Terms of Ongoing Psychotherapy Agreement.

 

Please request a sample of the 'short-term work agreement' or the by emailing caroline@carolinebowdencounselling.co.uk 

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CONFIDENTIALITY

Everything we discuss in our sessions together is confidential except:

1. Where, in my opinion, there is an immediate risk of harm to yourself or to others

2. Where I believe there is a breach of The Terrorism Act 2000 and/or Drug Trafficking Act 1994

3. Where the executor of my professional will requires access to contact you

As an ethical therapist, I have regular supervision to allow me to gain support and guidance in my work. Your anonymity will be maintained and respected at all times.

I am a member of the BACP and work within their Ethical Framework.

COSTS, FREQUENCY, LENGTH OF SESSIONS

The fee for individual therapy is £65 per session, payable by bank transfer. Therapy session fees and agreements are reviewed annually (July). If you require a £5 discount to afford counselling, please state this in the eForm named Contact Details and preference form.

Individual sessions are 50 minutes long weekly. Ad-hoc interim sessions can be scheduled if requested where there is availability.

We will review the work that we are doing around the 6-12 session mark, giving us both a chance to check-in, take stock and discuss if you would like to continue.

CONSISTENCY AND CANCELLATION OF SESSIONS

I charge for each session weekly, which will be paid 7 days in advance.I uphold a 7-day cancellation policy - the session is payable in full if cancelled within 7 days of the session. If you need to cancel a session, please give me 7 or more days notice.

Consistency is important in therapy. Once you book into a weekly open-ended appointment timeslot, this slot is held for you on an ongoing, open-ended basis. Where I am given at least 7 full days’ notice, the first 6 weeks of client-cancelled sessions per year (for holidays/planned events/sickness/etc) are not payable. Thereafter, in order for me to hold your weekly ongoing appointment timeslot, sessions cancelled by the client for any reason will be payable at my normal rate. I will take approximately 6 weeks off per year (which are not charged for), and I will communicate these dates to you with as much advance notice as possible.

CONCLUDING THERAPY

At times therapy can be difficult. I would encourage you to talk through any difficulties you have with me.  

At some stage, you will feel ready to end your therapy. I encourage you to bring this in and we will discuss together how we will prepare and work towards this ending. It is important to have at least two ending sessions for us to reflect on our time together.

LIMITS FOR COUNSELLING

I cannot see clients who are, at the time of our appointment, under the influence of drink or drugs. I also ask that I am informed if you are prescribed any medication.

CODE OF ETHICS AND COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE

I am a member of the BACP and work by their Code of Ethics, I am also a trainee psychotherapist and so I am a trainee member of the UKCP and also abide by their Code of Ethics too. This is to ensure that you receive a good service and means that I am accountable to a higher national organisation and must work within their guidelines. They have their own complaints procedure. Copies of this are available on request.

BOUNDARIES

Therapeutic relationships are kept within the confines of our session times.   If a situation arises between sessions that you feel cannot wait until your next session, feel free to email me, as it may be possible to arrange an emergency appointment.  I will get back to you as soon as possible.

PROFESSIONAL WILL

I have designated a colleague as my professional executor should anything happen to me - to have access to my client records, to provide psychological services if needed, and to refer to another qualified professional if required.

AGREEMENT

I have read and understood the above information and agree to the conditions for counselling as made clear to me.