Terms & Conditions

Contract Termination

The client/s are not committed in any legal or financial-obligational way (other than session cancellation notice-period) and the counselling contract can be terminated by the client/s at any point. The counsellor also has the right to terminate the counselling contract within appropriate measures that offers a comprehensive reason and a reasonable ending timeline.

Collection of personal data protocols

The counsellor complies with both the 1998 Data Protection Act and GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation).

Within the first session, the client/s may need to complete any counsellor-specific forms that record identifying data or information that relates to counselling requirements. Any information will be kept by the Counsellor and filed within a secure lockable environment. If both parties decide not to work together then all information will be destroyed in accordance with GDPR guidelines. If work is continuing, then the Counsellor is obliged to keep all information for a period of seven years in the unlikely case of subpoenaing.

The counsellor does not make formal clinical notes but will register attendance (in accordance with health and safety, fire regulations) and possibly record a brief theme from each session. The counsellor will not keep any client electronic records or data; if information is required about or on behalf of the client/s, this will be sent via an encrypted email service.

Confidentiality and Disclosure

All information is kept confidentially and is not disclosed to any other parties. Occasionally brief examples of work may be shared within peer groups, written essays or at lectures however client information is anonymous and there is no disclosure of any identifiable details. Please let the counsellor know if you do not give consent.

Client work will be discussed at clinical supervision which is a compulsory requirement from the counselling governing bodies in accordance with boundaries and ethical working.

If the client/s should disclose a plan of intent to commit suicide or there is a risk to life, either their own or someone they know, the Counsellor is obliged to waiver confidentiality and report to the relevant authorities. The Counsellor will always seek the clients’ permission and signed consent within a disclosure form however if this is declined then safeguarding protocols of unauthorised disclosure may need to be employed.

To avoid any conflict of interests, the counsellor is unable to work with family members or friends at the same time of counselling the client/s. If this occurs unknowingly then the counsellor may be obliged to terminate the counselling contract due to the risk of confidentiality breaches.

Fees and Session T&C’s

Counselling sessions run to the 50-minute therapeutic hour.

The charges vary for individual-sessions; Stortford Therapy Space will generate a payment link that will be emailed to the client/s and must be prepaid before the cancellation time as shown below.

Free of charge cancellations can be made up to 72-hours before a scheduled session, any cancellations under this time will require full payment. In the event of the client/s consistently cancelling sessions, the counsellor reserves the right to withdraw this space to offer to others on the waiting list. This unlikely decision will be fully discussed with the client/s before any decisions are made.

Emergency Protocols

There is an extensive list of appropriate emergency contact services and mental health agencies that are signposted on the practice website www.stortfordtherapyspace.co.uk If you are unable to use the internet to access this information, please make the counsellor aware and this information can be provided in paper format.

** Please note that the counsellor is not an emergency contact; although they will endeavour to facilitate any support needed, the above protocol needs to be adhered to if either yourself or someone you know is in danger**