Client Agreement

One To One Counselling

Information & Working Agreement

This is an agreement between Belinda Sidhu and the Client prior to the commencement of counselling. It articulates the responsibilities of the named Therapist, Belinda Sidhu and the Client in the context of the therapeutic relationship they are going to undertake together.

Confidentiality:

This is a key aspect of the counselling relationship. Everything discussed in the counselling sessions is kept in the strictest confidence. As a registered member of the BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy) Belinda's work is bound within its Code of Ethics and Good Practice. She has the responsibility and commitment to work under regular supervision. From time to time, she may need to share and discuss some of the information from Client sessions with a qualified supervisor, always under a strict confidential and professional framework. Her supervisor is also bound by a code of ethics and our sessions are confidential. The client identity is always kept anonymous.

Confidentiality can only be broken when there is evidence that the Client may harm themselves or others. In this case the Therapist will most likely contact the appropriate services. The Client will be informed in advance and only in case of an imminent threat might the Therapist make this decision without consulting the Client. Please inform the Therapist at the beginning of the sessions of any medical treatment you might be following due to emotional difficulties.

Following each session, the Therapist will make brief factual notes. These will not be shared with anyone without your permission, or unless the Therapist is legally obligated to do so. Notes will be kept anonymised with no identifying client information. Your client information will be held digitally on a password protected device.

If the Therapist sees you outside of sessions, she will not approach or acknowledge you unless you signal that you would like her to do so.

Cancellations:

If the Client can no longer make the session or is running late, the Client is asked to provide as much notice as is reasonably possible (to lauren@work-well-being.com). Any request for cancellation must be made at least 48 hours ahead of the appointment time. Sessions will not take place if the Client is under the influence of any misuse of alcohol or substances.

Duration of counselling:

All sessions will finish on time regardless of what time the session starts, therefore please try to arrive on time. If the Client is late to a session, the Therapist will wait up to 20 minutes before the session is considered cancelled.

End of the Contract:

The Client is always in charge of the decision to continue or stop counselling and will not be under any pressure to continue at any point.

Contact outside of the session:

Any contact details provided by the Therapist are to be used for cancellations, changes or in case of emergency. Please note that messages will be monitored regularly but not continuously. Therefore, in case of an emergency please call the appropriate emergency services, such as the hospital, dial for an ambulance and/or if appropriate contact your GP.

Data Protection & Privacy:

It is a requirement of our insurance policy that client consultation records are taken and retained for a period of five years. For this reason, your general information (name, contact details & GP details) will be kept in a locked filing cabinet or password protected digital file for a period of five years. These are kept for the purposes of preventing serious harm to you or to others and to protect the Therapist in the event of a claim being made against her. Information will only be shared when there is a risk of harm or there is a statutory obligation for me to disclose. For example, in the case of terrorism, drugs trafficking, money laundering or if I am ordered by the courts to disclose information.

Brief session notes are kept separate and are anonymised, meaning that you will not be able to be identified from the session notes. All notes are kept on a password protected electronic device or locked filing cabinet and will only be shared when there is a risk of harm or there is a statutory obligation for the Therapist to disclose.

Both information forms and notes are destroyed after five years. General information forms are shredded/deleted, and all session notes are shredded/deleted.

We are registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and adhere to all legal requirements.

Data subject access request procedure:

You have the right to access all personal data which has been collected about you. This request can be made in person or in writing. There will be no fee for requesting access to this information and it will be provided within one calendar month of your request.

If you have any concerns about our use of your personal information, you can contact us at info@bewellconsultancy.com. You can also contact the ICO: Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF.

Ethical Framework:

Belinda abide's by the BACP Ethical Framework, a copy of which can be found at:
https://www.bacp.co.uk/media/3103/bacp-ethical-framework-for-the-counselling-professions-2018.pdf

The Agreement and any disputes shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Courts of England and Wales. Please read the Counselling Agreement carefully. All information is treated in the strictest confidence.