This is my contract with clients. Please read it carefully. It is assumed that you have accepted these terms and conditions if you proceed with therapy.

Payment of fees

Each session is payable at the time, by cash or cheque only, unless using a special arrangement.

Minimum notice of 48 hours/two working days for cancellations

If you need to change an appointment, I greatly appreciate being given as much notice as possible.

If you cancel or postpone with less notice than two full working days (48 hours) the full fee is usually payable inless an alternative available time can be agreed. For email counselling this does not apply.

Confidentiality

The content of the therapy session is confidential between client and therapist. If a consultant or GP has referred you to me, I usually write a short, initial assessment for the referrer and a brief report on completion of the therapy. Occasionally I may discuss your case with my supervisor (supervision is standard practice and a professional requirement), or other professional colleague. However, no information which could identify you is given to either supervisor or professional colleague.

In cases where your own safety or the safety of others may be in question the rule of confidentiality is waived.

Professional Code of Ethics

As a Fellow of the British Association for Sexual and Relationship Therapy, (BASRT), I abide by its Code of Ethics and Principles of Good Practice. If you have any queries or issues about the therapy, I would like to hear about them, so please feel free to discuss them with me at any point.

Details of BASRT’S Code of Ethics, Principles of Good Practice and Complaints Procedure can be obtained by sending a stamped addressed envelope to BASRT, PO Box 13686, London SW20 9ZH (Website: www.basrt.org.uk).

Referral to a specialist

If for any reason I think that referring you to another specialist might be helpful, I will discuss my reasons with you and let you decide.

Alcoholic drinks, recreational drugs and smoking.

On the day of your session please avoid alcoholic drinks and recreational drugs before you arrive. Smoking is not permitted anywhere in the building.

Children

If you have young children, please make arrangements for their care during your session, as there are no child-minding services on the premises.

The Therapy Relationship

The therapy relationship is intended to be healing, supportive and can at times be challenging. We need to be aware that there may be times, as in any human relationship, when things feel difficult and it seems hard to persevere. These times, if worked through together, can be very fruitful and life-enhancing for you. We both need to have the intention of seeing things through in such circumstances.

If either of us thinks it is time to bring the therapy to an end, we will discuss this together and decide whether and how to do that. Sometimes one session is enough to make sure the decision is a good one. Sometimes it is better to have a series of sessions to review the work and either decide to go on with therapy after all, or else to find a way of making a good ending for you. Ending the therapeutic relationship is a shared process and should not be a one-sided or impulsive act.