDAKAMI has a 10% processing fee due to our advanced booking system. We will refund 90% of your payment within 72 hours.

For Psychological Assessment, only Clinical Interview can be rescheduled and cancelled. For the assessment sessions, we encourage you to be fully committed in the completing the assessment. Any reschedule may impact the diagnosis process.

Any cancellation or rescheduling for Group Therapy will only be entertained if the therapist needs to reschedule or cancel the session. If you are unable attend any of the session, the fee will be in full.

Late Arrival

MINDAKAMI prioritizes the well-being of our clients and recognizes that unforeseen circumstances can impact punctuality. To foster a supportive and understanding environment, our policy allows for a grace period of 15 minutes for late arrivals. Any arrival later than 16 minutes without notifying MINDAKAMI will be considered a no-show. Kindly be advised that your session may be conclude at the initially designated termination time to prevent any undue disruptions for subsequent clients.

Booking a Session

All sessions can be scheduled 36 hours prior to the session via our website, https://www.mindakami.org. To book a session, you are required to visit our website, click on “Book A Session,” choose the preferred service and therapist, and follow the instructions on the screen. An automated email will be sent once the booking confirmation has been made.

Guidelines when Attending the Session

In-person and online sessions can be effective depending on your needs and preferences. If you are attending an in-person session, please expect to arrive at least 10 minutes before the appointment. Please follow any health safety guidelines. If you are unwell or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, a cold, fever, or any health concern, do not hesitate to contact MINDAKAMI to reschedule the appointment.

If you are attending an online session, please log in to the virtual platform at least 5 minutes before your appointment. Please ensure that you are in a safe location for the session. Ensure that you have a stable internet connection and that your device is charged or plugged in for the duration of the session. If you experience technical difficulties when using our electronic platform during the session, please inform the therapist or MINDAKAMI, and we will assist you in resolving the issue.

Referral

Referrals can be an important part of mental health services to ensure that you receive the most appropriate and effective care. You, the therapist, or MINDAKAMI may refer to internal or external resources for specialized treatment, lack of progress, the therapist’s limited knowledge, conflict of interest, or your preferences. A written consent will be provided by the therapist or MINDAKAMI to ensure you are fully informed and aware of the reasons for the referral and the potential benefits and risk of receiving treatment from another professional or resource.

Termination of Mental Health Services

The therapist may terminate any of the mental health services at any time, provided the service is no longer beneficial or appropriate for to the client. The therapist will discuss the decision thoroughly and provide a reasonable amount of notice before proceeding with the termination session. If the client wishes to terminate the session, please discuss it with the therapist for further understanding. For any ethical violation made by the therapist or the client, the session will be terminated.

Upon termination, the therapist or MINDAKAMI will discuss with the client the options for continuing care, such as referrals to other therapists or resources. The therapist may provide you with a summary of the sessions and recommendations for ongoing care

Legal Proceedings

All clients must remit a fee of RM350 per hour for services as an expert witness in legal proceedings, excluding legal reports and incidental costs. Payment is required before proceedings, and failure to pay or last-minute cancellations may result in the therapist’s inability to fulfil their obligations. The therapist also reserves the right to withdraw from proceedings if it conflicts with their duties as an expert.

Confidentiality and Privacy

MINDAKAMI is committed to maintaining the confidentiality of its client’s personal information. MINDAKAMI will take reasonable steps to protect the client’s privacy, including using a private therapy room and respecting the client’s privacy during sessions. All information shared during therapy sessions will be kept confidential and will not be disclosed to any third party without your written consent except in the following circumstances:

1. There is a risk of harm to the client or others.
2. There is a legal requirement to disclose information, such as in cases of abuse or neglect.
3. The therapist must share information with their supervisor or consult colleagues as part of their professional development or ethical obligations.

All your information, including session notes, will be stored in a secure location and only accessed by authorised personnel. The therapist and MINDAKAMI will not share any identifying information about you with anyone outside the therapy relationship without the client’s written consent. The therapist will respect your rights to access personal data and provide copies of relevant records upon request and discussion.

The therapist and MINDAKAMI will take reasonable steps to protect your data from unauthorised access or accidental loss. We will regularly review and update the client data management procedures to ensure that they align with best practices and current regulations. With your approval and written consent, we will ensure that your data is deleted or securely disposed of when it is no longer needed.

Electronic communication, such as emails, messaging, and virtual therapy platforms, may not be completely secure and may be accessed by unauthorised parties. Therefore, you are advised to use caution when communicating sensitive information electronically.

Ethical Issue or Complaints Against the Therapist

MINDAKAMI took any complaints against the therapist seriously. In case the therapist has made sensitive, undesirable, and unethical remarks or action against the client’s sexuality, gender, race or any physical, health or mental conditions during the session, please lodge the complaint to therapy@mindakami.org with the heading “Ethical Issue Against MINDAKAMI’s Therapist” and please include the following details:

• The client’s full name:
• The client’s preferred name:
• Therapist name:
• Time & date of the occurred session: Explanation:

Once MINDAKAMI has open a file about the report and created suitable remedies or action plan with the therapist, MINDAKAMI will follow up with the client for the update on the case.

Limitation of Liability in Therapy

MINDAKAMI and the therapist provide the mental health services to the client on an as-is basis and make no representations or warranties. MINDAKAMI is not responsible for any actions or decisions made by you due to the services. You are solely responsible for your actions and decisions. The therapist and MINDAKAMI will not be liable for any damages arising from the use of the services, including but not limited to direct, indirect, incidental, punitive, and consequential damages.

Informed Consent

The purpose of policy and guidelines is to provide you with information about the offered mental health services. As a client, you have the right to be informed about the nature and purpose of our mental health services and any potential risks or benefits associated with the services. You also have the right to make an informed decision about whether to participate in our services.

By booking a session with MINDAKAMI, you acknowledge that you have received and understood all the information relation our services in this policy and guidelines and the information listed in MINDAKAMI’s Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). You acknowledge that you can ask questions and receive answers to any questions. You also acknowledge that you can withdraw from the offered services at any time and may request a copy of this informed consent document for your records