The following outlines the responsibilities of the counsellor and the client in this therapeutic relationship:
Counsellor responsibilities
• To be available at the agreed time • To start and end on time • To offer a quiet appropriate and undisturbed space • To maintain safe, professional boundaries • To regard all contact and information as confidential unless he has reasonable doubt concerning actual safety of the client or others • To encourage client autonomy • To work within the BACP Ethical Framework (available upon request) including regular supervision • To review therapeutic work and relationship regularly • In the unlikely event of the therapist cancelling, an alternative appointment will be offered ASAP
Client responsibilities
• To attend punctually • To give a minimum of 48 hours notice when cancelling/changing an appointment (or the full fee becomes payable) • To pay the agreed fee per session in full at each appointment by the agreed means • Communicating with the therapist outside agreed counselling sessions to be limited to making, changing or cancelling an appointment unless by prior arrangement. • To be respectful to the counsellor and his property • To agree to give permission to contact GP or police, if the therapist has serious concerns about risk to self (client) or others • To discuss with the therapist when you feel you are ready to end therapy • To let the therapist know if you are in or are considering entering another therapeutic relationship.
What the therapist offers
What is on offer is counselling of a Person Centred nature. This means you are empowered to discover solutions to issues in a supportive environment. As a counsellor I offer you my honesty and respect while we explore issues you feel you would like to bring to counselling at the times that we have agreed.
Confidentiality
There are boundaries and limits to confidentiality in certain cases. Confidentiality may be broken if:
• You or others are, in the opinion of the therapist, in danger or at serious risk of being harmed • The therapist is required to do so by subpoena • The client infers involvement in or knowledge of an act of terrorism or of money laundering, or the client infers knowledge of or involvement in drugs trafficking. • The client infers knowledge of or involvement in behaviours that may, in the therapists opinion, lead to harm or neglect to children and vulnerable adults.
Supervision and confidentiality
I monitor my own practice by attending regular supervision for myself and am committed to my own self-development. There are times where aspects of our sessions will be taken to supervision to monitor my practice; at no time will your name or any identifiable information be mentioned and my supervisor is also committed to our contracted confidentiality.
Records of sessions
I keep minimal notes relating to our sessions, often only recording the appointment we book and this document (the counselling contract) on file. If you feel you would like me to keep notes, or if you have been referred by an agency that requires update reports, then let me know.
Contacting you
I will contact you if necessary e.g. to rearrange an imminent appointment. I will do my best to follow your preferred contact method that you have chosen above.
Contacting the therapist
I prefer that you contact me by email to: scottdoane@gmail.com You can also contact me by phone / text message if necessary on 07463 95 99 33
Non attendance
Should you cancel within less than the 48 hours notice agreed, or fail to attend an appointment: the full session fee will be chargeable. I may reduce this to 50% of the fee, at my discretion.
