The Counselling Living Room

space to talk

07719 626383 Get in touch to find out more

Counselling Agreement


This agreement explains how we’ll work together if you engage me as your counsellor.  It lets you know what you can expect from me and what I expect from you in return.  It also lets you know how I protect and process the personal data I hold about you.

Read this information carefully and let me know if you need me to clarify anything.  When we’ve both signed this agreement it forms a contract between us.

For information about how I look after and use any information you may give me as a visitor to my website or when you enquire about my services, see my Privacy Policy.

Ethical practice

I’m a Registered Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).  My membership number is 046496.  I’m held accountable to BACP’s code of practice and ethics. You can find out more about BACP on their website: www.bacp.co.uk

Insurance

I have full public liability and professional indemnity insurance.

Confidentiality

Our conversations in the therapy room are completely confidential.  I won’t discuss what we talk about during our work together outside of our sessions.

Exceptionally, where there is a risk of harm or where required by law, I may need to make limited disclosure to a third party.  Where possible, I’ll let you know if this happens.

My work is monitored in clinical supervision outside my local area.  Supervision is a professional and mandatory requirement.  You won’t be identified by name.  The information I give my supervisor is confidential and is subject to the same ethical criteria as counselling.

If we bump into each other outside sessions, I won’t proactively greet you.  This is to maintain your confidentiality, especially if you are with others.  If you acknowledge me openly then I will respond. 


Using and protecting your personal data

I won’t use your data for any purpose other than in my professional role as your counsellor.  I collect and store the minimum amount of data about you that I need to in order to do my job properly and give you a good standard of service.

These are the personal data I’m likely to hold about you during our work together:-

  • Your name and contact details and those of your emergency contact and GP (from the form you fill in during our first session)
  • An assessment form I fill in during our second (and possibly subsequent) session(s)
  • Minimal notes I make after counselling sessions with you

Your data will be kept safe and protected.  I keep hard copy notes in a locked cabinet in my home studio where I work.  The building is protected by locks and a burglar alarm.  I usually cross-shred hard copy notes as soon as our work together is complete.

I keep electronic notes in a password-protected and encrypted hard drive on my computer in the same room.  I keep electronic notes for some time after our work together has finished.  This is in case you come back to me for further therapy.  I’ll usually delete hard copy notes after a year.

If you contact me by phone or email, I’ll have your contact details in my phone or inbox.  I’ll delete this information as soon as our work together is complete.

You have rights in relation to the data I’ve collected about you.  For example, you have a right to receive a copy of the data I hold and you have right to ask me to remove data from my records. Find out more about your rights on the ICO website: https://ico.org.uk/your-data-matters/

My business is registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and complies with all current data protection legislation, including GDPR.

Getting in touch

You can contact me to arrange or reschedule an appointment by phone, email or using the contact form on my website.  The details are at the end of this agreement.  Each method is private – no one else will hear or see your message.

If you leave a voice message or email me, I’ll normally get back to you during my working hours. Generally, these are Monday – Friday 9am-5pm.  It may take me longer to reply at other times.

Let me know the phone number you’d like me to use to contact you and whether or not I can leave voice messages – these will only be of a non-confidential, logistical nature.

Making the most of counselling

Don’t drink alcohol or take non-prescription drugs before your counselling session.

Counselling is for you only and normally no one else is allowed in the room.

In accordance with my legal and ethical framework, I have the right to end therapy if you’re not abiding by this agreement.

Sessions and fees

Sessions are normally every week at an agreed time.  While I’ll try to work around your existing appointments, it’s best if we can try and meet at the agreed time whenever possible.

Your first session will be one hour and will include a brief assessment, which will continue in the following session(s), so I can tailor therapy to your needs.

After the initial session, Couple Counselling sessions last one hour and Individual Counselling sessions last 50 minutes.  See my website for latest fees.

You can pay by cash, card, cheque or bank transfer. 

Please let me know as soon as you can if you can’t make one of your counselling sessions.

You’ll be charged for sessions that are cancelled with less than 48 hours’ notice.



Indira Chima Registered Member MA, MBACP
Therapeutic Counsellor
07719 626383
hello@thecounsellinglivingroom.co.uk
www.thecounsellinglivingroom.co.uk

Find out more about BACP

Addictions

Working as a psychodynamic counsellor, the focus in treating any addiction is not on the object of the addiction (whether that is food, alcohol, exercise or anything else) but on its cause and function. Otherwise the addict will simply replace one object for another. Ultimately, I try and help clients manage their lives and emotions without feeling compelled to resort to self-destructive strategies. Addiction is an (unconscious) coping or survival strategy and a way of avoiding difficult feelings probably learned in childhood. I try and help clients unravel the meaning of their addiction and find other more conscious and less harmful ways, using words, to communicate their thoughts and feelings.