Terms and Conditions of Business
Please read these before the first appointment. We will ask you to agree to them, so that we both understand how we will work together.
Appointment Information
A session lasts 50 minutes and usually take place on a weekly basis. Total number of sessions depends on the nature of the problem and can be discussed further after assessment.
Payment and Cancellation
Full payment is required at the time of booking, which secures your appointment time. Payment is non-refundable. Rescheduling of an appointment requires a minimum of 48 hours’ notice. If you are late, the appointment will still run within the booked slot.
Insurance
If you are using a private health care plan to pay for your treatment, therapy will not begin until we receive authorisation from the private health care organisation.
Each insurer will have a maximum fee they will pay for therapy sessions, if this fee is less than the session fee outlined above, the remaining funds will have to be paid by you. Likewise, if any sessions are cancelled late or not attended as per the cancellation policy, these fees must be paid by you.
Confidentiality
Information that we discuss as part of our appointments will be kept confidential and will not be discussed with any third party without your explicit consent to do so.
If information is disclosed that relates to significant harm occurring to you or to those around you, we would be obliged by our duty of care to share this information with the relevant authority or service even if you do not consent. Confidentiality is only breached if there is a significant risk to you or to someone else. Similarly, if were issued a Police warrant or a court order, by law we would have to disclose information.
Covering the cost of someone’s treatment does not grant access to information about their sessions – we can only share details with the client’s own consent, which they have the right to decline.
Occasionally it may be necessary to contact your GP or another health professional prior to commencing therapy, this will only be done with your consent.
Clinical Supervision
All professionally qualified therapists are required to attend clinical supervision in order to ensure that you receive the best possible treatment. Any clinical information shared in supervision will not include your name or personal details and will be treated confidentially.
I am a member of the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Therapy (BABCP) and Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and bound by their ethical code of practice. These are available to view at: www.BABCP.com and www.NMC.org.uk.
Contact Between Sessions
Due to caseload obligations and other responsibilities, I am not able to provide discussion or advice outside of appointment times. Contact in between sessions should only be for the purpose of booking or rescheduling appointments via email/phone/text.
If you are in crisis please contact your GP, attend your nearest A&E or the call local crisis team who are open 24 hours a day on 111 (option 2).
Commitment and Standards of Behaviour
While we work with you to ensure that the treatment and therapeutic support you receive is effective, as with any other treatment, success is not guaranteed. Your full commitment to the process is vital. Working on the tasks or areas of progress in between the sessions will ensure you have the greatest likelihood of meeting your therapy goals.
You as the client must agree to:
- Respect the privacy and confidentiality of your therapist
- Commit to engaging fully in the sessions without distraction
- Attending on time and not under the influence of alcohol or recreational drugs
If conduct should breach these standards, we reserve the right to terminate the session and/ or refuse future sessions.
We also reserve the right to refuse treatment where we believe that another treatment might be more appropriate or having a good therapist fit.