Client and Counsellor Agreement

Terms and Conditions 

1. Confidentiality: All information shared during the therapy sessions will be treated with the utmost confidentiality. As a member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), I adhere to professional ethical guidelines and legal requirements to protect your privacy. However, please note that there are certain legal exceptions to confidentiality, such as when there is a risk of harm to yourself or others, or when required by a court order.
   
   
2. Appointment Scheduling: Therapy sessions will be scheduled by mutual agreement. Regular sessions are typically held on a weekly basis, lasting for approximately 50 minutes each. It is important to arrive on time, as sessions will generally end at the scheduled time, regardless of the start time.
   
   
3. Cancellation Policy: The date and time we agree upon becomes your space, which I reserve for you on a regular basis and cannot make available to other clients should you be unable to attend. For this reason, to cover the cost to me of keeping the space open for you, I charge full fee for sessions cancelled at less than 48 hours’ notice and half the usual fee for all other missed sessions. Notice to cancel a session should be sent in writing (text or email).
   
   In exceptional circumstances, should you be unable to make your regular session time and provide me with a minimum of 48 hours’ notice, I will do my best to reschedule for the same week depending on my availability, in which case a missed appointment fee will not be due.
   
   
4. Holidays: I do not charge for weeks when I am on holiday, and I will give you at least two weeks’ notice of these dates.
   
   Sessions will usually happen as normal on Banks Holidays unless it has been agreed otherwise.
   
   
5. Session Fees and Payment: Session fees will be discussed and agreed upon before the commencement of therapy. Payment is typically made at the end of each calendar month, and I will email an invoice at this time. I accept various payment methods, such as cash, check, or electronic transfer. Receipts for payment will be provided upon request.
   
   
6. Duration and Termination: The duration of therapy will depend on your individual needs and progress. We will regularly review our work together to assess your goals and make any necessary adjustments. It is beneficial for us to mutually agree an ending to our work. For work that has proceeded beyond six sessions, it is usual practice to allow a minimum of three weeks’ notice, which gives you an opportunity to leave in a healing way. It often becomes clear between us when it is right and timely to bring the counselling to a close.
   
   
7. Professional Consultation and Supervision: As a responsible practitioner, I engage in ongoing professional consultation and supervision to ensure the quality of my work. In certain instances, I may seek guidance from other professionals while maintaining your confidentiality.
   
   
8. Contacting Me: Contact between sessions is normally restricted to short messages relating to practical issues such as timing of sessions.
   
   Please contact me during office hours by email at matthewgorner@gmail.com or on my mobile 07769 734980 (including texts). Outside of office hours, please email me.

Please take the time to carefully read and understand these terms and conditions. If you have any questions or require further clarification, do not hesitate to ask. Our agreement to work together is based on mutual understanding and acceptance of these terms.

Acceptance of these terms and conditions indicates that it is understood and accepted that the service is provided in the UK and is therefore is bound by English law only and not subject to the laws of overseas countries or territories.