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Working agreement & policies

Working Agreement & Privacy

Working Agreement

Confidentiality

Our sessions (whether in person or online) are confidential, but there are exceptions to confidentiality when there is a risk of serious harm to you or someone else. These exceptions include:

  • Risks to yourself or others
  • Harm to children or vulnerable adults
  • Acts of terrorism, money laundering or drug trafficking
  • Ongoing court proceedings

Where there is a potential or actual risk to you or another person, my policy is to share this specific information with a relevant agency (e.g. social services or your GP). I will always try to discuss my concerns with you before sharing information, but if I believe there is an immediate risk, I may share information before speaking to you as part of my legal or safeguarding responsibility.

Cost and payment

Sessions are held at the same time each week (unless you are notified, or otherwise agreed). Each session costs £70 and lasts 50 minutes. Fees are payable 24 hours in advance of each session via bank transfer. If payment is not received 24 hours before the session, it will not be able to go ahead. If paying monthly, payment is due on the first of the month.

My fees will be reviewed regularly.

We may work to an agreed number of sessions, or sessions can be ongoing for as long as needed. A reduced fee for any concessionary sessions will be discussed and agreed individually.

Cancellation policy

If you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment, please give a minimum of 48 hours’ notice via email. Cancellations made within 48 hours of the scheduled session will incur a 50% charge of the full session fee. Cancellations made within 24 hours will incur a 100% charge.

Expectations

  • Please arrive on time for each session. If you arrive late, the session will still end at the originally scheduled time.
  • Please do not come to sessions (in person or online) under the influence of alcohol or drugs, as the session will not be able to take place.
  • Friends or family are not able to join you in sessions unless previously agreed.
  • During your counselling, we can discuss other support you may need. I might suggest other agencies if appropriate, but I am not able to make referrals on your behalf.
  • I will not use AI for any part of my therapeutic work with you; please let me know if you use AI during our work together.

Additional elements for online working

  • Please make sure your computer or mobile is working and charged before the session, with your microphone and video on.
  • I will use headphones during sessions to ensure confidentiality; you are welcome to use headphones too.
  • Please be in a quiet, private location where you won’t be disturbed, with the door closed and adequate lighting.
  • If using a computer, please keep your mobile on silent or off to avoid distraction.
  • It can help to have tissues and a glass of water nearby.
  • The session must not be recorded in any way. Please do not let anyone else listen in unless previously agreed.
  • Please join at the agreed time. I will wait online for 10 minutes before messaging you, and for a further 10 minutes, after which the session will be unable to take place.
  • If we get disconnected, we’ll both try to reconnect. If that isn’t possible, I will call the telephone number you have given me.

Privacy Policy

To comply with the UK’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), I need to let you know how I will use your data, including what details I collect and how I store, process and destroy them, if you become a client.

Personal details submitted using the Contact form on this website (name, date of birth, phone number, email, reasons for wanting counselling, availability, type of session preferred) will be used to contact you to arrange an initial free phone call regarding your request for counselling. Your details will be securely held for 2 months on a password-protected device before being deleted, in the event that you do not become a client. I am the only person with access to the device.

Personal details I collect (if you become a client)

  • Name (for under-18s, also a parent or guardian’s name)
  • Date of birth
  • Address
  • Contact number (for under-18s, a parent or guardian’s number too)
  • Email address
  • Emergency contact details
  • Details of any relevant mental or physical health issues and medication
  • GP contact details

Storage of personal details

Any notes that I make for my own records are securely held on a password-protected device, and I am the only person with access. I do not use cloud storage.

Personal details and notes are held in a securely archived digital folder for 7 years following the end of our work together (until 25th birthday for clients seen as minors), to comply with my legal requirements. After 7 years (or client’s 25th birthday), all notes and personal details are permanently deleted from my device.

Sharing of personal details

AI: I do not use AI in my therapeutic work and will not share my notes or your personal details with AI at any time.

Supervision: In line with the requirements of my professional body (the BACP), my work is regularly supervised by a qualified supervisor. I may share details of our work together with my supervisor as part of my commitment to personal and professional development; you will be kept anonymous. These conversations are confidential; my supervisor is bound by the same ethical and confidentiality requirements as I am.

Therapeutic will: I have appointed two Therapeutic Executors (Katherine MacNamara and Natalie Coomba) to attend to my clients in the event of my death or incapacitation. Both are fellow qualified therapists and BACP members. One of my Executors would contact you to let you know of the situation and offer support where appropriate, and they are responsible for the confidential disposal of all case notes and personal details.

Exceptions to confidentiality: If I have reason to believe you or someone else is at risk of serious harm, I will break confidentiality (as noted above). I will try to discuss this with you first. Where a threat of terrorism, money laundering or drug trafficking is disclosed, I am obliged by law to inform the relevant authorities.

Your rights

You have the right:

  • To know what information I will store about you.
  • To ask to see the information I hold about you.
  • To ask that I rectify any information you deem inaccurate, unnecessary or incomplete (Please note: legal requirements may mean that I am not be able to fulfil your request).

Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns about how your personal data is used or handled.

You can email me at [email protected]. I will acknowledge your email and aim to respond within 30 days. If you’re not satisfied with my response, you have the right to raise it directly with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), the UK’s data protection regulator: ico.org.uk

Complaints

If you feel you need to make a complaint, please email me at [email protected] in the first instance, detailing the complaint in full. I will review your complaint and will make every effort to rectify the issue if it is within my capacity to do so. I will aim to respond within 30 days. If you aren’t satisfied with my response, you have the right to raise it directly with my governing body, the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP): How to complain about a BACP member