Contact details: sarahtempletoncounselling@gmail.com
Website address: sarahtempletoncounselling.co.uk
Please read the information below carefully as it forms an agreement as to how we will work together and outlines my professional obligations regarding confidentiality.
At our first session I will set some time aside for us to discuss this agreement and answer any queries that you may have. I will ask you to sign the agreement to show that you understand its contents.
Qualifications: Higher National Diploma in Counselling, Professional Development Award in Addiction Counselling (SCQF – Level 8)
I am a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and as such abide by their Ethical Framework. Please see - www.bacp.co.uk/ethical-framework for more information.
Anti-discriminatory practice
I am committed to providing an anti-discriminatory service. I strive to ensure that this practice is present in all our work together
The way that I work
There are a variety of approaches to the way practitioners work with their clients. I have been trained in an integrative therapeutic approach with includes person-centred, CBT and psychodynamic. I focus on a person-centred approach which mean I trust that you are the expert in your own experience, and we will work at your pace. I may utilise aspects of CBT such as exercises to challenge preconceived thoughts, and psychodynamic counselling where we may explore early memories where appropriate. Please see - https://www.bacp.co.uk/about-therapy/types-of-therapy for more information on different therapeutic approaches.
Duration and notice of termination
I provide both short and long-term therapy and we can discuss the planned duration of our work together during our initial session. We will review your progress at every 6th session, and I require two weeks’ notice if you wish to terminate your therapy with me.
Holidays
I require two weeks’ notice of any holiday arrangements. I will provide you with at least one months’ notice of my holidays.
Contact between sessions
I normally work Wednesday and Thursday between 9am and 7pm, and Friday and Saturday between 9am and 4pm and I can only see you by prior appointment. If you require my urgent professional services between sessions, I can be contacted during my normal working hours by email or text. I will endeavour to reply to you as soon as possible, but there may be a delay. If you are unable to wait for me to reply or require emergency or urgent professional assistance outside my normal working hours, please contact NHS direct telephone 111, your GP, the emergency services or the Samaritans freephone 116123.
Fees
I charge a fee of £50 per 50-minute session.
I review my fees on an annual basis in April and will give you one calendar months’ notice of any proposed increase.
Bank details
You can pay by BACS payable prior to, or by the end of each session. The name of my account is Sarah Templeton Counselling.
My bank details are:
Sort Code:04-00-06
Account Number: 95787521
Cancellation policy
I require 48 hours’ notice of a cancellation via a text or email to avoid an invoice being produced and a fee charged. If you arrive late unfortunately, I will not be able to extend the session, as this will affect my other appointments.
Supervision
All members of BACP are required to have regular supervision. My work continues to be supervised to ensure that it is safe, ethical and effective. Aspects of our work may be discussed during these sessions, but no full name will be used and identifiable details removed. My supervisor is a member of BACP and as such they are bound by the same confidentiality rules as myself. In keeping with the requirements of BACP’s Ethical Framework I have appointed a trusted colleague to take over the administration of my practice in the event of my death or incapacity, and to deal with my appointments and destroy my notes in a confidential manner. This colleague is also a member of BACP and is bound by the same professional confidentiality rules as set out in their Ethical Framework.
Confidentiality
As a member of BACP I am bound by their Ethical Framework to protect a client’s confidentiality. Therefore, everything that we discuss is confidential except in certain circumstances, which are listed below.
Record keeping confidentiality
As a member of BACP I am required to keep accurate and appropriate notes of our work together. I record my session notes securely on a laptop that is only used by me, and this is password protected at both the level of the individual document and the laptop itself. I am registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ZC214774) and any information that I keep is subject to the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA 18) and United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation UK-GDPR see Information Commissioner’s Office: https://ico.org.uk and BACP’s Privacy notice. https://www.bacp.co.uk/privacy-notice.
Harm to self or others
I reserve the right to break confidentiality if I think that you have become a danger to yourself or other people. I will attempt to discuss this with you and my supervisor first, but this may not always be possible. For legal and ethical reasons, I am not bound by confidentiality if in good faith I feel that I can assist in the prevention or detection of a serious crime, this includes safeguarding issues regarding children or vulnerable adults, crimes regarding substantial financial gains and losses, and acts of terrorism.
Keep safe policy
In certain cases where you may have declared a clear and definite intention to end your life, or if I have reason to believe this to be true, we may after a careful discussion agree to put in place a ’keep safe policy’ where you will agree to take certain measures, such as to get in touch with your mental health crisis team, or talk to the Samaritans as a way of safeguarding and ensuring your safety.
Attending under the influence
I am unable to deliver effective therapy to clients who try to attend sessions under the influence of non-prescribed medication or alcohol. In such a case I would discuss the issue with you, and we would agree a period of abstinence prior to the session from the non-prescribed medication or alcohol and add this period to the contract.
Complaint
If there is anything that you don’t understand about this agreement, or if you would prefer it in a different format, please let me know. Similarly, if you are not happy with any of our sessions or the standard of my work, I hope that you would feel able to talk to me about this. If you feel unable to talk to me or in the event of a serious complaint, please contact BACP’s Get help with counselling concerns service (formerly Ask Kathleen), which provides confidential telephone and email guidance on what to do if you have concerns about your therapy or therapist. Phone 01455 883300 or 07811 762114 or 07811 762256. Please leave a message or email gethelp@bacp.co.uk, or write to BACP, 15 St John’s Business Park, Lutterworth LE17 4HB.