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Working agreement & policies

Working agreement & privacy policy

Working agreement

A full working agreement will be given when we start our work together, but here is some brief information:

Aim of counselling

To provide a space to talk about what’s going on for you and to explore your experiences whether past or present. My role is to support you in a way that works for you and we will review our work together regularly with this in mind.

I am integrative counsellor, which means that I can draw on tools and interventions from a variety of modalities as and when needed. My practice is founded in person-centred theory but I also use elements of psychodynamic theory, transactional analysis, CBT and creative therapies (such as SandStory).

Confidentiality

Sessions are confidential. I may discuss my work with my supervisor, but without identifying details. I may need to break confidentiality if there’s a risk of serious harm to you or others, safeguarding concerns, disclosure of terrorism/trafficking/money laundering, or if you become incapacitated during an online session. Where possible, I’ll discuss this with you first. I have appointed two therapeutic executors (qualified BACP therapists) to contact clients should I become unable to continue working with you.

Sessions

Sessions run for 50 minutes at the same time/location each week, fortnightly, or as agreed. Late arrivals still end at the scheduled time. For online sessions, I’ll wait 20 minutes total before the session is cancelled; in person, arriving more than 15 minutes late counts as a missed session (fee still due). Sessions can’t take place if you’re under the influence of alcohol or non-prescription drugs. Recording sessions isn’t permitted.

Friends/family won’t be able to join sessions unless pre-agreed.

I can suggest other support/agencies but I am unable make referrals on your behalf.

I don’t use AI in my therapeutic work, and ask you to let me know if you do.

Online sessions

Please have a working, charged device with camera/mic on, in a quiet private space, with mobile on silent. Sessions must not be recorded, and no one else should listen in unless previously agreed. If we lose connection, we’ll try to reconnect, and I’ll call you if needed.

Records

Brief notes are kept securely in line with GDPR. You can request copies of your records, which will be provided within a month. Court reports are not provided.

Cancellations

Please give at least 48 hours’ notice to cancel or reschedule. Cancelling within 48 hours incurs a 50% fee; within 24 hours, 100% of the fee is due.

Ethics & insurance

I work within the BACP ethical framework and am a Registered Member of the BACP and an Accredited Registrant with the NCPS. I hold professional indemnity and public liability insurance.

Privacy policy

This website does not use Cookies.

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 electronic 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 electronic device, and I am the only person with access.

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 (both are fellow qualified therapists and BACP members) to attend to my clients in the event of my death or incapacitation. 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: Our sessions will remain confidential but there are a few exceptions to this, for example, if I have reason to believe you or someone else is at risk of serious harm, I may need to talk to third party. 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, or the National Counselling & Psychotherapy Society (NCPS): Complaints & concerns procedure | NCPS.