Precious Counselling Therapy Agreement
This agreement tells you about the way I work, the information I hold about you, what my fees are, cancellation policy and what we can expect from each other in our work together.
It is important that you read and understand this agreement, and that you are happy with the terms before you agree to them. I therefore welcome any questions you may have about what you read here.
The Way I Work
I am a person-centred counsellor. This means that I put you at the centre of our work together. I believe that it is through the relationship we will develop, you will be able to explore your ways of thinking and feeling and find your way towards a happier more fulfilled place. I will not usually advise you or tell you what to do. Instead I will provide a safe place for you to talk through your concerns and find your own meanings for your experiences.
Qualifications and CPD (Continuing Professional Development)
Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Skills
Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling.
CPD
Certificate in Trauma Awareness
Certificate in Working with Suicide remotely
Certificate in Counselling online
Safeguarding Adults Level 2
Certificate in Working with Shame
Certificate in Working with Dreams- A Gestalt approach
Certificate in working with Adverse Childhood Experiences
Alongside my private practice I am also have a number of voluntary roles. I have been a listener for Samaritans in Hull for 5 years now and a Cruse Bereavement support volunteer for 3 years. I am experienced in bereavement support and trained in issues relating to grief and loss.
For a number of years, I have volunteered as a counsellor for a charity in Hull which provides therapeutic services for adult survivors of child abuse and trauma. This includes working with self-harm, drugs and alcohol problems, feeling stuck, unworthy, low self-esteem, domestic violence, sexual violence and suicidal thoughts and feelings.
I also have 30 years’ experience working with adults with learning disabilities. I work for a charity in North Cave which provides work experience and training in Horticulture for adults with learning disabilities. So, I have experience with working with a wide range of people including those with a diagnosis of Autism and those with limited communication skills.
Accreditation and professional body membership
I am a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and I adhere to the BACP Ethical framework for Good Practice in Counselling and Psychotherapy. You can find details of this at their website: www.bacp.co.uk/ethical_framework/
I am DBS checked and fully insured.
Fees
My fees are £45 per hour. I accept payment in advance the session via bank transfer, or in session in cash. I ask that your account is paid up-to-date before any future sessions are confirmed.
My details for payment via bank transfer are:
Mrs C E Precious
Santander
Sort code: 09-01-29
Account number: 60688330
Lateness and Cancellation Policy
If you are late to your session, I will be available to see you from your arrival until our agreed session ending time. The full session rate will be due regardless of the length of the session.
I require 24 hours’ notice for the cancellation of sessions. Sessions cancelled within fewer than 24 hours are subject to the full fee. If I need to rearrange a session for any reason, I will aim to give you as much notice as possible, and to offer you a suitable alternative session time.
Confidentiality
Unless you have been referred by a third party, only I will know you are attending therapy.
As part of my ethical responsibilities as stipulated by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, I undertake regular, confidential supervision on all my therapeutic work with a qualified and experienced supervisor. Your identity is protected in this work and no identifying information is shared. The purpose of supervision is to examine my work as a practitioner and maintain appropriate professional standards.
In certain situations, I may share information:
1. If I think there is a serious risk of harm to yourself or somebody else. In most circumstances, I would discuss this with you before taking any action.
2. Where there is a legal requirement to disclose information. This includes:
– Where a court order has been issued.
– If I believe you are involved with terrorism, drug trafficking or money laundering offences.
In these circumstances, I might not always be able to let you know that I have passed information to the authorities.
If you have been referred by a third party, I will not give any information about you or our work together to the original referrer – this includes basic information such as whether or not you see me for therapy. You may request that I give information to a third party. I will not always agree to this, and I will discuss my decision with you. If I do agree to give information to a third party at your request, I will discuss the content of the communication with you in advance, and I will require written permission from you.
If you have any concerns about any aspect of this confidentiality policy, please discuss with me.
Working Online
As well as working face-to-face, I also work online using Zoom/Skype software for video sessions and via the phone.
Working online brings with it a small risk of interception or compromised confidentiality. To counter this, I use Zoom’s password and waiting room features, however no security measure is guaranteed to prevent interception, so it is important that you understand the limitations of working online before we undertake our work together using these means. More information about Zoom software security can be found here: https://zoom.us/security. I also recommend ensuring a quiet, private space for our online meetings.
If you have a medical emergency during a remote session, I may need use your GP’s contact details, or, if I need to contact emergency services, your home address, which you have previously provided to me via the Client Information Sheet.
If you have any questions about any aspect of working together online, please let me know.
Managing boundaries
Between session contact. I use telephone, email and texts/WhatsApp primarily for scheduling and other practical issues in the work. If you wish to send me material relating to the content of your therapy between sessions, please send this via email, as it allows me to easily copy for secure storage (where appropriate) and delete the original from my inbox. I will aim to acknowledge receipt of any email relating to the content of your therapy but will not usually engage with the material via this medium.
Social Media. I do not ‘friend’ or ‘follow’ clients on any social media. If you have any questions or concerns relating to social media boundaries, I welcome discussion about this.
Meeting outside of sessions. If we live local then there is a possibility that we could bump into each other outside of the therapy room. If this happens, to protect your confidentiality, I will follow your lead, allowing you to decide whether to acknowledge me before I say ‘Hello’.
If you have any questions about these or any other area of the therapeutic boundaries, I welcome any questions you may have.
Availability and Annual Leave
I currently work varying hours from Monday – Friday from my office in Hull, or online when we are unable to meet in person. I endeavour to give you as much notice as possible when I take annual leave, and I am happy to discuss referrals for periods when I am away, on request.
Alcohol and Substance Use
I am unable to offer a session to anyone under the influence of alcohol or recreational drugs.
Endings
You might prefer to arrange a set number of sessions with me, or opt for a more open-ended arrangement – we can discuss this in our initial session. However, you can discontinue therapy at any time. It can often be helpful to have an ‘ending session’, however this is entirely your choice.
If I need to end the therapy sessions for any reason, I will discuss this with you, offering appropriate referrals, and giving as much notice as possible.
Clinical Will
In the event of my incapacity or death, I have a clinical will in place which will allow a trusted colleague (psychotherapist) to access my current clients’ contact details to inform you of the situation and to offer referrals where appropriate. If it becomes apparent that I am not going to be able to return to work, my paper records will be securely destroyed, and digital records erased.
Complaints
If you are unsatisfied with any part of the service I am providing, I am happy to discuss this with you and I will endeavour to resolve any issues there may be. However, if you feel unable to do so, or you are not satisfied with my response, there are other avenues you can pursue:
I am a member of BACP (British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy) . If you wish to raise a concern or make a complaint about any area of my practice or the way I have worked with you, BACP provide details of how you can raise a concern with them via their website www.bacp.co.uk
If you are unhappy about my management of your data, you can make a complaint to the Information Commissioners Office (ICO) who I am registered with on 0303 123 1113.
GDPR
In line with recent GDPR legislation, I have a detailed Privacy Policy which is available on request, outlining what information I store about you and how I use your data. On signing this agreement, you acknowledge that you accept the privacy policy, as well as this therapeutic agreement. Please read both documents before signing this contract/therapeutic agreement.
Contacting me
You can contact me in the following ways:
Tel or Text: 07752 624875
Email: charlotte@preciouscounselling.com
I aim to respond within 2 working days.
Declaration
I have read, fully understand, and agree to the terms outlined in this therapeutic agreement.
Client:
Signature ___________________________
Print name ___________________________
Date _______________
Therapist:
Signature ___________________________
Print name ___________________________
Date _______________