This Counselling contract explains the way in which I offer counselling sessions.
I am pleased that you are considering coming into therapy with me and confirm to you that I work within the BACP (British Association for Counselling the Psychotherapy) Ethical framework, details of which can be found at: http://www.bacp.co.uk/events/learning_programmes/ethical_framework/documents/ethical_framework.pdf
Sessions last for 50 minutes and are held at the time we agree. The nature of counselling is that it is very important that you commit to these sessions; this is your time and will not be offered to anyone else. Sessions are offered face to face or on line.
Confidentiality What you say to me is confidential and you are at liberty to bring anything you wish to. I have regular supervision which is a BACP requirement for all BACP Registered counsellors. In these sessions I do not use any identifying information so your identity is protected.
Fees are reviewed annually on 1st January. Once we agree a fee per session I will invoice you at the beginning of each month for the number of sessions in the previous month. If you are unable to attend a session, please give me as much notice as possible. I will do my best to offer an alternative. Payment is made by bank transfer.
Privacy
In line with the new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) legislation, I need to ask if you are ok for me to keep your name, email address and phone number.
Any personal data is kept in password protected files on electronic devices including PCs which have virus protection software installed.
These are used solely for the purpose of communicating with you and are never passed on to anyone else, unless requested for legitimate legal purposes. Legislation now states that this personal data, together with other identifying information such as your date of birth or the period of time we worked together may be requested in pursuant of a legitimate legal instrument such as a court order.
I may make information from this data available to legitimate third parties under the following conditions:
- Receipt of a written signed request from you or your representative
- Where there is a specific legal requirement for me to do so;
- Where there is an ethical duty for me to do so, for example to avoid serious harm to yourself or another person, including the safeguarding of children or vulnerable adults.
This personal information, including the content of texts and emails, will be held whilst we are working together and then shredded.
Your contact details alone will be shared in exceptional circumstances with my supervisor or other named agent in the event that I am incapacitated so that they can contact you to explain the situation.
Contacting you
Once we have both signed this contact, please email me to provide explicit consent to my contacting you via email, text, phone and letter.
Your rights
You have the right to ask to see any information held by me about you. To do this please either ask me or submit a request in writing. You also have the right to ask for information that you believe to be incorrect to be rectified. The law now requires me to provide you with the information requested within four weeks.
If I become aware of a situation where your personal information may have accidently or maliciously been obtained by a third party I will notify you within three days of this coming to my attention.
If you are concerned about the way that your information is being held please discuss this with me. If you are still unhappy you have the right to complain to the Information Commissioners Office.