Therapeutic Agreement
& Terms of Service

The Therapeutic Relationship

Therapy is a collaborative process. We will work together for 50 minutes per session, typically on a weekly basis — though the frequency can be agreed between us with no obligation to a fixed schedule.

I do however strongly suggest that, when we decide to bring the work to a close, we hold at least one dedicated final session. This is to support a thoughtful ending to the therapeutic relationship — one that keeps you safe and allows for reflection on what has been achieved.

Confidentiality & Its Limits

Sessions are strictly confidential. What you share in therapy stays within the therapeutic relationship. However, there are specific, rare circumstances where the law requires me to break confidentiality in order to protect life, prevent serious crime, or comply with a court order. These are known as Statutory Exceptions.

When Confidentiality May Be Broken

I am legally obligated to disclose information without your consent in the following specific situations:

• Risk of Serious Harm — If I believe there is an imminent risk of serious harm to yourself or to another person.
• Counter-Terrorism — Under the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015, I must report any knowledge or reasonable suspicion of terrorist activity or financing.
• Child Safety (FGM) — Under the Serious Crime Act 2015, I have a mandatory duty to report if I discover — either through observation or disclosure — that Female Genital Mutilation has been carried out on a girl under the age of 18.
• Financial Crime — Under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and Money Laundering Regulations, I may be required to report suspicions of money laundering or drug trafficking proceeds.
• Court Orders — If I am served with a court order or statutory warrant compelling the release of information.
• Police Requests — In specific instances, such as identifying a driver involved in a traffic offence where disclosure is a legal requirement.

My Approach to Disclosure

If a situation arises where I am legally required to disclose information:

• I will inform you of the disclosure unless doing so would increase the risk of harm or prejudice a criminal investigation.
• I will share only the minimum amount of information necessary to meet the legal requirement.
• I will seek your consent to share information whenever possible, even in these exceptional circumstances.

Clinical Supervision

To ensure the quality of my work, I discuss cases in confidence with a clinical supervisor. Your identity is strictly protected within supervision using your Client Code — a unique reference that cannot be traced back to you.

Data Protection & Privacy

I employ high-level technical measures to protect your privacy, operating what I call a split-system approach:

• Anonymisation — Your name and identity are stored in a separate, biometric-locked virtual vault (Proton Pass). Your clinical notes are filed using only your Client Code in an encrypted cloud (Proton Drive).
• Hardware Security — Practice data is secured by a physical FIDO2 hardware security key + PIN, preventing unauthorised remote access.
• Retention — I am required by my professional insurance to retain your records for 7 years after the final session, after which they are securely and permanently deleted.

Communication Boundaries

• Dedicated Work Phone — My business phone is secured by PIN and biometrics and is used exclusively for practice-related communication.
• Administrative Use Only — SMS and email are used for administrative purposes only — scheduling and billing. Clinical concerns, disclosures, and anything of therapeutic significance should be reserved for sessions.

Fees & Cancellations

• Session Fee — The standard fee is £60 per session, payable via online card payment or bank transfer (BACS).
• Fee Changes — Any increase will be communicated in advance — normally with at least four weeks notice, and often considerably more. I aim to keep fees as stable as possible, though costs may make this difficult.
• Reduced Rates — Reduced fees may be available for those in receipt of state support, students, and NHS staff. Please enquire confidentially.
• BACS Privacy — For bank transfers, I recommend using your Client Code as the payment reference to protect your privacy on bank statements.
• Cancellations — I require 48 hours notice for cancellations or rescheduling (25 hours for online-session location changes). Sessions cancelled with less notice will be charged at the full session rate, except in genuine emergency, serious medical circumstances, or bereavement.
• Change of Format — Switching from in-person to online does not invoke a fee reduction or cancellation penalty, provided adequate notice is given.

Emergency & Incapacity

• GP Contact — I will request your GP's details for use only in a genuine emergency. This information is held securely and will never be used for routine communication.
• Therapeutic Will — I have appointed a Professional Executor who has access to my administrative records. In the event of my sudden incapacity or death, they will be able to contact you appropriately and ensure continuity of care is considered.

Intellectual Property & Recording

Clients are strictly prohibited from recording, photographing, or broadcasting any part of a therapy session — in whole or in part, by any means.

Any recording made without express prior written consent constitutes a breach of this agreement and may result in immediate termination of the therapeutic relationship, without refund of any prepaid fees.

Limitation of Liability

While I am committed to providing the highest standard of therapeutic care, it is important to understand that therapy does not carry a guarantee of specific outcomes. The process of psychological change is inherently complex and individual.

I am not liable for the outcomes of the therapeutic process, nor for any actions taken or not taken by the client outside of sessions. This agreement does not affect your statutory rights as a consumer.

Dispute Resolution

If you have any concern about the way the work is being conducted, I would always encourage you to raise it with me directly in the first instance. Most difficulties can be resolved in open conversation within the therapeutic relationship.

If a concern remains unresolved after being raised with me, you have the right to escalate the matter to the relevant professional body:

• UKCP — for matters relating to psychotherapy practice
• CNHC — for matters relating to hypnotherapy practice

Details of both complaints procedures are available on their respective websites.