Agreement for therapy (adults)
Please complete the form below to agree to the terms in this information page and to provide emergency information.
Adult Psychotherapeutic Counselling Agreement
UKCP-registered Psychotherapist and Psychotherapeutic Counsellor; member of the Climate Psychology Alliance
As an integrative practitioner, I draw on a range of theories, including Relational Transactional Analysis, Gestalt, Somatic Trauma Therapy, Polyvagal Theory, Jungian perspectives, and body psychotherapy. I utilise my experience, certifications, and understanding of a range of interventions, including Jungian sandplay, sensorimotor art, play, EMDR, image work, movement and gesture, relationship, mindfulness, and much more, to offer a diverse and individualised approach to nourish and meet the diverse parts of you.
Usually, our first 3–6 sessions are understood as building our therapeutic relationship and getting to know each other. In the assessment and initial sessions, we will also develop a plan so that we both know what we are working on, what goals you would like to meet, and how I might best be able to support you. Sometimes, a referral to an outside support group or another professional may be suggested or required. For example, a referral to a substance abuse recovery group, or an OCD or eating disorder specialist, may be a necessary part of your plan.
At times, you may be asked if you would like to complete tasks outside of the therapy session. These might include journaling, thought and behaviour tracking logs, practising stress reduction techniques, and practising assertive communication skills. The outside tasks can be useful aspects of our work.
As our sessions are usually 50 minutes out of 168 hours in a week, I very much recommend the use of the 8 Keys to Safe Trauma Recovery Workbook outside of our sessions for clients who have experienced trauma. I also share a range of resources on my website under “Resources”.
Sessions
I provide weekly sessions lasting 50 minutes, or as otherwise agreed.
Review our work together every 8–10 sessions, or as otherwise agreed.
Therapy is a collaborative process
You have the right at all times to refuse any suggested ways of working.
You have the right at all times to stop any therapeutic process for any reason.
You have the right to ask questions about and discuss any techniques or procedures.
During our therapy sessions, please let me know of any problems, concerns or other issues that emerge so that we can think about them together.
Pre- and post-session journalling
I thoroughly recommend journaling before and after your therapy sessions. Journaling after sessions can help to increase self-awareness and can help in creating new patterns in the way you think. Journalling before sessions can help you to notice what you want or need from the sessions so that we can focus the session around those needs.
You could journal in a notebook or sketchbook, or on your phone or via voice notes, writing, drawing or speaking or typing – whatever is best for you. I have a prompt sheet that you can download, which may be useful.
Use of Touch and Embodied Methods
I do not routinely use physical touch with clients. Most of my embodied and somatic work involves talking together about sensations, posture, breath, movement, or you placing your own hands on yourself if that feels helpful. Any suggestion is just that, you are encouraged to say 'no' to anything that you don't want to do.
There are a few, rare situations where we may consider a brief, specific form of touch, for example, tapping on your hand, shoulder or feet as part of an EMDR protocol. However, these forms of touch would only ever happen when:
We have discussed the purpose and alternatives in advance,
You have given your clear, informed consent, and
You know that you can say “no” at any point, or change your mind, without any pressure or negative consequences.
I do not offer hugs or physical holding as part of therapy. I use supervision to think carefully about any use of touch and to support safe, boundaried practice. I also reserve the right to say no to any touch-based request, including hugs, if I feel it would not be appropriate or safe within the therapeutic relationship
You are always welcome to ask questions about this, and you always have the right to decline or withdraw consent to any touch-based method at any time.
Safety
It is important for you to be able to be yourself fully during counselling. This will involve showing different aspects of your personality and, at times, being able to express yourself through your behaviour, but please realise that it will not be acceptable if you damage property, me, or yourself in any way.
Cautions
Care must be taken in the use of any exercises. Consult your GP if you have any health problems you are aware of before doing exercises. Let me know about any problems, and try any proposed exercises slowly at first, and only if you have consulted with a doctor first, until you feel assured that they are safe.
As with any psychotherapy, our work may at times leave you feeling worse in the short term as uncomfortable emotions, sensations, and situations are brought into your awareness. Although the intent is to work through these towards some kind of resolution, this is not always possible within a particular session, so these feelings may continue beyond session time.
Please let me know in your next session if this is the case. I can sometimes offer additional sessions if support is required, but this is subject to availability.
With regard to physical difficulties or any medical matter, you should consult your doctor or other professional healthcare provider.
Our relationship and contact between sessions
To be clear about our counselling relationship, there can be no other contact between us other than client/therapist. I cannot be your friend outside of the relationship or be involved with you in any other relationship.
If we accidentally meet outside of the therapy room, I will acknowledge you in a brief and friendly manner, unless you express your wish not to be acknowledged – we will discuss your preference.
Contact between sessions should be only for the purpose of arranging or rearranging appointments.
I may read emails between sessions, but I am not able to provide therapy by email. Rather than emailing me with sensitive or therapeutic material, I strongly recommend that you make notes in a journal and bring them to our next session if appropriate.
Online sessions
You are responsible for ensuring that you are in a private and confidential space for online sessions. For online sessions, ideally, you need a quiet and private room, free of intrusions, with a good signal.
If the signal on your phone or online platform breaks up, I will email or telephone you. If you have a technical problem or cannot attend the session, please email me at: nes@wildandwellbeing.com
Other screens should not be in use during the session. It would also be helpful to turn off notifications so that messages do not pop up on the screen and disturb you during the session.
The use of AI note-taking or transcription tools during sessions is not permitted unless agreed in advance.
Sessions must not be audio- or video-recorded without prior discussion and agreement from both of us.
For online work, I may ask you to provide:
the full address from which you are joining the session, and
an emergency contact (for example, a trusted person or your GP),
so that if I am seriously concerned about your immediate safety during an online session and cannot contact you, I can consider contacting emergency services or your emergency contact in order to support your safety.
Fees, cancellations and missed sessions
My fee is based on the sliding scale per 50-minute session, found here: https://wildandwellbeing.com/faq-practical-info
Fees vary based on where you are on the sliding scale and the time of your appointment.
There is usually an increase in fees in January each year, proportionate to the annual increase in business expenses. Increases will reflect my commitment to keeping fees as low as possible while maintaining a sustainable and living wage with the various expenses of insurance, supervision, professional body membership, CPD, etc. I will give six weeks’ notice of any increase.
Payment
Payment is due within 48 hours of the session, by bank transfer:
Account name: V Bear
Bank: Triodos Bank
Account: 22126597
Sort code: 16-58-10
Cancellations and missed sessions
Please give at least 48 hours’ notice (two working days) if you need to cancel an appointment. Otherwise, the full fee will be charged for the missed session, no matter the reason.
If you choose to move the session to another day/time or to an online session within that same week, where available, the full fee will still be due, but the room hire portion (£12) may be waived if we do not use the room.
For less than seven days’ notice of cancelling an in-person session (but more than 48 hours), there is a cancellation charge of £12 to cover the room hire costs. This is still payable if the session is moved to another day/time that week.
If you do not attend a session and do not contact me, the full fee is payable.
The cancellation fee applies regardless of the reason for cancellation. This helps to keep my practice sustainable and creates a clear and consistent boundary.
I do not charge a cancellation fee for missed or skipped sessions where you give more than seven days’ notice. However, I do appreciate you letting me know with as much notice as possible if you have a planned holiday or break.
I do not charge a fee when I am on leave or ill.
Adverse Weather
In adverse weather, I will offer an online session in place of in-person sessions. If you can't or don't want the option of online, then 50% charge of the usual fee will apply.
Late to a session
If you are running late, please email nes@wildandwellbeing to let me know. If you don’t have internet signal, you can text this number: 07488813347 (NOT whatsapp). Please only use this number for the purpose of letting me know that you are running late or if you need to let me know that your internet is down, whereby you can’t join an online meeting.
I hold the session time for up to 15 minutes after the start and try to contact you via email or, if I have signal, text message. If you do not get in touch to let me know you are late or are not coming, I will assume the session is cancelled. The full session fee remains payable.
If you let me know that you will be late for our session (including if it is more than 15 minutes), I will wait for you to arrive. However, the session will still end at the scheduled time, and the full fee is payable.
If you arrive late, the session will still end at the scheduled time, and the full fee is payable.
Client illness
Please do not attend in-person appointments if you have symptoms of a contagious illness or believe that you may be infectious.
If you are well enough, and I have availability, we may be able to arrange an online session or postpone until you are well. Please let me know with as much notice as possible if you wish to rearrange or move online.
Please note that a change to an online session is subject to availability.
If you do attend a session and are unwell, I reserve the right not to continue the session.
This is because my own health is important, and essential for me to be present and effective with all my clients. I also work with some clients, and have members of my family who are immunocompromised, therefore I endeavour to be as careful as possible not to pass on viruses, etc.
Annual and professional development leave
Burnout, vicarious trauma and countertransference are prolific in therapists and are detrimental to both therapist and client. I am committed to my own well-being and employ a variety of care strategies.
I take regular breaks, usually 1–2 weeks every 6–8 weeks throughout the year, usually in line with the Celtic wheel of the year. I also usually take a four-week break (usually in July/August).
Due to the nature of my work, regular CPD (required by my professional body) is imperative, and therefore, some working weeks I will be unavailable due to training. I will give as much notice as possible for this.
I let clients know of any absence with as much notice as possible. Please bear this in mind when you are considering whether I am a good fit for your needs.
I update the dates currently in my diary as annual leave and professional development here:
https://wildandwellbeing.com/client-information
Session booking
I strongly recommend having a regular time and day for therapy. This avoids confusion and offers predictability and routine, which are generally supportive of our wellbeing.
However, I am aware that for some people it is difficult to arrange a regular session. For sessions that are less regular, it is usually useful to book the next session at the end of a session.
My timetable is subject to change. I will endeavour to give two weeks’ notice of any change in time, day or venue where possible.
Ending
There may be times in the counselling when you feel very distressed and feel that counselling is not helping you. It is wise to come and discuss these difficulties rather than suddenly ending the counselling. This will give you the opportunity to understand and perhaps resolve your distress.
Usually, you will know when you are ready to cease counselling, and together we will find the way that feels comfortable for you to do this.
I ask that you give a minimum of two sessions’ notice for leaving so that we can have a therapeutic ending. If that is not possible, you will still be charged for those two sessions.
A therapist may end your therapy sooner than expected due to a variety of reasons, which include: retirement, illness or accident, their own fitness to practise, change of work patterns, change of job, funding, feeling they are not working within their competence, a conflict of interest, for example, they may know someone you know. Where possible and appropriate, I will endeavour to give two weeks’ notice. However, depending on the reason for ending, this might not be possible, or may be possible to give more. You are not obliged to attend the notice period if you feel that it would not be useful to you. I will offer referrals or places to seek another therapist. You can find them here
Confidentiality
All sessions are confidential. However, there are exceptions to this, which include:
If you request confidentiality to be broken.
If you disclose the possibility of harm to yourself or to others.
If you disclose something about yourself considered to be a safeguarding issue. In such cases, I will follow UKCP and BACP safeguarding guidance.
If you disclose something about someone else that is considered to be a child protection or vulnerable adult issue. In such cases I will follow UKCP and BACP guidance.
If I am compelled by a court of law to disclose information.
Work may be discussed in supervision. My supervisor is also bound by confidentiality; in supervision, clients will only be referred to by initial or first name.
If I am unable to practice due to an accident or sudden incapacity, a qualified colleague will contact you to enquire about your wish for further therapy.
Non-payment of fees results in legal action being taken.
If I need to share verbal or written information with other professionals or agencies, this will, wherever possible, be agreed with you in advance.
Where disclosure to an appropriate authority, such as the police, is in the public interest and in line with BACP/UKCP ethical guidelines. For example, where there is evidence of serious crime, or a risk of death or serious harm to you or someone else.
Examples of serious crime include:
Acts of terrorism; drug trafficking; slavery; people trafficking; firearms offences; offences related to prostitution and child sexual abuse, including the use of child sexual abuse material; armed robbery; money laundering; offences in relation to public revenue; bribery; counterfeiting; blackmail; computer misuse, including the use of child sexual abuse material; certain serious environmental offences; and organised crime.
Examples of what may constitute serious harm include: ill-treatment, including sexual abuse, neglect, emotional abuse and psychological abuse; impairment of physical or mental health; impairment of physical, intellectual, emotional, social or behavioural development.
In short, disclosure must be considered essential to protect you, to protect third parties from the risk of death or serious harm, or to prevent a serious crime or civil wrong. The most important considerations are how real and imminent the risk of harm is and whether there is an appropriate person or authority to whom disclosure can be made who could, in turn, avert the harm.
If one of these exceptions becomes necessary, I will discuss this with you wherever possible.
Outdoor sessions
Outdoor sessions can offer additional considerations about confidentiality. Prior to any outdoor work in public places, we shall discuss how we will manage this in a way that best suits us and protects your privacy as far as possible.
Record keeping, data protection and your rights
I keep very brief clinical notes for your file, which I hold confidentially.
I am registered with the Information Commissioner's Office, and all information is stored in line with the Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR.
I generally process your personal data on the lawful bases of contract (in order to provide you with counselling/psychotherapy services and manage our agreement) and legitimate interests (for example, to maintain records, manage my practice, and receive supervision).
Your records will not be released to any other person without your prior written consent, unless in those situations outlined in the Confidentiality section above.
I never use or share your information for marketing purposes. I will only share such information as necessary, and where I am satisfied that the other individual or organisation is entitled to receive it.
I usually retain the clinical notes (which include the practical details and the therapeutic aim of our sessions) for a minimum of seven years after our last session, as recommended by my professional body and required by my insurers. After this time, they are securely destroyed.
You have rights in relation to the information I hold about you, including:
the right to access a copy of your information;
the right to ask me to correct any inaccurate information;
the right to request erasure of your information in some circumstances;
the right to request that I restrict how your information is used in some circumstances;
the right to object to certain kinds of processing.
If you believe the information I hold about you is incorrect, or if you have concerns about how I am handling this information, please contact me in the first instance. You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) if you are unhappy with how your data is handled.
Creative Work
Creative work produced during therapy sessions will be initialled, dated, and safely stored in a locked filing cabinet at the therapist's home throughout the therapeutic relationship. However, clients’ requests to take artwork home will also be considered on an individual basis.
If storage space is at a premium, digital photographs of the work may be used as an alternative record of the client’s art expression. If this is the case, I will discuss it with you.
Images left by clients after art therapy ends will not be stored or kept. When the therapy ends, we will decide together what you would and wouldn’t like to take with you. The creative work that you do not wish to keep will be disposed of in the same way as any confidential material.
If we do not have a set ending session, for whatever reason, I will keep your creative work for 6 months after the last session we had together. If we do not have an ending session within that time, then it will be disposed of.
Research
I may use anonymised information from time to time in my own research, writing or teaching. Any information I do use would be sufficiently altered to make you unidentifiable and not compromise your therapy.
Participation in any such use of material is entirely optional. You can tell me at any time that you do not want your material to be used in this way, and this will not affect your therapy.
Code of ethics and practice
I am a member of UKCP and BACP and endeavour to abide by their codes of ethics.
You have a right to have your complaints heard and resolved in a timely manner. If you have a complaint about your therapy, please inform me as soon as possible so that we can discuss the situation together.
If we are not able to resolve your complaint together, you have the right to raise it with my professional bodies. Details of how to do this ca n be found on the UKCP and BACP websites.
Contact information
Email: nes@wildandwellbeing.com
If you send me an email: I usually respond to emails within a week. I am not able to respond straight away as I work part-time as a therapist, and much of my work is away from a computer. If I am away on professional development or holiday, you will receive an automatic email response informing you when I will return to work.
If you do not want me to respond to your email, please tell me explicitly in your message.
I am the only person who has access to my emails. However, emails are generally not guaranteed to be secure. Therefore, please do not include personal or highly sensitive information about you or a child in emails.
Crisis and additional support
I do not offer a crisis service.
If you (or a child you care for) are experiencing suicidal thoughts and are making plans to end your life, please go to your nearest A&E.
If you (or a child you care for) are severely depressed, please go to your GP.
If you (or a child you care for) are experiencing emotional difficulties and need to speak to someone without delay, please call The Samaritans on 116 123.
If you are worried about a child, call the NSPCC Helpline: 0808 800 5000.
If you think you or a child is at immediate risk of harm, please call the Police on 999.
Additional support helplines and links can be found here:
https://wildandwellbeing.com/links
If you have concerns that you may commit sexual abuse or sexual violence yourself or are concerned about another person’s behaviour, or a child’s behaviour, you can contact the Stop It Now helpline. Telephone: 0808 1000 900. More information, including opening hours, can be found online at Stop It Now: https://www.stopitnow.org.uk/
If you are worried about domestic abuse and hurting the ones you love while staying at home, call the Respect Phoneline for support and help to manage your behaviour. Telephone: 0808 8024040. More information, including opening hours, can be found online at Respect Phoneline: https://respectphoneline.org.uk/
Agreement and consent
Please read this agreement carefully. You are welcome to ask any questions about any part of it, either by email or in our sessions.
By signing below (or by indicating your consent in writing for online forms), you confirm that:
You have read and understood this agreement.
You have had the opportunity to ask questions.
You agree to enter into counselling/psychotherapy with me on this basis.Client illness
Please do not attend in-person appointments if you have symptoms of a contagious illness or believe that you may be infectious.
If you are well enough, and I have availability, we may be able to arrange an online session or postpone until you are well. Please let me know with as much notice as possible if you wish to rearrange or move online.
Please note that a change to an online session is subject to availability.
If you do attend a session and are unwell, I reserve the right not to continue the session.