POLICIES & PROCEDURES

Appointments & Cancellations
Sessions are booked by mutual agreement. I ask for at least 24 hours’ notice if you need to cancel or rearrange a session. Sessions cancelled with less than 24 hours’ notice, or missed without notice, are usually charged at the full session fee. I understand that emergencies and unforeseen circumstances can occur and these will be considered on a case by case basis.

Fees & Payment
Sessions are charged at £35 per session online or via telephone & £40 for face to face sessions. Payment is required within 24 hours of the session by bank transfer or cash on the day. Bank transfer details will be provided once sessions are booked. If payment is not received within this timeframe, future sessions may be paused unless agreed in advance.

As my practice develops, my session rates may change. Existing clients will always receive advance notice of any updates.

Session Length & Attendance
Sessions last 50 minutes. If you arrive late, the session will still end at the scheduled time. If you do not attend within 15 minutes of the session start time and have not made contact, the session may be treated as a non-attendance.

Record Keeping
I keep brief handwritten session notes to support safe and effective practice. Notes are factual, relevant, and stored securely. No audio or video recordings are made. Client records are kept for 7 years after therapy ends and are then securely destroyed.

Confidentiality
Everything discussed in counselling is treated as confidential. Confidentiality may be broken if there is a serious risk of harm to you or someone else, a safeguarding concern involving a vulnerable adult or a child, or where disclosure is required by law or court order. Where possible, this will be discussed with you beforehand.

Safeguarding
I work in line with safeguarding legislation and professional guidelines. If concerns arise regarding safety, I may need to contact appropriate services to reduce risk. My priority is always to act in the best interests of those involved.

Supervision
I attend regular clinical supervision as part of my professional practice. Supervision provides a confidential space to reflect on my work and support ongoing professional development. Client work may be discussed in supervision in an anonymised way, with no identifying information shared.

Referrals
If I believe that additional or alternative support would be beneficial, I may discuss the option of a referral with you. Any referrals will be made sensitively and, where possible, with your knowledge and consent.

Data Protection & GDPR
I work in line with UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and data protection legislation. I have completed relevant training in data protection and confidentiality and take the handling of personal information seriously. Client information is used only for the purpose of providing counselling and is stored securely.

Professional Boundaries
The counselling relationship is professional and boundaried. Contact outside of sessions is usually limited to practical matters such as appointments unless otherwise agreed.

Complaints
If you are unhappy with any aspect of the services you receive, I encourage you to raise this with me directly so we can try to resolve it together. If the issue cannot be resolved, you have the right to contact the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).