*The following is a copy of my counselling contract. This is to be signed by myself and the client at the start of our first session together. Please read through it carefully*
Kelly Rowley
Psychotherapeutic Counsellor DIP
MBACP
www.kellyrowleycounselling.co.uk
Contact telephone number:
07707824172
Email:
Kelly@kellyrowleycounselling.co.uk
Counselling Contract
Please read and retain the following information about what you are agreeing to. This contract shall detail how we agree to work together and I shall ask you to sign this document on your first session with me Kelly Rowley, if the offer of therapy is in acceptance by you the client. By signing this contract you are acknowledging that you have received, agreed and understand the terms which are outlined in this contract. It shall also detail how we shall work together and also any limitations to confidentiality. By communicating these terms of therapy I am respecting both yours and my rights as a client and a therapist that include your rights to confidentiality, privacy and data security, that corresponds with the European Union (EU) data protection legislation. If there is anything that you do not understand please do not hesitate to ask as soon as possible.
Pre-therapy information
Prior to the therapy commencing, I shall ask to obtain from you some brief details about yourself. This shall include your name, contact details and your General practitioners name and address as well as a contact number and name of a friend or family member who can be contacted if the need arises. I shall also ask about any medical conditions that you may be living with along with any details of medication in case an emergency arises.
The signing of this contract is your agreement for the terms of therapy that is detailed in this document. The discussion of fees shall be prearranged before therapy commences including any charges resulting from non-attendance or cancellations that are not 48 hours in advance.
Informed consent
It is within your rights to make an informed decision whether or not to start your counselling journey. Commencing therapy should not be undertaken lightly, as counselling can be difficult, sometimes painful to process and can be emotionally uncomfortable. If you do not wish to talk about a specific issue, event, memory or relationship that is either past or present you have the right to inform me if it something that you do not wish to discuss. What is important is that we work together in an agreed manner so that you feel as comfortable as possible talking about whatever it is that has brought you to counselling.
Ethical Practice
As a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), I undertake the Ethical Framework for Counselling professionals seriously.
What to expect
-You shall expect to find a confidential space to explore what has brought you to counselling
– A non judgemental approach that shall provide you with the opportunity to discover your own answers and promote independent thinking.
– You may feel liberated for being heard and for exploring memories and suppressed emotions during and after the therapy session. This could lead to you experiencing a sense of freedom and empowerment over your own thoughts and emotions and promoting independent thinking.
-You may experience some confusion whilst processing situations and emotions that were explored throughout the session, especially if the emotions were painful to discuss. By trusting the process and by opening a dialogue to discuss with your counsellor what you may feel uncomfortable to explore, it shall ensure that we are optimising your trust in our therapeutic relationship.
– You shall be offered refreshment in session; these can either be a hot or cold drink free of charge.
– If for some reason you (the client) do not feel that the counselling that you are receiving is benefitting you in any way, then you have the right to discuss with your counsellor how we can work differently. If you feel that it still isn’t working then you have the right to seek an alternative counselling service and your decision shall be respected. Your counsellor would be happy to assist in signposting you to others services that best suit your needs.
– Similar to above, if I (your counsellor) feel that our sessions are not benefitting you or if I could not provide you with the services that you require, I have the right to end our agreement and provide you with an alternative service that could best suit your needs.
– Our therapeutic relationship should be respected as a professional service and not be perceived as anything but. The website stated at the top of this document states my hours of business and my private life should be respected and vice versa. That being said, if you are in need of support outside of my business hours and it is a distressing issue that cannot wait until our next scheduled counselling session and is a mental health crisis the NHS mental health access service can be contacted on: 0300 123 0907 (option 1). If you choose to call this number clients are to ring on the day for availability. Alternatively clients can also call Samaritans 24 hour help line on: 116 123.
– If by chance we have an accidental meeting in an environment outside of our scheduled appointment, your private life shall be respected and I shall expect the same courtesy. If you wish to say a brief greeting, I shall return the pleasantry but also be respecting of our confidentiality agreement and appropriate boundaries. This same respect for boundaries should extend to any pursual of a befriending relationship outside of our session and shall be discouraged. The same applies to any befriending through any social media platform. This is to ensure a positive relationship between the client and the therapist and by avoiding any accidental harm.
– Before commencing any therapy session clients shall be reminded to switch off their mobile phones unless their phone needs to be switched on for emergency reasons. This is to eliminate as much interference of the session as possible as not to interrupt the flow of the session. This shall also eliminate the possibility of any accidental recordings of the session that may compromise the client and kellyrowleycounselling.
– Under no circumstances, unless prearranged with good reason, shall any sessions be recorded by the client or therapist.
– In regards to your safeguarding and ensuring that you are fully benefiting from your counselling sessions, it is inappropriate to attend your sessions whilst under the influence of alcohol or other substances. If you attend a session under the influence you may be asked to reschedule so that you can maximise any benefit of our sessions.
– Dual relationships regarding a client seeing more than one therapist is not deemed as an ethical decision mainly for the following reason. A client may get confused with different treatment plans from two different counsellors that may result in the client’s symptoms deteriorating. If the client is currently engaging in another therapeutic relationship with an alternative supporting organisation,
the client should inform the counsellor upon entering into therapy with them. The exception to accepting treatment from two different counsellors is to be seeking treatment for two different issues. Also if you are consulting with two different therapists and are deciding which therapist is best suited to your needs.
– Professional process notes from each session shall be kept in a secure location adhering to the BACP Ethical framework and principals as well as the EU General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR, 2018). Please note that GDPR has replaced the former regulations known as the UK Data Protection Act (1998). If you would like to know more information about GDPR it can be found on the UK Information Commissioners office (ICO) website. GDPR also states that you have a right to view these notes at any given time. Any notes that I shall write after each session shall be done so in paper form. They shall be stored under a pseudonym to protect your confidentiality. Any further details that involve your name and contact information shall be securely stored in a separate location. Your notes shall be kept for a period of no longer than six years.As a registered data controller my details can be found on my website that is listed at the top of this document under the privacy policy section. It is important to read the privacy policy and this contract that is also linked in this section, as you will be asked to sign it in the initial session as to provide you with as much time for the actual session to commence.
– If at any time the local authorities or agencies request to see your notes or to talk about information that involves our sessions together, I shall seek your permission to do so before anything of this nature commences.
– As I abide by the law, it is within my responsibilities as your counsellor to reserve the right to limit our confidentiality where I am obligated to do so. These include anything that may be deemed as illegal, such as abuse of a vulnerable person, abuse or neglect of a child, any act of terrorism, drug trafficking or people trafficking. This also includes any involvement in a crime such as a hit and run whilst sober or under the influence of drugs or alcohol. It is within my duty to disclose this information to the relevant bodies.
– All therapists abide by the requirement to regularly attend Clinical supervision that is outlined by my professional registration with the BACP. Supervision ensures that our practice as therapists is adhering to the ethical principles upheld by governing bodies such as the BACP and to also offer new perspectives on specific dilemmas that we could come into contact with throughout our sessions. Supervision is bound by the same confidentiality boundaries as the therapeutic relationship between client and therapist, but is also bound by the same limitations. At all times the clients anonymity shall be retained unless there is a serious risk to you or to others of the general public that is communicated. In the event of this occurring I have the responsibility to break our confidentiality. If my thought process leads me to believe that you are at serious risk to yourself or to the general public in our sessions, I shall bring this to your attention and approach the discussion on having to break the confidentiality agreement. In which case, gaining your permission to break our agreement may not be practical or even possible. If in the rare event that this could occur I shall contact your General Practitioner or other medical professional contacts that are responsible for your welfare, health and well being. By doing this I am adhering to the BACP ethical framework of being responsible and providing you with a duty of care.
– I do not have the qualifications to medically diagnose any client and would always signpost the client to their General practitioner for this.
– I may offer a CORE questionnaire to our sessions. This is a short questionnaire that shall be used to monitor client risk. It also depicts the client’s journey through self-development if agreed to.
– If approached to work with adolescents aged 16 years and above, there shall be an agreement whereby parental/ care givers consent and cooperation, as well as the young person receiving the counselling consent is signed and supported. The young person shall be assessed on competency and understanding of what they are agreeing to in therapy and what it shall entail. This shall be fully explained in the consultation and at the start of therapy. I encourage an open dialogue, so that any uncertainty can be explained. I would consider working with adolescents approaching the age of 16 providing that they adhere to the same competencies and understandings as mentioned above.
– Couples who are requiring therapy shall agree to show each other the necessary respect to talk. If any individual of the relationship cannot attend the arranged session, the session should be rescheduled for a time when all parties can attend. Each individual shall be punctual for each of the sessions with the exceptions as stated in this contract. Each of the couple shall receive and sign a copy of the contract agreed to.
Cost of sessions, payment options and regulations
-The initial consultation shall be 20 minutes long and be free of charge in order to get a general feel of if we can work with each other. The consultation should be primarily face to face within my premises of business, although I also offer over the phone or Skype consultations as an alternative for those that are prevented from leaving their home due to an individual’s ailments.
– One therapy session which is 50 minutes long (also known as the therapeutic hour) shall be charged at £50. Another option that may be of interest for some clients and for those that travel a long distance for their sessions is a 90 minute session for £70. I do offer a very limited number of concessions for those that are limited financially, so do please ask if this applies to you and I shall do my best to make alternative arrangements.
– Sessions can be booked in advance of up to three appointments and can be done so to book a recurring slot, additionally it can be an option to a more open ended arrangement of therapy. Sessions are also advised to be on a weekly basis so that continual progression or exploration is still ‘fresh’. However if it is not an option for you financially to commit to this arrangement alternatives can be arranged for fortnightly sessions.
– Sessions are predominantly face to face in person at my premises of business but I also offer telephone counselling and sessions via Skype as an alternative. These alternatives shall be approached with the same respect as what is outlined above and should not be recorded or in the presence of third parties as this affects our confidentiality agreement.
– ‘Drop in’ sessions for those who are requiring support on the day, who are existing clients can be available and are charged pro rata based on a minimum of 30 minutes.
– Additional sessions for previous clients that have ended their therapy with kellyrowleycounselling are available for the same price as a 50 minute session or a 90 minute session stated above. Typically, additional sessions are offered as a ‘when required’ service and not booked as block of appointments.
– Payments for sessions are required either on the day or 24 hours in advance and can be paid via cash, bank transfer or PayPal. An invoice shall be provided for you after payment is received. Any invoices given shall have a reference to kellyrowleycounselling or Kelly Rowley on them.
– Failure to make payment in the above timescale shall incur a 50% charge and shall be invoiced to the address where you reside, unless alternative arrangements are made if you are struggling to make payment. If this is the case this should be discussed prior to the session commencing in the allocated timescale stated above.
– Cancellations should be made 48 hours before your pre booked appointment and failure to do so will result in the client being charged for the full cost of the session. Exceptions to this are personal circumstances that are deemed as an emergency such as an accident, personal injury or illness etc. If an emergency does occur I should be contacted as soon as it is
possible so that the session can be offered to other awaiting clients.
– At the end of our agreement you shall be requested to complete a feedback sheet so that you can provide me with any honest or constructive feedback, so that kellyrowleycounselling can continuously provide the very best service for clients. If you have positively experienced the counselling that you have received, you may wish to offer a testimonial that shall be published on my website stated at the top of this document or in alternative advertising avenues. Your name and other personal details shall be kept
anonymous to protect confidentiality. You may wish to use your initials or just your first name. However, you are not obliged to provide a testimonial and should be offered from your autonomy to do so.
– Punctuality for scheduled sessions is important as it displays your commitment to therapy and displays your respect and vice versa. If you arrive 20 minutes late for your scheduled session then you may have to reschedule the appointment. This is due to it being more than
a third of the therapeutic hour (50 minutes) and resulting in you receiving just 30 minutes of therapy.
Therapeutic Will
As part of ethical practice I hold a therapeutic Will that declares that in the case of my death, my client’s details shall be handled in a confidential way and my designated trustee shall receive a confidential letter that shall include details to my secure location where I keep my clients details of contact and you shall be contacted if you are a current client to inform you of my demise. You shall also be offered support from them, if you choose to do so.
Unethical and abusive concerns practiced by a BACP member are addressed by the BACP’S Professional Conduct Procedure and clients can voice any serious concerns through this confidential service. An alternative contact if you have any serious concerns about your therapist is the Ask Kathleen service at the BACP.
Professional Credentials
British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP)
Registered Member. Membership Number:378406
If you wish to check the register at the BACP you can do so by accessing: bacpregister.org.uk/ Information
Commissioners Office (ICO). Data Protection Registration.
Registration Reference: A8483373
Disclosure and barring service (DBS)
It is a requirement for people working within the care industry to enter a thorough police check to protect vulnerable people including children from unsuitable individuals. Enhanced Certificate number: 001661364896
Date of issue: 12 June 2019
gov.uk/government/organisations/disclosure-and-barring-service
Professional business insurance
My insurance consists of professional indemnity and Public liability cover I am insured with the following company:
Towergate Insurance brokers
Kings Court,
London Road,
Stevenage
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