Terms and conditions 

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For the purpose of these terms and conditions, the terms child/Young Person and YP are used interchangeably. 

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Ethics - All counsellors practice under the ethical framework set out by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). This means that we are committed to working with you in a way that is ethical, empowering and growth facilitating.

 

Fee - The fee for our counselling sessions would have been discussed and agreed in your initial consultation.

 

Notice of Cancellation - 48 hours’ notice is required to cancel a session without incurring a cancellation fee.  The cancellation fee is the full cost of the session. Therefore, missed appointments or cancelled sessions are chargeable, unless you discuss any absence with your therapist in advance, to explore if discretion can be applied depending on the circumstances.

 

Missed Sessions - Our therapists commit to regular weekly appointments with our clients, holding diary time because of the importance of regularity and continuity of sessions. More than two missed or cancelled session in a row may result in you being placed back on the waiting list and your diary time being reallocated. Ordinarily, any planned absence must be agreed in advance with your therapist, who may be able to offer you an alternative session that week, subject to availability.

 

Contact In public - Our therapist will never approach you or your child in public. If you should meet one of our therapists in public, they will not greet you unless you greet them and no content from sessions or about your child/YP or their therapy will be discussed.

 

Limits to Confidentiality – we are committed to maintaining the highest level of confidentiality. Exceptions to this policy are where I was to believe that you are someone else was at serious risk of harm. Consultation may be sought with another professional, but in this unusual situation the matter will be discussed with you and a mutually agreeable way forward will be sought, where possible. We are generally committed to empowering our clients to take effective steps to resolve any difficulty. 

 

Confidential between therapist and Parents/Guardians and Therapist and Child/YP - Usually specific details of your YP therapy will be confidential to your YP. Your YP may choose to share whatever he or she likes about the sessions, but I will not share any details except with my clinical supervisor. I will not share information with any other person or agency without agreement from you and your YP (if appropriate), except when it is required by a court of law or a local authority, or if I believe your YP or another person is at risk. We will agree on a Circle of Confidentiality so that I know who else can receive information about your YP therapy and how the information will be passed on.

 

Reviews -We will meet after 6 weeks to review your young person progress with them present and discuss how best to meet his/her needs. I will not tell you the details of your YP sessions, but I will share, where appropriate, the themes and patterns with you so that you can best care for your YP needs at home. This will follow the review that I would have had during the 6th session with the young person. A review is also a time for you to bring any concerns you have about your YP and the therapy. 

 

Out of session contact - If you feel that there is anything significant that we should know during the course of therapy with your child/YP please email us, however, where possible updates are best left to review sessions.

 

Clinical Supervision – Counsellors/Therapists have an obligation to use regular and ongoing supervision to enhance the quality of their work.  This means that we speak to an external consultant/peer therapists about our work, but you will be anonymous within this process.  Confidentiality is strictly held between you and your counsellor unless it was felt that you were at serious risk or someone else was at serious risk of harm.

 

Length of Counselling - We provide up to 2 years counselling on a weekly basis, with the preference of sessions taking place at the same time and day of the week. It is recommended that an initial block of 6 sessions is undertaken to give therapeutic change a chance. Regular reviews every 3-4 weeks are also recommended to choose the best way forward. 

 

Notes and reports - I will keep notes about your YP therapy for my own use and for supervision. I will always inform you about this and gain your permission before sending a report to anyone outside the agreed Circle of Confidentiality. I will not share notes or reports without your consent unless required to by law.

 

Complaints¬ - If you are not happy with the way I am working with your child, I will invite you to discuss the issues with me first so that we can try to resolve any misunderstanding or differences. If you are not satisfied after our meeting, you may also look at the complaint’s procedure for BACP members at www.bacp.co.uk

 

Endings - Healthy endings are an important part of moving forward, therefore we ask that before finishing counselling at least 2-4 weeks’ notice is given, therefore giving our work together with the opportunity to come to a positive end.

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