Our therapeutic contract

Before starting our work together it's really important for us to be clear about expectations. I make sure I am taking our work very seriously whilst also bringing warmth, openness and empathy to every session, and having a boundaried and well-defined framework helps make this possible.

The expectations outlined below apply to both of us and provide the safe container within which meaningful therapeutic work can happen. Please do read this carefully before committing to working together — it will also help you get a sense of whether my way of working is the right fit for you.

Individual weekly sessions - 50 minutes - £60 per session

Sessions are held in person in my studio in Ditchling, Sussex, or online via Zoom.

By agreeing to work together you are committing to attending a regular weekly appointment on the same day, at the same time, every week. This slot is yours and held for you for the duration of our work together.

Payment

Session fees are to be paid in advance within 24 hours of receiving your payment link, which I will send after each session. Your appointment is confirmed once payment has been received, and can be released to other clients if payment is not made on time.

A minimum of six weeks' notice will be given of any increase in session fees.

Cancellations

All sessions are charged whether attended or not, and regardless of the reason for absence. This includes school holidays, illness, work commitments, family events, and any other circumstance.

This agreement is in place for a number of important reasons:

— The financial commitment encourages you to treat sessions as a genuine priority, which in turn supports meaningful and engaged work.

— Payment for missed sessions discourages avoidance when challenging, but often the most valuable, issues come up in our work together.

— The agreement supports respectful reciprocity: I hold your time exclusively each week, and payment honours that commitment whether the session takes place or not.

— It places decisions about attending solely with you.

With more than 48 hours' notice of a cancellation, I will try to offer an alternative time within the same week, though unfortunately I cannot always guarantee this due to a full caseload. I do ask that this option is not used as a way of working around an inconsistent schedule — if weekly sessions aren’t consistently doable for you, this may not be the right time to begin work.

Where an alternative appointment cannot be found, a payment link will be sent for the cancelled session, with payment due within 24 hours.

In the case of illness a session can be conducted via Zoom if preferred.

I will let you know of any holidays I have booked with 6 weeks’ notice.

Ad hoc sessions — 50 minutes — £60

Ad hoc sessions are available to any current clients who would like to book additional sessions, and to former clients returning for one-off check-ins. Booking is dependent on availability.

Payment is due within 24 hours of receiving your payment link. Sessions are only confirmed once payment has been received.

Ad hoc sessions are non-refundable and non-transferable once booked.

Client/therapist contact between sessions

Contact between sessions is via email and is only for logistical communication, or for me to send pre-agreed resources.

Saving personal reflections or content for the session itself helps to preserve the therapeutic containment of our work together. The exception is if there is a safety concern that does not feel safe to raise in session.

Confidentiality

I uphold strict confidentiality regarding all client information and the work we do together. Your details and sessions remain private.

In exceptional circumstances where ethical or legal obligations arise — such as serious risk of harm, particularly to a child, or to prevent injustice — I may need to disclose information to relevant authorities. Where possible, I will discuss any proposed disclosure with you in advance, unless doing so might escalate risk to you or someone else. You can find more information on confidentiality here.

Professional registration and qualifications

I am a BACP Accredited Registered Therapist and practise in accordance with their ethical guidelines. I have regular supervision as part of my ongoing commitment to ethical and reflective practice. You can find my qualifications, registration and insurance here.

Data protection

Your rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (May 2018) are fully upheld. All client records are confidential, kept securely, and seen only by me. Your personal data is used solely to provide the service to you. Records are retained for seven years and then securely destroyed. For my full data protection policy, please see here.