Confidentiality
These counselling and psychotherapy services are private and confidential. Your name or any information about you will not normally be passed to any external agencies or in response to any enquiries unless:
• I am legally compelled to do so, or there is a duty to the public to disclose.
• I have reason to believe that someone, especially a child, is at risk of serious harm.
• Where disclosure is permitted by law and required to protect my interests.
• Where disclosure is made at your request and with your written consent
Violence and abuse support information
Violence and abuse is an issue for some people who come for services. If you are being hurt of feel afraid for your safety or your children’s safety you can call:
• National Domestic Violence Helpline: 0800 2000 247
• The Police or your local Social Services Department
• Samaritans: 08457 90 90 90
• NSPCC: 0808 800 5000
• If you have been violent or abusive to your partner you can choose to stop. Call ‘Respect’: 0845 122 8609.
Chargeable Sessions
All sessions are chargeable including initial sessions. Prior to scheduling an initial session, I am available for a 10 (ten) minute phone (voice-only) call during which we can decide whether I am a good fit for your needs and to help you make your decision on whether to book an initial consultation with me.
Annual availability and session times
I am available to offer online (GMT timezone) and face to face counselling and psychotherapy sessions (London, Canary Wharf). Please see my sessions and prices for fees.
My availability is subject to change with reasonable notice to existing clients at my discretion.
How can I pay for a psychotherapy session?
Payments are due in advance of scheduled sessions. I can accept payments via transfer to a UK bank account, Revolut or PayPal.
Eligibility for psychotherapy sessions
To ensure your confidentiality and help you feel safe to engage in our psychotherapy with confidence of privacy I require at least two degrees of separation between myself and any client referrals. In other words, it’s ok if we have a common acquaintance and not if we are directly acquainted.
Sometimes coincidences happen! If we live in the same city, we may run into each other. If this happens I may acknowledge you and not otherwise attempt to engage with you publicly. I recommend that you do the same for the sake of your own comfort and privacy.
As English is the only language I am fluent in, to get the most out of our sessions, you need to feel comfortable making yourself understood in English easily.
If you have a psychiatric condition (for example post traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder or schizophrenia) or one comes to light during our work together, in order to continue working together I will need your consent for me to liaise with your doctor, psychiatrist and any other relevant healthcare professionals. This is for your safety and to ensure you get the care you need from me and your other practitioners. This applies regardless of whether our sessions are online or face to face and the time-zone you live in.
Health Insurance
While some of my clients pass session receipts onto their insurers, I do not have any direct relationship with these organisations, so cannot guarantee sessions will be covered.
Professional standards
My work is supervised for 1.5 hours a month, I meet industry standard continuing professional development (CPD) requirements, and am professionally insured. Storage of clinical process notes I make, and client contact data meets the 1998 Data Protection requirements.
Complaints/Feedback
It is important that counselling and psychotherapy services fully meet professional standards. If you have a complaint or concern about my practice or wish to verify my training, ideally talk with me first. If that does not meet your needs you can contact one of my professional accrediting or membership organisations:
• UKCP (UK Council and Psychotherapy) Call: call 020 7014 9978 or 020 7014 9496.
membership ‘2011162293‘
• BACP (British association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists) Call: 01455 883300 to verify
membership '00757518’
I do not offer any legal, financial or medical advice. All services are contracted under and disputes subject to applicable UK law.
Cancellations of psychotherapy sessions
You may cancel a session no later than 24 hours before the session. If you cancel with less than 24 hours’ notice, you will lose the session fee.
Rescheduling psychotherapy sessions
Sometimes it may be possible to rearrange a session if you are unable to attend at our agreed session time. This is subject to my availability. For me to attempt rescheduling your session, I need 24 hours' notice and the rescheduled session must take place within the same week as the session you are unable to attend; weeks run from Monday to Friday and you must also take into account my working days as set out on my sessions and prices page and which may change from time to time. If you cancel the session with less than 24 hours’ notice, you must still pay for the session.
Sometimes it may be possible to reschedule with less than 24 hours' notice but in such cases, if we are unable to agree on a session time, the normal cancellation policy (above) applies. In other words, I will try to be as flexible with rescheduling as I can but if you don't give me 24 hours' notice and we can't agree on an alternative time within the same week, I will treat the session as cancelled-by-you and the above criteria apply.
You will not have to pay for any sessions I cancel for any reason (for example my holidays, continuing professional development or illness).
Cancellation policy explained
Psychotherapy is usually a weekly commitment unless otherwise agreed. I will generally try to be as flexible as I can with reschedules but some structure is beneficial to both of us.
Some people struggle to accept this arrangement but the cancellation policy is an important part of the work. I guarantee that I will be present and effective for you at our agreed session times. This policy is also an important part of your commitment to yourself. By allowing yourself a regular time and space each week, you are affording an opportunity for self improvement.