This set of Terms and conditions is a contractual document, agreed to by both therapist and client when embarking on a professional therapeutic relationship together. No therapy can take place without a therapeutic contract in place first.
Please note I retain the right to turn down work and to choose not to work with a person/s if I feel this would be inappropriate for either myself or the other party at the time. In this event I will provide the basis for my decision and endeavour to signpost to alternative professional and appropriate support, with the express permission of the other party.
Our Therapeutic Contract
In counselling and psychotherapy, both the therapist (me, Bethany Rosindell) and the client (you) have certain rights and responsibilities.
As a client you have a right:
1.1 To dignity as an individual human being
1.2 To equal consideration and treatment regardless of gender, race, religion, colour, economic status, age, sexual preference or beliefs
1.3 To be provided with professional and respectful care
1.4 To be accepted as who you are and to be listened to in a non-judgmental way
1.5 To know my assessment of the problems/concerns you are presenting (if indeed any assessment has been made)
1.6 To refuse to comply with recommendations or further signposting even if I suggest you take a course of action or seek another form of help/support. You may choose not to follow my guidance
1.7 To know what alternative resources may be available to you and you have a right to know what these are (providing I am aware of them myself)
1.8 To confidentiality in therapy, subject to the law
1.9 To know that I am bound to comply with the Ethical Framework for Good Practice as laid out by my professional body
As a client you have certain responsibilities, these are:
2.1 To be honest, open and willing to share your issues with me. If you don't feel able to be honest at this time then therapy can't occur
2.2 To ask questions when you don’t understand or you need further clarification on any part of our professional relationship, the sessions, or this contract
2.3 To discuss any reservations you may have prior to starting therapy
2.4 To report changes or unexpected events to me that may have an impact on your therapy and our professional therapeutic relationship as soon as you are aware of them
2.5 To keep me up to date with your contact details and your emergency contact details if they change during our time together
2.6 To keep psychotherapy appointments as arranged, or give at least 72 hours notice when you need to reschedule an appointment
2.7 To pay session fees at least 24 hours prior to the session and pay for all missed or cancelled sessions
2.8 To attend sessions sober and free from the influence of illegal drugs
2.9 To ensure our sessions take place from a space that is private and where we won’t be overheard or interrupted
Supervision
As your therapist I may wish to keep notes of our work together and discuss the psychotherapy I am undertaking with you with my supervisor. This is in order to monitor and improve my practice. This will be done in such a way as to protect your identity and your right to confidentiality
Confidentiality and the Law
Please note that all information shared within our sessions is confidential. I am however bound by rules that ensure that I have to report an act, or potential act, of treason or terrorism. Also if harm towards a child/minor/vulnerable person is discussed then I have the right to discuss potential steps with you to seek additional help, or support you disclosing this information to a third party. This is taken on a case by case basis and will be discussed at length with yourself prior to any action taken
Confidentiality and Data Protection
5.1 I take basic contact information from you via an official contact form when we start to work together, including your email address. Please note I take only the information I need in order to support you safely and with due care
5.2 Your email address is retained and used solely for the purposes of contacting you regarding session times, to reply to your email correspondence and to give further information if/when required.
5.3 Your information is not shared with or sold to any third party
5.4 I keep digital notes of our sessions, which are stored digitally with password protection. Emails are kept for only as long as necessary and ultimately deleted. I operate on a minimal data capture policy with all information being retained for the duration as determined by my insurance provider
5.5 Agreeing to work with me at this time means you agree for me to reply to your emails and send you emails regarding our work. It also means you agree to let me use your emergency contact details should you need me to (e.g. in the event you become ill in a session)
Confidentiality Online
6.1 Please note that there are no online facilities for therapy which can be guaranteed as absolutely secure with no risk of information being obtained by a third party. However, I take every precaution available to me to protect your privacy and I would suggest that you do the same
6.2 I do not share the log-in details for my computer with anyone else
6.3 I do not accept friend or follow requests for contact via social media on my personal accounts after a professional/therapeutic relationship has been established
Psychotherapy and Counselling Fees
7.1 My latest psychotherapy/counselling fee for a therapeutic hour (50 minutes) is available on the Therapy page of my website
7.2 Fees are payable within 24 hours of booking the first session and thereafter, 24 hours in advance of each subsequent session via BACS transfer in order to confirm the session
7.3 Your psychotherapy fee solely covers my professional service as a therapist and nothing else
7.4 If I have to cancel a session that you have already paid for due to illness or unexpected event or illness on my part then I will endeavour to reschedule for a mutually convenient time and allocate your payment to your next diarised session. If we both are unable to arrange an alternative suitable time/date then you will receive a full refund of your session fee
7.5 If you need to reschedule a session as a one-off, I require 72 hours notice to do so. If we are both unable to arrange an alternative suitable time/date, clause 7.6 will apply
7.6 If you cancel, cannot attend or forget to attend a session then no refunds will be given. There are limited exceptions to this refund clause and other circumstances where a session can be missed without payment or refunded might be appropriate and will be decided on an individual case basis and at my discretion. Please do ask me if you are uncertain
Sessions, Breaks & Endings
8.1 Psychotherapy and Counselling sessions are 50 minutes in duration and conducted via Google Meet
8.2 I will give you as much notice as possible when I have planned leave and will notify you via email. Please note, this will typically coincide with school holidays and I currently do not work during August
8.3 Where there is a planned break instigated by me of more than one week, I will confirm our next session date in writing via email
8.4 Endings are an important part of therapy and I strongly encourage all clients to attend a last session where possible
Intellectual Property
My intellectual property, including but not limited to any/all social media, website and email content produced by me (Bethany Rosindell) or by my company (Bethany Rosindell - Self Love & Psychotherapy), will remain the intellectual property of me and is not to be used or shared for any other purpose without my prior and express permission.
