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Confidentiality

 

As a member of the BACP I am bound by their Ethical Framework to protect a client’s confidentiality. Therefore, everything that we discuss is confidential except in certain circumstances, which are listed below:

 

• Harm to self or others: I reserve the right to break confidentiality if I think that you have become a danger to yourself or other people. I will attempt to discuss this with you and my supervisor first, but this may not always be possible. 

• For legal and ethical reasons: I am not bound by confidentiality if in good faith I feel that I can assist in the prevention or detection of a serious crime, this includes safeguarding issues regarding children or vulnerable adults, crimes regarding substantial financial gains and losses, and acts of terrorism.

 

All members of the BACP are required to have regular supervision. My work continues to be supervised to ensure that it is safe, ethical and effective. Aspects of our work may be discussed during these sessions, but no full name will be used and identifiable details removed. My supervisor is bound by the same confidentiality rules as myself.

 

Cancellation

 

• I require 24 hours’ notice of a cancellation via a phone call, text or email or my full fee will be payable. 

• If a client cancels 2 consecutive sessions even within the 24 hour notice period, full fee will be payable for the 2nd session and we can review if they wish to continue. 

• If a client does not attend without prior notification, full fee will be payable. 

• If a client arrives late unfortunately I will not be able to extend the session, as this will affect my other appointments. 

• I require one months’ notice of any break or holiday arrangements and I will provide you with at least one months notice of my breaks. 

 

Social Media - Personal accounts

 

Unfortunately, I cannot accept friend or contact requests from existing or past clients on any social networking site, including but not limited to Instagram and Facebook relating to a personal account. Similarly, I will not invite clients to join my personal social accounts or interact with clients on these sites. If I become aware that we have accidentally established a relationship online, I will cancel this relationship to ensure our respective privacy.

The reason for this approach is to protect our respective confidentiality and privacy and to ensure we maintain our professional relationship. Viewing clients’ online content outside of a therapeutic relationship can blur the therapeutic boundaries within sessions and invite content that a client may wish to keep private. However, where there are elements of a client’s online life that they wish to discuss, they are welcome to bring these into the sessions to explore these together within the safety of the therapeutic relationship.

 

Social Media - Business Accounts

 

I will occasionally post on Counselling for Creatives social media channels. Though there is no expectation for my clients to follow these, clients are welcome to like and follow my business accounts. However, please be aware clients are revealing their connection with me in some way by engaging with my business content. Therefore, I encourage clients to think carefully about whether they wish for this information to be revealed publicly. If a client does choose to do so, I will maintain confidentiality and any therapist/client boundaries by disabling comments on my posts and refraining from engaging in online conversations with clients on these pages.

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Living Will

 

In keeping with the requirements of BACP’s Ethical Framework, I have appointed a trusted colleague to take over the administration of my practice in the event of my death or incapacity, and to deal with my appointments and destroy my notes in a confidential manner. 

 

Data Protection

 

As a member of the BACP I am required to keep accurate and appropriate notes of our work together. I record my session notes securely on a laptop that is only used by me, and this is password protected at both the level of the individual document and the laptop itself. Any paper documents are locked away and only I have access. All documents will be destroyed 5 years after our last session as required by my insurance company. I am registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office ICO:00018521953 and any information that I keep is subject to the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA 18) and United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation UK-GDPR see Information Commissioner’s Office: and BACP’s Privacy notice.

 

Safeguarding

 

I will talk openly with you about any safeguarding issues in the first instance, to discuss how you may get support, but if I deem you to be unsafe, or a danger to yourself or others, I may have to break confidentiality to report the safeguarding concern to either your local authority’s safeguarding coordinator, to your GP, or to the police.

 

I have an Enhanced DBS.

 

I am fully insured by Holistic Insurance Services (GINS Limited).

 

Complaints

 

If you are not happy with any of our sessions or the standard of my work, I hope that you would feel able to talk to me about this. If you feel unable to talk to me or in the event of a serious complaint, please contact BACP’s Get help with counselling concerns service, which provides confidential telephone and email guidance on what to do if you have concerns about your therapy or therapist. Phone 01455 883300 or 07811 762114 or 07811 762256. Please leave a message or email, or write to BACP, 15 St John’s Business Park, Lutterworth LE17 4HB.