Confidentiality, Terms & Conditions
Confidentiality
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Confidentiality means that what you say remains between you and your counsellor in the counselling room. However, there are exceptions. If your counsellor is concerned that you or someone else is at risk of serious harm, they do have a duty to disclose this to a third party, like your GP, but where possible this would be discussed with you first.
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We each receive regular supervision. Supervision in counselling is when a counsellor uses the services of another counsellor or psychotherapist to review the way they work with their clients. Supervision is a requirement of our professional bodies to ensure all counsellors in practice are keeping their skills up to date and that they work in a safe and ethical way. Elements of your counselling with your counsellor may be discussed in supervision but your name and any other identifying factors will not be mentioned in order to respect your confidentiality.
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Please note that our counselling rooms do not have waiting areas, so we would ask you to consider the confidentiality of other clients by arriving on time to appointments and not early. If the door is not answered, this will be because a counsellor is with a client.
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We each keep short written notes on sessions. These are confidential, securely stored and will not identify you by name. We abide by data protection laws to ensure that your information is safe.
Insurance
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Each of us is fully insured, which includes Professional Indemnity and Public Liability, as required by our professional bodies.
Cancellation
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If you need to cancel a session, we ask that you contact your counsellor at least 24 hours in advance otherwise you may be liable for the full cost of the session. If we have to change an appointment for any reason, we will endeavor to let you know as soon as possible.
Code of Ethics & Practice and Complaints Procedure
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As members of professional counselling bodies, we adhere to their Ethical Frameworks. This is to ensure that our clients receive a professional service. It also means that we are accountable to a higher national organisation and are required to work within their guidelines. Each professional body has their own complaints procedure which is available upon request. Please see our individual counsellor pages for more details.
The Therapeutic Relationship
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In working with one of us, you will be entering into a therapeutic relationship, which is different from a friendship. The relationship will be based on equality, and trust which we hope will develop over time. A safe space is created to give you the opportunity for exploration of yourself and your circumstances – it is your safe space, free from judgement.
Agreement
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Before signing the agreement and Data Protection form with your counsellor, please ensure that you have read this information carefully and you are happy before you sign. Unless you have any queries, this information and the agreement will provide a framework for boundaries within the counselling relationship. If you wish to discuss any changes, we will be happy to do so.