FULL TERMS

Confidentiality

All sessions will be conducted in confidence. This confidence will be maintained and applied to any and all records in accordance with the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), except in the following instances:

• When the client gives consent for the confidence to be broken.
• Where the counsellor is compelled by a court of law.
• Where the information is of such gravity that confidentiality cannot be maintained – for example where there is a possibility of harm to self or others and in cases of fraud or crime.
• Supervision – client identity will be protected where possible.”

Data Protection

• Brief notes are taken at the end of each session. These are kept securely and destroyed three years after the last counselling session.
• Clients have the right to view information kept on them or request that this information is amended or destroyed.
• The Mindful Therapies GDPR policy is available on request.

Sessions

• Face to face counselling sessions take place at the Mindful Therapies Centre
• Counselling sessions can also take place online (over Zoom) or by phone by prior arrangement
• In order to ensure safety when working online or on the phone, you are responsible for ensuring that you are in a confidential space during the session. Please ensure that there is nobody else in the room and there is nobody likely to overhear the session
• It is important that time boundaries are maintained during online or phone counselling. If the session feels uncomfortable, please do not hang up the phone or terminate the online call. It is important that sessions begin and end at the agreed time.
• Sometimes a client may disclose more when working online or over the phone than they would face to face. It is advised to discuss this possibility with your counsellor to ensure that you feel safe.

Contact between sessions and cancellations

• Your counsellor may be contacted by mobile phone or email, but this contact must be for arranging sessions only; no therapeutic work will be discussed over the phone or email except where booked in advance as a phone counselling session.
• A period of 24 hours notice is required for cancellation
• If more than two sessions are missed then your time-slot may be offered to another client.

Code of Ethics

• Counsellors are bound by the code of ethics of either the BACP or the UKCP
• Counsellors receive regular supervision from a suitably qualified supervisor.

Complaints

If you have a complaint that cannot be addressed with your counsellor, please contact Victoria Backhouse by emailing counselling@mindfultherapies.org.uk or calling/texting 07895959336.