Welcome! The "Keep it Real" Counselling Agreement

Hello! Before we dive into the meaningful stuff, we need to handle some quick paperwork. Think of this less like a scary legal contract and more like a mutual roadmap for how we’re going to work together. 

1. Who is "The Client"?

Depending on why you are here, the definition of the client shifts a bit:

• For Individual Therapy: You are the client! My focus is entirely on supporting your personal growth, mental health, and goals.
• For Couples & Family Therapy: Here is the golden rule: The relationship/system is the client. I am not team "Partner A" or team "Partner B." I am team Save the Relationship. My job is to be an objective referee, a sounding board, and a translator to empower both parties reflect and grow—not a judge who crowns a winner.

2. How do I handle secrets?

If you are seeing me for individual therapy, your secrets are completely safe with me, subject to the privacy rules in number 3.

The "No Secrets" Policy (Applicable to Couples & Families)

For couple and family therapy, because I am team Relationship, I don't hold individual secrets from other members, for example, If you are seeing me for couples or family work, and you pull me aside, send me a sneaky email, or text me a confession that heavily impacts your shared goals, I will gently but firmly help you bring that into our joint session. 

3. What Happens in the Room Stays in the Room (Mostly)

Your privacy is incredibly important to me, e.g. I won’t go gossiping about your life at dinner parties. However, by law and professional ethics, I must step in and break confidentiality if:

• You threaten to seriously hurt yourself or someone else.
• There is any suspicion of a child, vulnerable adult, or elderly person being harmed.
• A judge hits me with a legal subpoena (though I do everything in my power to keep our work out of courtrooms).
• My Clinical Supervisor: To make sure I am giving you the absolute best care possible, I occasionally discuss our work with my clinical supervisor. Think of them as a wise, bound-by-confidentiality third person who supports our therapy behind the scenes. I always keep your identity anonymous when we chat.

4. The 24-Hour "Life Happens" Rule

• If you need to cancel or reschedule, please try to give me at least 24 hours' notice.
• If you ghost me or cancel at the last minute, It may affect me negatively. Why? Because that time slot was reserved exclusively for you, and my landlord doesn't accept "life happens" as rent. Let's respect each other's time!

5. Fees & The Tech Stuff

• The Exchange: Individual Sessions last for 50 minutes, couple therapy last for 60 minutes, family counselling last for 75 minutes. 
• Agreed payment is due 24 hours before your session starts. Session length is adjustable depending on client’s needs and the therapist’s availability. 
• Virtual Spaces: If we are meeting online, please make sure you're in a private, quiet room. If the line breaks due to technical issue, your therapist will continue the session via phone call/ WhatsApp/ WeChat Call by phone. 

6. The legal stuff 

We are proudly based in the UK, which means all our services are governed by UK law, NCPS ethics, and GDPR data protection. The good news? Our professional indemnity insurance covers us to work with you no matter where in the world you are logging in from!

7. Contact outside of therapy room

Because our therapists are usually deep in session helping clients, they rarely have a spare hand to answer a ringing phone.

• For quick updates or scheduling tweaks: Shoot us a Text/WhatsApp/WeChat message.
• For paperwork or non-urgent admin: Drop us an email.

Please Note: If you are experiencing a life-threatening crisis, please contact emergency services immediately. Our therapists can't respond instantly when they are in session!