Therapy is an opportunity to explore new ways of seeing and experiencing oneself. To ensure this is a safe space for change to take place, the following forms a contract between us over the time that we work together.

 

I ask that you read each section carefully and if there’s anything you don’t understand, don’t hesitate to discuss this with me.

 

1. Private and Confidential.

 

I will keep information shared in these sessions confidential. To support our work, there will be times however when I will share information in the context of receiving supervisory support.

 

This is a professional requirement for all counsellors and psychotherapists.  Supervision is required to protect the client’s interests and to assist the therapist in their professional development.  I therefore sometimes share the content of sessions with a supervisor, although the supervisor is not privy to details such as your full name.

 

Confidentiality would only be breached in the event of there being a serious threat of harm to yourself or others, or in cases of serious crime. In this event, I would always seek to discuss this with you first, as far as is possible.

 

2. Boundaries.

 

Therapy sessions are usually once a week and sessions last 60 minutes.  We need to finish on time to avoid rushed endings and to enable me to make some notes.

 

3. Payment

Clients can pay for sessions:

• For the first session, in advance, on receipt of the first invoice to secure the booking. Please note that for the first session I am only able to hold a proposed timeslot for 24 hours so please send payment on receipt of the invoice to avoid disappointment and to confirm the timeslot.

• For all other sessions either monthly in advance by bank transfer or standing order by 1st of every month.

• Or by bank transfer the day before the session.

 

If for some reason you are unable to pay in advance of the session and need to do a bank transfer afterwards, I ask that this is done on the same day as the therapy.  If payment is delayed, please text me to let me know when you have paid online.

 

Fees will be reviewed every year. I will give you 4 weeks’ notice of any planned increase and this will be discussed with you.

 

4. Making the most of online sessions

 

Online sessions will take place through a dedicated EMDR platform called RemotEMDR. I found this platform to be free, simple and easy to use and they offer end-to-end encryption and they both work well to keep the work confidential.

 

• In order to get the most of online sessions I would ask that you have the session from somewhere indoors and with good WIFI. It should also be somewhere safe, quiet and private. Somewhere where you can be alone, ideally with a door you can close and where you won’t be disturbed for an hour. If you live with other people it might work well to let them know not to interrupt you for the duration of the session or for us to schedule the session at a time where it would be easier for you to create a quieter environment.

 

• For best results it would work well to join the session from a laptop or tablet, ideally positioned at eye level, so a little raised or propped up on some books or other surface. If joining the sessions from a phone it would be best if this was propped up somewhere so that your hands are free.

 

• It is recommended to use headphones to increase the audio quality and make the session more confidential, even better if you have a pair of headphones with a microphone but any headphones or earbuds would do.

 

• Once the session is booked I would send you a calendar invite with a session link you can click on.

 

• Should we experience connection issues I would then call you on your mobile or Whatsapp and we would be able to continue the session over Whatsapp or telephone instead, should we be unable to solve the internet issues otherwise.

 

4. Missed sessions

 

It is unhelpful to the process of psychotherapy to have too many interruptions. It is my intention to create a safe, reliable and consistent therapeutic space as this regularity and rhythm helps to make the therapy effective.

 

If you need to cancel for any reason, there is a 7 days cancellation policy. This is calculated as 7 x 24h so I ask that you let me know by the end of our session the previous week if you need to miss the following week’s session.  If you find that you cannot make your scheduled appointment with less than 7 days’ notice, it will then incur the full fee.

 

In some cases, it might be possible to arrange a session for an alternative time the same week, providing you discussed this with me with some advance notice. To avoid disappointment, it is better to give as much notice as possible for cancellation as this would give us the best chance to find an alternative time.

 

Should we be unable to find an alternative time because of my or your availability or in cases of absences with no prior notice, the full fee for the missed appointment would be payable.

 

5. Absences and illness

 

Should I become incapacitated and unable to work due to illness, I have made provisions so that you would be informed of this as soon as possible.

 

I usually take some time off throughout the year. There will be additional absences of mine due to professional training or annual leave.  I will advise you of any known absences as soon as I can.

 

6. Qualifications

 

I am a qualified integrative transpersonal psychotherapist, and I have completed a Diploma in Counselling and Psychotherapy at CCPE. I have also completed EMDR Basic Training (Part 1 -4) and I am an EMDR Europe Accredited Practitioner, together with having completed advanced EMDR training in attachment informed EMDR and using EMDR for complex trauma and dissociation. I integrate polyvagal interventions in therapy, and I am an accredited Somatic Experiencing Practitioner and have completed a 3 year practitioner training. 

 

Jurisdiction

 

Please note that I am registered and licensed in the UK and abide by UK laws and requirements. I abide by the UKCP Code of Ethics and Professional Practice’ and the UKCP ‘Complaints and Conduct Process’ and any complaint would be heard in the UK. Any disputes under this contract would be governed by the civil law of England and Wales.

 

Agreement

 

Please be assured that I do not see this as a legally binding piece of paper and my copy is simply so that I know we have discussed all of this and you understand the issues and rationale.

 

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