"Pay What You Can" Program Policy

1. Program Overview

Synapse Mental Wellbeing is committed to making mental healthcare accessible. The "Pay As Much As You Can" (PWYC) program offers therapy at a subsidized rate for individuals who are motivated to engage in therapy but face genuine financial constraints that prevent them from affording our standard fees.

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2. Fee Determination & Agreement

• Good Faith Declaration: Unlike a fixed price list, this program relies on your honest declaration of what you can sustainably afford.

• Fee Agreement: Once a reduced rate is agreed upon between you and your therapist, it becomes the binding "Agreed Fee" for your sessions.

• Rate Lock: This Agreed Fee is locked for a period of 3 months or 12 sessions (whichever comes first). After this period, the fee may be reviewed and adjusted based on your current financial situation.

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3. Eligibility & Verification

• Eligibility: This program is intended for students, individuals from lower-income backgrounds, or those facing temporary financial crises.

• Verification: Synapse Mental Wellbeing reserves the right to request proof of income or student status to ensure these limited subsidized slots are allocated fairly to those in greatest need.

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4. Payment & Cancellation Rules (Specific to PWYC)

• Payment Timing: To minimize administrative overhead, payments for PWYC sessions must be made prior to the start of each session.

• Late Cancellations: If you cancel with less than 24 hours' notice, you will be charged the Agreed Fee (your subsidized rate) for the missed session.

• No-Shows: Failure to attend a session without notice will result in a charge of the Agreed Fee.

• Three Strikes Rule: Because subsidized slots are in high demand, three (3) consecutive cancellations or two (2) no-shows may result in the suspension of your PWYC status, and your slot may be offered to someone on the waitlist.

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5. Duration & Review

• Periodic Review: We understand that financial situations change. If your financial situation improves (e.g., new employment), we expect you to inform your therapist so your fee can be adjusted, allowing us to redirect subsidy funds to others in need.

• Standard Limits: PWYC services are subject to the same clinical boundaries and professional standards as our full-fee services.

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6. Liability & Disclaimer

• Voluntary Program: This is a voluntary initiative by Synapse Mental Wellbeing. We reserve the right to pause or terminate the PWYC program or specific subsidised arrangements based on clinic capacity and resource availability.

• Waitlist: Acceptance into the PWYC waitlist does not constitute the start of a therapeutic relationship.

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7. Acknowledgement

By proceeding with the "Pay As Much As You Can" program, you acknowledge that your financial declaration is honest and accurate. You agree to the payment and cancellation terms outlined above.