Client Agreement for Counselling

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Duration of Sessions 

The duration of each therapy session is 50 minutes. I will begin to wrap up the session after 45 minutes, and the session will be finished after 50 minutes. 

Payment 

The fee is €70 per individual session and €90 per couples session. Clients pay the agreed fee 48hrs before the session. Clients can pay for sessions via card payment or revolute. Fees are reviewed on yearly based and may be subject to change. If fees change, all clients will receive  1months notice.  

Cancellation or Change of Appointment 

If you need to cancel your appointment, please let your counsellor know as soon as possible. Your counsellor will require at least 48hrs notice. If you cancel / reschedule your appoinment wihtin 48hrs of the appointment time then there will be a full charge for the missed session. In the unlikely event that your counsellor need to reschedule a session, the client will be notified as soon as possible and an alternative appointment will be offered. If your counsellor ever has to cancel last minute then you will be offered an alternative appointment or a refund if preferred.  Due to the high demand, we ask that if you do decide to stop coming for therapy that you would let your counsellor know.  

Confidentiality 

All counselling is confidential as laid down by the Irish Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy Code of Ethics. There are however some limits to confidentiality. These include: 

• If I evaluate that you are a danger to yourself, others or me. 

• A disclosure of abuse involving a minor (under 18 years) or any other child protection issue emerges. 

• If I know, believe or have reasonable grounds to suspect that a child has been harmed, is being harmed, or is at risk of being harmed. 

In the case where your counsellor deems it necessary to breach confidentiality, he/she/they will contact your GP or family member/friend. All child protection concerns must be discussed with my supervisor. Whenever possible, this will be done with your knowledge and is aimed at making sure that you are cared for and safe at all times. It is an extension of care rather than a breach of confidentiality. 

Neither Counsellor or client is permitted to record sessions (by video or audio) without written consent from both parties.

GDPR & Security 

All notes and personal information are held in accordance with GDPR and Here4you Therapy’s privacy policy. Please see www.here4youtherapy.com for the full privacy policy.  Your counsellor will ensure that their computer is regularly updated with anti virus software. All instant chat messages are encrypted and all calls (video or phone) are carried out in a safe not interrupted private setting in my home therapy room. Clients are responsible for the maintenance and protection of their own computer and for regularly updating their security software. Clients are responsible for making the necessary arrangements to ensure confidentiality from their end during sessions and afterwards where computers may be shared.  Personal data is required for my own records and may be stored by me in a secure file and may not be released to a third party except under court order. 

Number of Sessions of Counselling/Psychotherapy

Whilst the number of sessions required depends upon your individual needs and the complexity of the issues disclosed, we would recommend that you attend a minimum of six sessions of counselling to benefit from the process. We will have regular reviews throughout our work together. 

Notice Period 

To finish counselling, we recommend that you give a minimum of two sessions notice. The aim is to provide a period of time to resolve any unfinished issues and end the sessions safely. 

Attendance 

Your counsellor be online at the agreed time for the session. If you do not show up to the session after 15mins, and you have not contacted your counsellor, then they will take it that you will not be attending session. Please inform you counsellor as soon as possible if you are going to be late to the session.  

Ethics and Professional Practice

Our Counsellors abide by the IACP Code of Ethics and Professional Practice (copy available on the IACP website). 

Drug/Alcohol Use 

Please refrain from using any non-prescribed drugs and alcohol on the day of your appointment.  

Commitment to the Process 

Having made the decision to attend counselling or psychotherapy, it is important that you attend regularly. The process of counselling or psychotherapy is working towards healing or working towards therapeutic goals and attending regularly ensures that this process is being undertaken. Too many gaps between appointments usually slows down the progress of our therapeutic work.  However, individuals also need to reflect on their therapeutic needs and what is reasonable for them in terms of therapy attendance. Therapy can be challenging at times and it requires a personal commitment to work towards change.   

Non-Validation Service 

Here4you Therapy is a non-validation service, as we are neither medical nor legal experts.  We are not expert witnesses. The only information we can supply is confirmation of attendance.  

Agreement 

By accepting the client agreement, client’s agree to comply with the following: 

• Clients accept responsibility for checking that the laws in their country of residence permit their use of this service. 
• Clients have read the the full client agreement. Clients accept that the publication of details pertaining to therapy sessions must not be undertaken with out the prior written consent of the therapist. 
• Clients accept that contact between the client and therapist take place within the session, the only exceptions being for the purpose of cancellation or rescheduling or as per contracted by client and therapist. 
• Clients agree to disclose honestly their medical history and all current medications. 
• Clients understand that this is not a free service and that all sessions are subject to payment in advance.
• Clients understand that the capture (including screenshots or photos of the therapy session), saving, or dissemination of any personally identifiable images or information from the online/ phone counselling interaction to any other entities shall not occur without my explicit written consent. Clients understand that you shall not capture, save or disseminate images from the counselling session without explicit written consent.   
• In the case that the client is a minor child, the child’s parent or guardian agrees to help support their child in finding a confidential and private space.  The parent also agrees to be either physically present at the location OR available via phone for the duration of the session and 15 minutes prior and after the scheduled session time. The parent must be willing and able to join the session at any time if requested.