Therapy Agreement

Please read this therapy agreement prior to your first appointment. 
This therapy agreement explains the key principles and arrangements under which I can offer you British Association for Behavioural & Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP) accredited, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) or EMDR Association UK accredited EMDR.

You may ask questions regarding the therapy process.  This agreement may change from time to time, but you will be made aware of any changes that affect you.  
​
Aim of Therapy
We will explore your current problems and agree a treatment plan. We will establish your specific therapeutic goals and determine what you would like to change as an outcome of of therapy. 

We work together on your problem and for therapy to be effective, you must take an active role. It is important that you complete any between session tasks, and practice your skills in your everyday life.
​
Sessions and Payment
Each session will normally last for 60 minutes or 90 minutes if we have agreed that we will be re-processing trauma. Arriving to sessions on time is important.  If you arrive late the session cannot run over due to my commitment to other clients.

Each private 60 minute session costs £90. Alternate charges apply to company referrals due to the additional administration required. Payment is required at the end of each session, by cash or bank transfer. 
 
If you need to cancel, please give 24 hours notice or the full session will be charged.  If you do not attend without cancelling, the full session will be charged.  If you are late for your session and you will be charged for the full session.   
​
Therapy often lasts between 6-20 sessions. Your progress will be reviewed regularly.  You are under no obligation to continue sessions.  At the 6th session we will review your treatment and progress, and establish if further sessions are required.  If at any time I feel another service would be more appropriate, I will refer you to ensure your needs are met. In the event that I need to cancel an appointment I will contact you with as much notice as possible and reschedule.
​
Our relationship must remain a professional one. I cannot add clients as friends on any social media.
 
Confidentiality
I must collect and hold information of a personal nature about you.  I am committed to ensuring that I do this in a way that protects your privacy. 
​
The Law
As a private CBT and EMDR psychotherapist, and a member of the BABCP (British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapists) and also the EMDR Association UK, in accordance to the GDPR (2018) and the Data Protection Act (1998), information must be collected and used fairly, stored safely and not disclosed unlawfully. Information must be obtained for specific lawful purposes.  Information must be adequate, relevant and not excessive. Information must be accurate and kept up to date.  It should not be held for longer than is necessary.  It should be processed according to an individual’s rights under law and be protected in appropriate ways.  Information should not be transferred outside the European Economic Area (EEA) unless with an adequate level of protection.  
​
How information is used
The information you share during therapy is confidential.  Information will not routinely be shared with anybody connected to you, and I will not inform anybody that you are seeing me except from the referring organisation (if applicable).
​
The information I document will be shared openly with you throughout therapy.  You can request to see the information at any time and I will go through it with you.  
​
Information may be shared with other organisations if I decide that not sharing that information may place you, or anybody else at risk of harm.  For example, if you advise that you are a risk to yourself or others, you disclose a child or adult safeguarding concern, or a serious crime.  Information may also be shared if it is demanded by a court of law.

Anonymised information will be shared routinely when discussing my caseloads in Clinical Supervision.  No patient-identifiable information will ever be shared as part of this process.
​
How information will be obtained
Information will be sought and obtained through you and (if applicable) the organisation that referred you to see me.  I will not actively attempt to gain information by any other means unless that information is needed to protect you or anybody else from harm.
​
Information may be obtained through audio or video recordings, but only with your explicit consent that this may happen. I will always discuss this with you before using a recording advice and obtain your consent as part of the recording process.  Audio or video recordings will be held with the same security as detailed for written records and are subject to the same rules and restrictions.
​
How information will be stored
Information will be stored securely at the address of my private practice. Paper records will be locked in a filing cabinet in a locked room. These records will be backed up electronically on an encrypted memory stick in case of fire damage to the property.

Why is it necessary to keep information about you
It is required by law that information obtained in a healthcare setting is kept and stored for a period of time even after you leave that healthcare setting, so that evidence exists about what happened whilst you were under my care.
​
To be able to contact you throughout therapy to arrange appointments, reschedule appointments, and seek updates on progress. 
​
How long will information be kept?
I will keep all information and records for 7 years from the date the last record was made, or if under 18 years, 7 years after your 18th birthday.
​
You have the right to request to view your records, to request amendments to information you deem inaccurate, and to request that your information be erased.  If you wish to do so, then contact me by telephone: 07852587668 or email: ribblevalleycbt@gmail.com
 ​
Complaints
If you wish to complain about the way your privacy or data has been handled, then you can do so by emailing me or by contacting the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) directly at https://ico.org.uk/ or contacting them on 0303 123 1113.

 
Risk Management
I do not offer emergency assistance.  If you are concerned about an immediate risk of harm - either to yourself or someone else - phone 999. If it is not an emergency but you require urgent advice, call 101. Visit your local Accident & Emergency department if necessary.

 
I will request details of your GP and next of kin.   I will only contact if I am concerned about your well-being. 
 
I will seek consent to contact you by phone, email, and by letter.  I will also seek consent to email relevant updates, information or news.