Client Contract
This section lays out the agreement between you and your counsellor. Please read the agreement in full and tick the box at the end to confirm you've understood and agree to the conditions.
What the student counsellor offers
Counselling is an opportunity to work on any issues you may have in your life. The resolution of these may make your life better. To ensure you get the opportunity to explore issues that you feel you would like to bring to counselling we will work in a collaborative manner and I (your counsellor) will ask for feedback as we progress to find out what does and does not work for you as a client.
Confidentiality
There are boundaries and limits to confidentiality in certain cases. Confidentiality may be broken if:
- You or others are or seem to be in danger or at serious risk of being harmed, in the opinion of the student counsellor.
- The student counsellor is required to do so by court order.
- The client infers involvement in or knowledge of an act of terrorism or of money laundering.
- The client infers knowledge of or involvement in drugs trafficking.
- The client infers knowledge of or involvement in behaviours that may, in the student counsellor’s opinion, lead to harm or neglect to children and vulnerable adults.
I will aim to discuss this with you before doing so but may need to do without prior consultation should I consider that the urgency of the situation requires me to act immediately to safeguard the physical safety of yourself or others.
Supervision and confidentiality
I monitor my own practice by attending regular supervision for myself and am committed to my own self-development. There are times where aspects of our sessions will be taken to supervision to monitor my practice; at no time will your name or any identifiable information be mentioned and my supervisor is also committed to our contracted confidentiality.
Client privacy
For online sessions please ensure you are in a confidential environment where you cannot be overheard or observed by anyone in your household. It may be helpful to consider using a headset. You may also choose to blur your background and use the “hide self- view” feature depending on how comfortable you feel whilst speaking on camera.
The student counsellor will always be in a room alone where they cannot be overheard. Online sessions can be provided via Google Meet, Microsoft Teams or Zoom dependent on your needs, please provide your preference in advance. An invite will be sent out in prior to meeting with the scheduled date and time.
Records of sessions
I will keep brief notes relating to our sessions, the appointments we book and this document (the counselling contract) on file. If at any point you would like access to these notes, or if you have been referred by an agency that requires update reports, then please let me know and I will make these available.
Documents will be password protected, an encrypted email provider used and stored on a secure server. I must also adhere to CLAPA’s privacy policy requirements. I am not responsible for any third-party error e.g., such as data hacking for any provider of technology used during sessions. CLAPA will be provided with scores from your CORE-10 feedback to evaluate the effectiveness of this service. At no time will your name or any identifiable information be provided along with these scores, however, the client has the right to refuse to share this information.
The student counsellor may record sessions for purpose of self-evaluation and supervision. The client will always be consulted before a recording is made and the client has the right to refuse that the session be recorded. Where appointments are taking place online, I ask that you do not record these without first requesting my permission first at which point we can discuss whether this may be possible.
Technical issues
If there are any technical issues from either the counsellor or the client during online sessions, I ask that you remain for 10 minutes to see whether re-connection can be established. The student counsellor will make an attempt to call you on the contact number provided to make alternative arrangements depending on which stage of the session any issue may occur.
Contacting the Counsellor
You may email me on the email address provided to you. Contact outside agreed counselling sessions should be limited to making, changing or cancelling an appointment unless by prior arrangement. I will get back to you as soon as I can and will aim for this to be within 48 hours.
Punctuality
It is important that you attend your session on time as there may be clients booked in immediately after your session. I will remain available for 10 minutes past the agreed start time but please note, the session will most likely need to finish at the original end time in these cases.
Non attendance
Should you cancel within less than the 48 hours’ notice agreed, or fail to attend an appointment I will aim to get in contact via the preferred option above to reschedule. Should there be three failed attempts at getting in contact I will assume you no longer wish to continue sessions. Please note, if there are concerns for your wellbeing CLAPA safeguarding protocols may need to be followed.
Holidays/ Vacation leave
I will aim to give you a minimum of 2 weeks’ notice of any planned holiday dates when I will be unavailable. I require (where possible) at least 2 weeks’ notice from you for planned leave.
Number of Sessions
Initially 6 sessions will be offered to clients. After this, if deemed necessary following a review the contract can be renewed verbally for an additional 6 sessions. Sessions will last for 50 minutes once per week. Regular feedback from you will be sought, therefore, should you feel a change in frequency of sessions may be necessary to help you reach your goals, you can discuss and collaboratively agree this.
We understand that your life circumstances may suddenly change. You may at any point desire or be obligated to discontinue therapy. Whatever the reason, I respect your decision but ask that you give one weeks’ notice before finishing so that we have the chance to discuss your decision.
Session Fees
There is no cost for the sessions. Sessions are being provided as part of placement requirements for the student counsellor in conjunction with CLAPA.
Student Counsellor Responsibilities
- To be available at the agreed time.
- To start and end sessions on time.
- To offer a quiet, appropriate and undisturbed space.
- To maintain safe, professional boundaries.
- To regard all contact and information as confidential unless there is reasonable doubt concerning actual safety of the client or others.
- To encourage client autonomy.
- To work within the BACP and Ethical Frameworks (available upon request) including regular supervision.
- To review therapeutic work and relationship regularly.
In the unlikely event of the student counsellor cancelling, an alternative appointment offered ASAP
Client Responsibilities
- To attend punctually.
- To give a minimum of 48 hours’ notice when cancelling/ changing an appointment.
- Communicating with the student counsellor outside agreed counselling sessions to be limited to making, changing or cancelling an appointment via email unless by prior arrangement.
- To be respectful to the counsellor and their property.
- To agree to give permission to contact GP if the student counsellor has serious concerns about risk to self (client) or others.
- To discuss with the student counsellor when you feel you are ready to end therapy.
- To inform the student counsellor if you are in or are considering entering another therapeutic relationship.
