INFORMATION SHEET – (COUPLE COUNSELLING CONTRACT) – ONLINE COUNSELLING
Please take your time reading through this contract, as it forms the basis of how we agree to work together. If we decide to work together I will ask that you verbally confirm that you have read and agreed to the terms below.
working online with shirley baxter
I am a Registered Member MBACP (Accred) Counsellor with 15 years experience of working with adult Individuals, Couples, Trainee/Counselling Students, and EAP & Insurance Providers. I have been BACP Accredited since 2009 and have been in private practice as in Independent Counselling professional since 2009. I own Shirley Baxter Counselling Service www.shirleybaxtercounselling.co.uk , and am a Co-founder and Partner of Portsmouth Therapy Partnership http://portsmouth-therapy.co.uk/
I offer Daytime appointments both on line via Zoom video link and telephone as well as face to face sessions in two locations Portsmouth (Hampshire) and Westbourne (West Sussex). Sessions are either Short-Term or Open-Ended Sessions and take place on a weekly basis at the same time, (I am unable to offer flexible appointment times).
Although Zoom is my preferred method of working online I can also see you via Teams. Please note I do not use Skype or Whatsapp.
I am not able to offer you online counselling via e-mail, instant messaging or chat.
What Is Online Counselling?
Online counselling is a way of engaging with a Counsellor without having to visit a specific location, it therefore offers you the opportunity to speak with someone who may not be in your local area or country at a time which is convenient to you. No one online system is 100% secure. If you have any doubts about working online and your security please discuss them with me during our initial brief telephone conversation or during our Assessment session.
Working Together Online
In order to work effectively online together, my aim is to create a space for you that feels safe and secure and in essence replicates my counselling room, as if you had come to see me face to face. We therefore agree the following to ensure this happens.
* You are able to undertake the session in a private and confidential space where you will not be overheard or interrupted.
* You will both be in the same room together (I am unable to offer 50 minutes sessions if you are in separate locations).
* You have a reasonably good WIFI or telephone connection or mobile phone signal.
* You may wish to consider switching off and removing Alexa or similar devices from the room in order to ensure your privacy is maintained.
* You may wish to have a drink with you to hand (water or a hot drink if you prefer) and some tissues, I would ask that you do not eat during our session.
* Once you have entered the Zoom Meeting Room, I will lock the room so no one else can enter.
* I will not record our sessions and I ask that you too, on your part, do not record the sessions.
how do we connect?
Telephone sessions –Telephone sessions are not appropriate for couple work, however we may have to use the telephone if we experience a technical problem with Zoom.
Zoom Sessions – I will send you an invite on the morning of our session between 7.00am – 9.00am, please check your spam mail. If you have not received it please contact me so I can re-send it. At your appointment time, follow the link you will be asked to wait in the waiting room for me to let you in.
What Happens If We Experience A Technical Difficulty
Technical problems can arise. I allow a bit of time in between clients to cover the possibility of technical issues arising. In the event of a technical difficulty which cannot be resolved we may have to reschedule our appointment to a different day or time, I will endeavour to ensure we can continue the session if at all possible. We will discuss how to manage technical difficulties when we meet for the Assessment session.
Counselling Approach, Professional Affiliations, Supervision, Insurance and CPD
My work is informed by a variety of theoretical approaches for which I have undergone extensive training and Accreditation. For more information please refer to my website Qualifications & Training page. As a Registered Member of the BACP (British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy) I abide by the BACP Ethics for Counselling Professionals (BACP Ethical Framework). This includes following their guidelines in respect to my Continued Professional Development (CPD) and regular attendance of Supervision with an appropriately qualified Supervisor/s. I hold both Professional Indemnity and Public Liability Insurance. For information on the BACP please visit www.bacp.co.uk
Commitment to Counselling – Session Frequency & Length
Counselling requires a considerable amount of commitment & responsibility on your part in order for it to be effective. My commitment & responsibility to you is to set aside a weekly time & space which will allow us to engage effectively in the therapeutic process. If you feel unsure about making this commitment, have any concerns or have any doubts as to whether counselling is for you please discuss them with me. Sessions take place weekly at the agreed venue and start and end at the same time on the same day each week. All sessions (including the Assessment Session) last for 50 minutes. As you are undertaking couple counselling the session will not begin until you have both arrived, except when we have previously agreed another approach. I am not able to extend sessions if you arrive late, the session will end at the designated time and the full fee is charged.
Assessment
The Assessment process is an important part of the work and enables us to ascertain if counselling is the best form of support for you. This process is an opportunity for you to tell me what brings you to counselling, what issues you are experiencing, what you feel needs to be addressed and what you hope to get from the counselling – ie the focus of our work together. In turn I will need to ask some practical/administrative questions, explain how I work (confidentiality, boundaries etc) as well as gather some general history about yourselves and about your relationship and how you see things. We can discuss whether you would like open ended or short term therapy. You will be able to ask me questions about the counselling process at any time. We then decide whether to proceed or not with the counselling. If we decide not to proceed or if I believe it more beneficial for you if you seek counselling with a specialised organisation or another person I will be happy to help direct you to another organisation or counselling directory as appropriate. We can do the Assessment process as a ONE Session Assessment or as a FOUR Session Assessment, where you will be offered an individual session each, during your individual sessions you will have the opportunity to tell me things you may wish the other person in the relationship to not know about. This will remain confidential between the 2 of us.
Domestic Violence
If at any point during the Assessment or once the counselling has started you disclose that there have been repeated issues of Domestic Violence we will agree to halt the Counselling Sessions and put in place a safety plan. This will ensure the safety of both parties is in place before resuming the counselling process.
confidentiality & Social Media
Information disclosed during our sessions is treated confidentially. Legally I may have no choice but to report information you disclose to me (eg child protection issues, drug trafficking, disclosure or knowledge of criminal activity, threats of terrorism, instruction by Court to disclose information). Should the need arise to inform an external agency (eg GP) I would endeavour to discuss this with you during our sessions such that prior consent is obtained on your part. Although extremely unlikely an occasion may occur when I feel it is appropriate to break our confidentiality, I reserve the right to do so without consent. This might include the possibility of a very serious risk of harm or violence to yourself or others; or a risk of suicide. I do not accept Social Networking friend requests as this would compromise the boundaries of our therapeutic relationship. However you are free to follow my Professional Facebook Page and Business Twitter Profile.
Notes
In order to support me and in line with the requirements of my Insurance and Professional body, I keep written confidential notes under secure conditions which remain my property and responsibility and will be confidentially destroyed after 7 years. Your information will not be shared, with 3rd parities, subject to the limitations detailed in the Confidentiality section. You may access your notes at any time you wish and request that any corrections be made. If you are seeing me through your EAP or Insurance Company, I may be required to provide notes in accordance with their requirements, these remain their property and in these circumstances request for notes must be made through the EAP or Insurance Company. You have the right to withdraw your consent for such records to be kept such request must be made in writing and be signed. As we are undertaking Couple work, requests must be agreed by both parties.
Electronic Data
There may be occasions where I need to keep electronic data on my PC, or Mobile Phones, this may include reports for EAPs and Insurance Companies (see above); e-mail correspondence regarding appointments or useful information you have agreed I can send you as part of our work together, photographs of work we have done together on the whiteboard for ongoing reference during our work, your phone contact details and those of a Next of Kin where you have agreed to supply one. This information will be deleted on completion of our work together. I do not pass on these details to 3rd parties for marketing purposes. I am the registered Data Controller with the Information Commissioners Office (ICO) for Shirley Baxter Counselling https://ico.org.uk/
Cancelled Sessions & Missed Sessions (DNA – Did Not Attend)
I have a 24 hour cancellation policy. If you cancel with 24 hours notice you will not be charged for the cancelled session. The full fee is charged for sessions cancelled with less than 24 hours notice and is payable the next time you attend your session. If possible I will offer you the opportunity to reschedule a session prior to your next planned session. If you fail to turn up for a session (DNA) without giving notice you will be charged the full rate, payable at your next session.
Halting Sessions
As we are contracting to do Couple Counselling, it will not be possible to do a full 50 minute session if only one of you attends (without prior arrangement), the full fee is charged.
If I feel you are under the influence of alcohol or drugs and incapable of functioning in a manner that is considered safe I will halt the session, the full fee is charged.
Breaks & Endings
* Breaks & Endings (whether planned or unexpected) need to be carefully managed within the counselling relationship and within the therapeutic work we undertake together I will give you as much notice as possible of my planned breaks and I ask that you give me sufficient notice of any planned breaks. If you are thinking of ending I would ask you to talk about this in the session, it is important that we allow sufficient time to work towards an effective and satisfactory ending which enables us to honour the relationship and the work we have undertaken together and ensures we summarise and review the work effectively.
Fees & Payment
* All sessions (Including the Assessment) are charged at £75.00 and are payable prior to the start of the session.
* Payment is via BACS – Bank Transfer – My account details will be supplied under separate cover when I send you an e-mail confirming our first session.
* Fees are subject to annual review
