WORKING TOGETHER

If there is anything you are unsure about, please bring these questions to sessions with your coach or therapist.  

We are committed to providing a therapeutic environment for you as Client. We are both making a commitment to each other of time and energy deciding to work together. It is important for us both to know what agreements we are making together and what to expect. Therapist terms and conditions are in line with the ICF, BACP or UKCP code of ethics.

APPOINTMENTS AND CANCELLATIONS - Therapy sessions are 50 minutes, and the client can feel free to leave at any point within that time. Sessions are weekly and we will review the work in session five, allowing us both to assess how the relationship is working.

Coaching sessions, duration and frequency are agreed individually.

If the client is late or delayed, extending the session beyond the usual finishing time will not be possible. The appointment day/time will be set at the initial consultation session. We usually require seven working days’ notice to cancel. Otherwise, the session is fully chargeable. 

If the therapist or coach cannot attend, you will not be charged, and he/she/they will endeavour to give you as much notice as possible and try to rearrange the session for another time.

LIMITS - If you are under the influence of drink of drugs we will not be able to have a session.  For therapy we also ask that you inform your therapist of any prescribed medication that you are taking.

FEE PAYMENTS - Are due in advance of each session, or on the day of the session. Terms to be confirmed and agreed and discussed in the initial consultation.

HOLIDAYS - Therapist or coaches will give four weeks’ notice for holiday dates.  Holiday dates will include a Christmas break [two weeks], Bank Holidays, and 2-4 weeks over the summer.  Clients are also requested to provide four weeks’ notice of holidays.

OUR RELATIONSHIP - If you meet or bump into your coach or therapist outside the therapy room he/she/they will acknowledge you briefly and in a friendly manner unless you express your wish not to be acknowledged. 

CONFIDENTIALITY - The contract between coach or therapist and client is confidential. They will not disclose any information to a third party other than if there is a threat to the client’s safety or the protection of others, if they are obliged to do so by law, or where the executor of a professional will requires access to contact you.

If the coach or therapist does need to disclose information for these purposes, he/she/they will endeavour to do this in discussion with the client and with their prior consent.

Therapists receive regular supervision from Senior UCKP-accredited Supervisors. Should they take aspects of thier work about you to supervision, they will only refer to you by your first name and no identifying information will be shared. Supervisors are bound by the UKCP code of ethics regarding confidentiality.

You will be asked to provide the following information, full name, address, emergency contact, GP details.

PROFESSIONAL WILL -Therapists will have designated a qualified colleague as professional executor should anything happen to them.  This person will have access, should it be required, to both inform clients and provide psychological services if needed.  They will also be able to refer clients to another qualified professional if required.

RECORDING - Some therapists and coaches are undergoing additional training and they will be required to record sessions for this training. This is explained more fully in by each individual and it is important to know that you do not have to agree to recording in order to have therapy or coaching, equally if you do agree you can change your mind in any session or at any time.

GDPR -We are each committed to protecting your personal data and complying with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) terms. This privacy notice explains how I look after your data. We process personal data solely to provide psychotherapy and counselling services. This statement aims to let you know what personal information could be collected and held, why it is collected, and how long it is kept.

When you enquire about therapy and coaching services, you will be asked for personal information to set up an initial assessment. This information includes contact details, availability, and other relevant personal information. Once a client finishes all data regarding their counselling or coaching is stored securely for four years by my insurance and then destroyed securely.

Your address, email, and telephone number will be kept for contact throughout the therapy. Therapists and coaches may retain brief anonymised notes following each session, which will include personal details about you. These notes are solely for your therapy and do not include identifying information.  

Personal contact information is filed separately from any notes. Any information stored electronically is password protected. All notes and records will be kept for four years, as stipulated by insurance, after which they will be destroyed securely.

ENDINGS - Therapists, coaches and the client will aim to give at least one month’s notice about the termination of the therapeutic relationship so there is time to plan an ending and discuss the work we have completed. Through your therapeutic journey there will be times where you feel frustrated and perhaps feel that therapy is not doing what you expected, these feelings are welcome in the therapy space and are encouraged to be expressed.  You will be supported to end therapy when you feel ready.

Please note this is not a replacement for the individual counselling and coaching agreements used by each therapist and coach and does not supercede thier agreements with you. This does provide you with an overview of the agreements most coaches or therapists use and you should have a copy of a contract or agreement with any coach or therapist you work with.