1. The Shurayh Counselling Practice will operate and conduct all of its affairs in accordance with Australian and NSW-state law. Offences committed within the premises or by practitioners as it relates to practice will be dealt with in light of the legal requirements stipulated by the Government and respective legislative bodies.

2. Counsellors will uphold the highest confidentiality standard, only disclosing information in the case of legal necessity or to prevent loss of life.

3. Interactions within the Shurayh counselling practice will be in accordance with the guidelines of the Islamic tradition. As such:

  • A woman will not be treated alone by a male counsellor, unless in exceptional circumstances (as determined by the MD) whereby a door will be left open during the counselling session.
  • Both clients and counsellors will not make any physical contact during the counselling procedure, particularly with the opposite gender.
  • Respectful behaviour will be expected at all times during the session. If the counsellor deems the clients behaviour to be unsatisfactory, he may decide to discontinue the session, and the client will be asked to leave the facility.

4. Disciplinary actions will be taken in the case of professional misconduct by any of the staff. A detailed procedure for the disciplinary process can be found in the disciplinary process document linked here.

5. Following the initial consultation and regular consultations, clients will be able to provide feedback regarding their experience. All feedback will be considered and applied per the discretion of the executive board.

6. The Shurayh Counselling practice will seek to provide, as described by the the ACA’s Code of Ethics, ‘a non-judgmental professional service, free from discrimination, honouring the individuality of the client’.

7. Counsellors will work towards developing rapport with clients whilst maintaining the highest standards of professional integrity and Islamic values.

8. The Shurayh Counsellors will undergo training and development, as well as performance checks throughout their career with Shurayh.

9. All clients will be debriefed in the initial session as well as in the initial email about their rights, as well as the process of the counselling session and the boundaries of the counselling relationship.

10. Where suitable, referrals to other professionals will be made to the client if extra-therapeutical help is deemed beneficial by the counsellor.

11. In accordance with the ACA’s Code of Ethics, the Shurayh Counsellors will not initiate, develop or pursue a relationship be it sexual or nonsexual with past or current clients, within 2 years of the last counselling session.

12. As explicated in the ACA’s Code of Ethics, the Shurayh Counsellors will embody the following ethic: “take all reasonable steps to be aware of current law as it applies to their counselling practice not only Federal Law but the particular laws of their State or Territory.

13. No voice or video recordings will take place except in the case of signed permission by the client.