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Fok The Counsellor Client Contract

AGREEMENT OF TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR THERAPY

FEES:

  1. Duration and Frequency of Sessions: Individual therapy sessions will last 50 minutes, while couple or family therapy sessions will last 65 minutes. Unless otherwise agreed upon, all therapy sessions will be conducted on a weekly basis.

  2. In the event that a therapist is contracted to compose a report for an external entity, a standard fee of £50 will be levied for each report-writing service provided. The preparation of a detailed report will incur additional charges, which shall be determined and agreed upon separately, based on the specific content and requirements of the report. For inquiries or to engage our report writing services, please reach out to Fok the Counsellor.

  3. Payment Terms: Payment for all therapy sessions must be made 72 hours before the appointment time. Failure to pay for a session will result in an invalid booking, and no appointments will be confirmed or reserved.

  4. Fee Reviews: The fees for therapy sessions, including package fees, may be reviewed twice a year and may be subject to increase. In the event of a fee increase, clients will be given one month's notice.

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CLIENTS RIGHTS:

  1. Referral Organisation: Fok the Counsellor is a referral organisation, and the therapist with whom you will work is a self-employed practitioner. Fok the Counsellor will not have any involvement, responsibility or access to any information that arises during therapy sessions. If you have any concerns related to your therapy, you must address them directly with your therapist.

  2. Complaints and Issues: In the event that an issue arises during your therapy that cannot be resolved directly with your therapist, you have the right to take the matter further with your therapist's professional body.

  3. Right to Change Therapist: As a client, you have the right to change your therapist if you believe that the therapeutic relationship is not working, or if your therapist leaves the organisation. If you wish to change your therapist, please contact info@fokthecounsellor.com, and we will arrange an alternative therapist for you.

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SESSIONS:

During the initial assessment/first session, the following items will be discussed and agreed upon:

  1. The likely frequency, length, availability, and duration of therapy sessions.

  2. The reasons for seeking therapy and how best you can work together with your therapist.

  3. Appointment times and holiday dates will be discussed and agreed upon in advance.

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OTHER SESSIONS RELATED POLICIES:

  1. If a client arrives late, the session will still have to end at the agreed time.

  2. If a client behaves inappropriately, e.g. attending a session under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or if the therapist feels the client is too unwell to proceed, the practitioner reserves the right to terminate the session or contract. Fees for a terminated session are still payable.

  3. If a client misses, cancels or reschedules an appointment with less than 48 hours' notice, the fee for that session will be payable.

  4. It is important that the counselling/therapy should end with a planned session where possible, rather than by telephone or letter.

  5. Provision of third-party reports must be agreed upon with your therapist.

  6. All our therapists work to their professional body's ethical framework of good practice and ethics. Your therapist will advise how to obtain copies upon request.

  7. Clients are asked to complete brief questionnaires so that we can evaluate our service. It would be much appreciated if you would help us in this regard.

  8. Therapist's Approach: Please note that each therapist's approach may be different. If there are areas/topics/questions that have not been covered, please ask your therapist directly.

  9. Parental Responsibility: For minors under 18 years old, we require the consent and involvement of their parent or legal guardian. It is the responsibility of the parent or legal guardian to ensure that the minor is physically and emotionally safe during the provision of our services.

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CONFIDENTIALITY:

  1. Confidentiality: All therapy sessions will be conducted in confidence, and this confidentiality will be maintained and applied to any and all records, except in the following instances when it may be necessary to share relevant information:

  2. If we are required to comply with our duty to protect children or vulnerable adults.

  3. If you are believed to be a danger to yourself or if another person or organization is believed to be at risk.

  4. If the therapist is compelled by a court of law or if it is believed to be in the public interest (e.g., in the prevention or detection of serious crime). In most circumstances, the necessity to share information will be discussed with you before it is released.

  5. Client's Rights: You have the right to confidentiality and to be informed about any disclosure of information. You also have the right to access and amend your personal information, to know how your information is being used, and to have your information removed from our systems if you wish.

  6. Staff Training: All staff members, including administrators and support staff, are trained in the importance of confidentiality and understand their role in maintaining confidentiality.

  7. Data Protection: We comply with data protection laws such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act. Your personal information will be handled appropriately and with due care. In agreeing to work together, your personal information and notes during therapy will be kept solely by your therapist, who is the therapeutic data controller, in line with the Data Protection Act. The counselling and psychotherapy referral service, as the organizational data controller, will hold your name, email, and telephone number during the course of your therapy. We will not have access to your therapeutic data. By accepting this working agreement, you consent to your personal data being held by the therapist and the counselling and psychotherapy referral service. Your data will be held securely and will not be shared with any third parties unless you give your explicit permission.

  8. Disclosure: If confidentiality must be breached, your therapist will notify you as soon as possible and outline the reasons why disclosure was necessary. We will also ensure that only relevant information is disclosed, and only to those who need to know. We will make every effort to protect your privacy and minimize any harm that may result from disclosure.

  9. Third-Party Access: We will not share your personal information with third parties without your explicit consent, except in cases where disclosure is necessary for legal or regulatory purposes. In such cases, we will make every effort to limit the disclosure to the minimum necessary.

  10. Record Keeping: We will keep accurate and up-to-date records of your therapy sessions, in accordance with legal and regulatory requirements. Records will be kept confidential and will only be accessible to authorized staff members.

  11. Communication: We will ensure that communication between the therapist and the client is conducted in a secure and confidential manner, such as through encrypted messaging or secure video conferencing platforms. We will also take appropriate measures to secure our physical premises and protect against unauthorized access to confidential information.

  12. Complaints: If you have any concerns regarding confidentiality, please raise them with your therapist, your therapist's professional registration body, or contact us directly. We will investigate all complaints and take appropriate action to address any breaches of confidentiality.

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CONSENT:

By making an appointment with Fok the Counsellor, you hereby consent to your practitioner collecting, storing, and utilizing your personal information for the purposes of providing counselling and psychotherapy services to you, in accordance with relevant privacy legislation and any other legal requirements that may apply. This personal information may include your name, contact information, medical history, and any other information relevant to your therapy.

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You understand that this personal information will be kept confidential and secure, and will only be accessed by authorized staff members as required for the provision of therapy services. You also understand that you have the right to access and amend your personal information, and to have your personal information removed from the system if you wish.

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You confirm that you have read and understood the terms and conditions under which psychological therapy services are being offered by Fok the Counsellor, and you agree to these terms and conditions. By signing/confirming this consent statement, you are agreeing to the collection, storage, and utilization of your personal information in accordance with these terms and conditions.

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