THERAPEUTIC AGREEMENT

INITIAL CONSULTATION

My work always begins with an assessment that is aimed at determining the nature of your current issue/s, the most appropriate intervention and whether or not I am the right person to help. This initial consultation is an opportunity for us to meet one another, discuss what brings you to therapy, and get a sense of how we might be able to work together. We can also decide on what style of therapy would be most suited to your needs (i.e,. long-term, short-term, exploratory).

If either of us feel that perhaps an alternative approach (or therapist) may be required, I will endeavour to refer to you to someone else who may be more appropriate.

Initial consultations are charged for at my usual rate.

LENGTH & FREQUENCY OF SESSIONS

Therapy sessions take place weekly, unless otherwise agreed. Each session lasts a total of 50 minutes. The length and frequency of our sessions may be increased or decreased during the course of our work together, depending on your needs and the nature of our therapeutic work.

Please note that unfortunately I cannot make up time if you arrive late for your session. For sessions that are being conducted online; if you are more than 15 minutes late for a session, and I have not heard from you, the session will be treated as a cancellation.

LENGTH OF THERAPY

The length of our therapeutic work will be determined based on the nature of the issues that concern you and an exploration of your individual needs and preferences that will be discussed during the initial consultation.

CANCELLATION POLICY

My cancellation policy is 48 hours. In the event of a missed of cancelled appointments (irrespective of the reason), you will be charged the full amount, unless you have provided me with at least 48 hours notice (in which case there will be no charge). The cancellation charge will not apply if we are to reschedule for another day/time within the same week of our originally agreed appointment time. However, please bear in mind that rescheduling sessions will be limited to my availability.

You will not be charged for sessions we miss while I am away, or in the event of me being unwell or unfit to practice. I will do my best to provide you with as much notice as possible on my holiday dates or other absences I foresee. If I need to cancel a session last minute in an emergency or due to unforeseen circumstances, I will make arrangements to reschedule our session where possible.

ONLINE SESSIONS

In addition to face-to-face work, I also offer therapy online via Zoom. If you wish to engage in online sessions, please ensure that you are able to access a private confidential space. If either of us are to experience any technical issues during the session, we will try to reconnect as soon as possible. In the event that it is not possible to reconnect and the connection is too poor to continue our session, we will agree to reschedule for another mutually convenient time.

CONFIDENTIALITY

The content of our sessions is treated in the strictest of confidence and your personal information will be kept private at all times and not be disclosed to any third party without your consent. In the event of a situation that necessitates disclosure to a third party due to ethical, professional, and/or legal issues, I will endeavour to discuss this with your prior to any action on my part. This would include situations required by law, or if a disclosure was made that led me to believe that someone might be at risk of serious harm (either to yourself or others).

RECORD KEEPING

As a controller of data, I am required by the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) to provide information about what data is held, how it is stored and how it is used.

Personal information stored on my password-protected electronic devices (i.e., computer and mobile telephone) comprises your name, telephone number, email address and invoices.
Personal information stored in paper form comprises your first name and details of your General Practitioner (if applicable). Therapeutic notes are brief and used to help keep track of themes covered in our sessions together. Any notes I may make and retain on our work together are always anonymised and are only ever kept in paper form. All information in paper form is stored securely in a locked filing cabinet to which only I have access to.
No data whatsoever is shared with anyone, unless required by lawful summons. In such a case, you would be given access to all records in question before submission.
In cases where your private medical health insurer or referring individual or agency (if applicable) requires information about our work together, this information will be sent electronically (with your consent) using a secure online platform (or password protected if via email) to ensure security of your data.
Data will usually be kept for three years after completion of our work together, as suggested by my professional accrediting/registering bodies. After three years, it will be completely deleted and/or destroyed.

As a registered Psychologist of the British Psychological Society (BPS) and the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), I am closely bound by their codes of ethics and practice. Copies of these codes can be obtained from these bodies.

I am registered with the Information Commissioners Office (ICO), and any breaches of data security that may affect you will be advised to you within 72 hours and the ICO will be informed.

If you have any questions about the terms and conditions of our work together, please get in touch and I'd be happy to discuss it with you.

EMERGENCY CONTACT

If at any point during our work together you are experiencing distress and need to schedule an additional session (outside of our usual appointment time), please do get in touch and I will do my best to accommodate where possible.

Outside of scheduled appointments, I am only able to offer limited support. In the event of a crisis, or if you are in need of urgent support, please consider the below options:

Contact your GP, who may be able to refer to you the duty desk at your local community mental health team

Ring NHS Direct on 111

Ring the Samaritans on 116 123 (free 24-hour support) (https://www.samaritans.org)

Ring SaneLine on 0300 304 7000 (open 6 – 11pm) (www.sane.org.uk)

Go to your nearest Accident and Emergency department if you feel you are at risk to yourself or others