Contract
I work within the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society’s Ethical Framework for good practice and seek to offer the highest level of confidentiality consistent with GDPR, ICU and NSC regulations. An important part of the code of ethics is that I have a supervisor with whom I discuss my work and explore the focus of supervision to help look after the best interests of my clients. I may also use examples of my casework in training; when doing this, I always seek your permission in writing and your identity will always be protected.
Exceptionally, I will involve outside agencies or person when harm to a client or others is considered a serious risk. In these circumstances, if possible, I will first discuss the situation with you and then agree a course of action with you, such as having an emergency contact person.
There are circumstances, however, where the law requires me to break confidentiality without informing you or gaining your consent. These are issues relating to the Terrorism Act (2000), the Children Act (1989/2004), the Drug Trafficking Offences Act (1986- amended by Criminal Justice Act 1993), the Road Traffic Act (1988) and court orders.
If you have any concerns or queries about these restrictions on confidentiality you can discuss them with me at any time.
Breaks and Endings
Counselling tends to take place regularly. If you decide to take a break from counselling or miss appointments without letting me know I will assume you no longer wish to continue with counselling and your slot will be reallocated. In this case I cannot guarantee that the same session time will be available if you wish to return.
The Counselling Process
In the introductory session I will explain the counselling process and my personal approach to counselling. I will especially explain that counselling is not advice giving.
I encourage clients to have a minimum of six sessions so there’s enough time to explore issues and solutions. I tend to work in blocks of six as I find this is a useful number of sessions before we evaluate and reflect on whether my counselling is working for you. Sometimes counsellors and clients don’t fit and you may prefer to try somebody else.
Please let me know if you are receiving any other form of therapy or if you’re under any medical supervision. It is unadvisable to be receiving more than one type of therapy at the same time. Also, let me know if you have previously had any therapy and if it was helpful to you.
If you are not happy with any aspect of your experience with me, I would encourage you to discuss this with me; or if you prefer, you can independently contact the National Counselling Society.
Note Taking
I make factual, brief, anonymised notes from each session. These notes are stored in a secure digital file with a unique secure password that only I have access to. Notes are destroyed six years after the last session in line with requirements specified by the Information Commissioners Office (ICU) and the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society Code of Ethics.
Outside of your Counselling Sessions
Due to the nature of the counselling relationship, it is important that you and I have no other relationship during the period that we’re working together. If we’re meeting face-to-face or online then it is possible that we may recognise each other in public. If this happens, I will follow your lead, this could be a smile, a greeting or if you would prefer no response. Each of these are fine.
Thank you
Peter de Boer Counselling 