Below you will find details of our counselling agreement. These set the framework for a safe and confidential counselling process. 

I am dedicated to creating a comfortable, safe and confidential space in which you can explore whatever you decide to bring to our sessions. I will offer as much attention, care, presence and expertise as I can. 

By attending a session/sessions you consent to the terms and conditions below and the T&C’s will constitute a binding agreement between us.

Confidentiality

As personal counselling often involves the disclosure of sensitive and personal information, confidentiality is my priority. In order to protect your right to privacy, everything you disclose during our sessions will remain confidential.

The limits to confidentiality include the following: 

- You give consent for the confidence to be breached. 

- I am compelled by a court of law or other institution of justice. 

- There is a case of serious physical harm to others or if I consider there is a risk you might harm yourself or others. 

- Where there is a risk of suicide or serious harm to self. In that case, I may need to discuss this with my supervisor and/or someone else outside and wherever possible, would do my best to inform you first.

Other

- When I am in supervision (which is required from me as a professional), I might discuss certain aspects of my clinical work; however, I never reveal individual identities and supervision itself is confidential between me and my supervisor or supervision group.

- I keep notes on your sessions, they are brief and help me to keep track of the issues and topics we cover to assist in your ongoing therapy. The notes are kept in double security, password-protected documents in accordance with GDPR.

Anti-discrimination policy

I am strongly committed to anti-discrimination. I value difference and diversity and do not discriminate on the grounds of age, gender and gender identity, sexual preference or orientation, marital/partnership status, religion, race, colour, national origin, disability, heritage or political belief.

Session duration

The normal duration of each session is fifty minutes, although I reserve the right to amend that time for therapeutic reasons. If for any reason you are late for a session, I will see you for the duration of the remainder but will be unable to work beyond the allotted time as this will affect other clients who may be waiting and my other clinical work.

While it is a time commitment, this is for your personal growth and consistency is necessary to achieve this.

Packages

There is an option to book a package of sessions in advance. These packages are valid for 6 months from the booking date.

Payments

We can agree on the payment method on our first session and the payment is due in the week of your session. 

Cancellation and missed appointments

Scheduling an appointment means that I reserve time especially for you: the time for our session, the time for taking clinical notes and preparation beforehand. 

If for any reason you need to cancel or reschedule an appointment, out of respect for yourself, other clients who could benefit from a session, and for me as your counsellor, a minimum of 24 hours’ notice is required. If for any reason a session is cancelled less than 24 hours prior, or if you fail to show up, the full fee will be charged. This means that if an appointment is scheduled for 11:00 am on a Thursday, notice must be given by 11:00 am on Wednesday at the latest. You can cancel your appointment by calling, texting (or WhatsApp/Telegram), or emailing.
I encourage you to inquire whether there is an option to arrange an online session if you’re unable to attend in person.

Termination

You can terminate your counselling process whenever you wish, however, I suggest committing to at least six sessions once the process has begun before you decide not to continue. If your process is longer, I also advise spending a number of sessions working towards an ending. Any therapeutic relationship is potentially significant so an important aspect of our work together is to address the ending of the relationship.

I follow the code of ethics for Gestalt therapists of AETG (Spanish Association of Gestalt Therapy), you can find it here. Additionally, I attend regular supervision in order to develop the best possible practice for my clients.

Informed consent

The counselling process in no case has as its objective or consists in the diagnosis or treatment of mental illnesses since for said processes they can be accompanied by other professionals such as a specialised psychologist or psychiatrist.

For online sessions

• Online sessions are conducted either by video, voice or instant messaging. Video, voice and chat are delivered via Google Meet, FaceTime or WhatsApp which are securely encrypted. Video and voice sessions are never recorded and the content of instant messaging sessions is deleted. You receive a Google Meet link the latest 10 minutes before the session starts; if agreed otherwise, you call me on my WhatsApp number at the time of the scheduled session.

• When attending an online session, only communicate through a computer that you know is safe and where confidentiality can be ensured. Make sure you exit all online counselling sessions. It is advisable that you delete your browsing history after our communication.

• In order to keep the confidentiality of our communication, please, choose the environment to work in that allows for your physical and emotional safety as well as your privacy.

• I suggest you set aside some time to prepare yourself before and after a session. If we communicate through video, setting your screen to full view will help create a sense of presence in the therapeutic space.

• When we schedule a TRE® session online, you will receive specific guidelines for such a session at least an hour prior to the commencement of the session. 

• Technology can fail us and we need to be ready for such an event. Should either of us experience technical difficulties, we both text straight away and try to reconnect online within 10 minutes; also using an alternative platform (e.g. if our connection over Google Meet fails, I will contact you on WhatsApp). If after 10 minutes you or I are still unable to connect, we can re-schedule free of charge. Please note I will never intentionally end a session prematurely.

• You understand that online counselling is a different experience than in-person counselling. In the case of an online session, we can experience the lack of visual and audio cues and the lack of immediacy in responding (especially if using e.g. text messages).

• You also understand and agree that online counselling is not appropriate if you are experiencing a crisis or having suicidal or homicidal thoughts. If a life-threatening crisis should occur, you agree to contact a crisis helpline, call 112 or go to a hospital, or other appropriate services.

Thank you 

I value you as a client and hope to assist you on your personal growth and healing path. I would like to highlight that we can only accomplish this with your understanding of your obligations set forth in this document and consistency with treatment. Thank you for your understanding. 

I look forward to beginning this self-development journey alongside you!

Last updated: 30 January 2024