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 she has reasonable doubt concerning the actual safety of the client or others.
• To encourage client autonomy.
• To work within the BACP/ACC Ethical Framework (available upon request), including regular supervision.
• To review therapeutic work and relationships regularly.
• In the unlikely event of the therapist cancelling, an alternative appointment will be offered as soon as possible.

Client Responsibilities

• To attend punctually – please arrive five minutes before the session starts if possible.
• To not attend appointments whilst under the influence of alcohol/drugs.
• To give a minimum of 24 hours notice when cancelling/changing an appointment, or the full fee becomes payable.
• To pay for the session in full before each appointment if paying by BACS. If paying by cash or card, payment can be made on the day of the session. I offer some insurance options if this is appropriate.  However, I will need your pre-authorisation and membership number before the first meeting.
• Communicating with the therapist outside agreed counselling sessions is to be limited to making, changing or cancelling an appointment (unless by prior arrangement).
• To agree to permit the therapist to contact your GP or other relevant professional bodies/people if the therapist has serious concerns about the 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 considering entering into another therapeutic relationship.
• Regarding couples counselling, to agree that counselling sessions will only continue if both partners are fully engaged.

Can I help?

I often work with clients who present with anxiety, depression, anger and various other mental health issues, including historical and current abuse. However, if I feel that your issue is not within my counselling capabilities, I may refer you to someone more qualified in a particular skill set; to give you, as the client, the best service to help meet your needs.

Complaints

If you feel you are not getting the service you need, I want to hear your concerns so I can offer the best possible service. If you can please speak to me directly, that would be appreciated. I am a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), Membership number: 00986753. They operate a complaints procedure and can be contacted via email at professional_conduct@bacp.co.uk. I am also a registered counsellor member of The Association of Christian Counsellors (ACC), Membership number: I03277 and Registration Number: R001262. They operate a complaints procedure and can be contacted at www.acc-uk.org or Tel: 024 7663 6792.

Non-attendance

Should you cancel within less than the agreed 24-hour notice period or fail to attend an appointment, the full session fee will be charged (unless it is due to exceptional circumstances), which will be at the counsellor’s discretion.

Confidentiality

I keep brief clinical notes relating to our counselling sessions, which are available to you on request. Please request this in writing (email is sufficient) and give at least 24 hours notice.

Records (paper or electronic) are kept for seven years after the termination of therapy and then destroyed/deleted.

However, there are boundaries and limits to confidentiality, and in some instances, confidentiality may be broken if:

• In the opinion of the therapist, you or others seem to be in danger or at serious risk of being harmed.
• The therapist is required to do so by subpoena (court order or instructions from a coroner).
• The client infers involvement in or knowledge of an act of terrorism or money laundering.
• The client infers knowledge of or involvement in drug trafficking.
• The client infers knowledge of or involvement in behaviours that may, in the therapist’s opinion, lead to harm or neglect to children and/or vulnerable adults.
• The client infers knowledge of domestic violence, domestic abuse or safeguarding issues.

Supervision and confidentiality

I monitor my own practice by attending regular supervision for myself and am committed to my own self-development. I work with an individual supervisor and a couple’s supervisor, both of whom are based in the UK. My supervisors are committed to our contracted confidentiality.

Contacting the therapist

If you need to contact me, you may contact me on 07781 127332 or email me to hayley@freedomcounselling.gg. It is possible to leave a voice mail on my phone, so if I cannot answer, leave a message, email or send a text, and I will get back to you as soon as possible.

GDPR Statement 

I am registered and work within The Office of the Data Protection Authority (ODPA) in Guernsey, which is the independent regulatory authority for the purposes of The Data Protection (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law, 2017.

Under the General Data Protection Regulations 2018, you have certain rights. These are:

• You are allowed to see your notes. This is facilitated by making a formal request in writing.
• Having your records amended (change of name and address).
• For clients under 18, records are kept for seven years after the child turns 18.
• Under GDPR, you can request that your data be erased. However, there are exceptions to this. In the case of counselling records, insurance companies and ethical bodies ask for records to be available for the period of time outlined above.

I hold the following data safely and securely, which is password protected.

• Name and age
• Address, phone and email
• GP and medications
• Next of Kin
• Insurance information

Fees & Payment 

My fee is £60.00 for individual therapy and £70.00 for couple’s therapy.  Please note that if an insurer does not cover the session fee, the hourly rate is still payable by the client.  If you require a referral letter, or reports in writing (i.e. GP or other professional bodies), a fee will be charged for my time.