Counselling Contract
Acorn Therapy
Counselling Contract | Terms & Conditions for UK Counselling | Acorn Therapy
Counselling with Denis K. Victor, BA (Hons), MBACP
Integrative Counsellor | BACP Registered
Acorn Therapy
This Acorn Therapy Counselling Contract explains how counselling with Acorn Therapy will work and what you can expect from our therapeutic relationship.
Counselling may be provided face-to-face or online, depending on the arrangements agreed with you.
Please read this agreement carefully and ask me if anything is unclear.
1. The Counselling Relationship
Counselling is a collaborative process. I provide a safe, confidential and non-judgemental space where you can explore your thoughts, feelings, experiences and concerns.
As an integrative counsellor, I draw on different therapeutic approaches according to your individual needs.
Counselling cannot guarantee a particular outcome, but we will work together towards the goals you identify. You remain responsible for your own decisions and choices.
Counselling is not an emergency or substitute for medical or psychiatric care. Where appropriate, I may recommend additional support from your GP, another healthcare professional or specialist service.
2. Sessions and Attendance
Sessions are normally 60 minutes and are usually weekly, unless another frequency is agreed.
Your appointment time is reserved specifically for you, so regular attendance is encouraged.
Punctuality
Please arrive or connect on time. Sessions cannot normally be extended if you are late.
If you are delayed, please contact me as soon as possible. If you arrive 15 minutes or more late without prior contact, the session may be treated as missed and the usual cancellation fee may apply.
Cancellations
Please provide at least 48 hours’ notice if you need to cancel or rearrange an appointment.
Appointments cancelled with less than 48 hours’ notice, or missed without notice, may be charged at the full session fee.
Exceptions may be considered in genuine emergencies or exceptional circumstances.
3. Payment and Fees
The counselling fee will be agreed before counselling begins.
Unless otherwise agreed, payment is required in advance by bank transfer.
If you are experiencing financial difficulties, please speak to me as early as possible so we can consider whether an alternative arrangement is possible.
Fees may be reviewed periodically, and reasonable notice will be given of any changes.
For international clients, any currency-conversion or transaction charges are normally the client’s responsibility unless otherwise agreed.
4. Between-Session Contact and Boundaries
The main therapeutic work takes place during scheduled sessions.
You may contact me between sessions about appointments or practical matters. I will normally respond during my working hours and may not be immediately available.
Email, text messages and telephone calls should not be used as a substitute for counselling or emergency support.
I maintain appropriate professional boundaries and do not normally communicate with clients through personal social-media accounts.
5. Confidentiality
Counselling is confidential. Information discussed during sessions will normally remain between you and me.
However, confidentiality may need to be limited where:
- there is a serious or immediate risk of harm to you or another person;
- there are significant safeguarding concerns;
- disclosure is required by law or a court;
- disclosure is necessary to prevent or detect serious crime; or
- appropriate professional consultation or supervision is required.
Where possible, I will discuss any proposed disclosure with you beforehand. However, where immediate action is necessary to protect you or another person, information may be shared with an appropriate professional, safeguarding service or emergency service without your prior consent.
6. Professional Supervision
I attend regular professional supervision as part of my professional practice.
Supervision helps me reflect on my work, maintain professional standards and ensure that I practise safely and ethically.
Information discussed in supervision will be treated professionally and confidentially. I will avoid identifying you unnecessarily and only share information relevant to the supervision process.
7. Records and Data Protection
I may keep appropriate records relating to your counselling, including contact details, appointments, assessment information and brief counselling notes.
Your information will be stored securely and handled in accordance with applicable UK data-protection legislation, including the UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018.
Only information reasonably necessary for providing and managing your counselling will be collected and retained.
Further information is available in the Acorn Therapy Privacy Policy.
8. Online Counselling
For online sessions, you are responsible for having:
- a suitable internet connection and functioning device;
- a private and quiet environment;
- sufficient privacy;
- headphones where appropriate; and
- a safe location from which to participate.
Please do not attend an online session while driving or undertaking another activity that could compromise your safety or concentration.
If the connection fails, we will attempt to reconnect. If this is not possible, we may continue by telephone or rearrange the session.
While reasonable measures will be taken to protect confidentiality, online communication cannot be guaranteed to be completely free from technical or security risks.
9. Face-to-Face Counselling
The location and arrangements for face-to-face sessions will be agreed in advance.
If you are unwell with an infectious illness, please contact me before attending. Where appropriate, we may move the session online or rearrange it.
10. Alcohol and Drugs
For your safety and to ensure counselling is meaningful and effective, please do not attend sessions while under the influence of alcohol or recreational or illegal drugs.
If I believe you are unable to participate safely or meaningfully because you are intoxicated or impaired, I may end or postpone the session. The normal cancellation policy may apply.
11. Safeguarding and Risk
Your safety and wellbeing are important.
I may ask questions about your safety, wellbeing and any risks that may be relevant to your circumstances.
If you disclose thoughts of suicide, self-harm or harm towards another person, we may need to discuss additional support and an appropriate safety plan.
Where there is a serious or immediate risk of harm, I may need to contact an appropriate service or emergency contact without your prior consent. Wherever possible, I will discuss this with you first.
12. Emergency Support
Acorn Therapy is not an emergency or crisis service. I do not provide 24-hour support.
If you are in immediate danger or believe you or someone else is at serious risk, contact the appropriate emergency service.
UK emergency support:
- 999 – Emergency services
- 111 – NHS urgent medical advice
- Samaritans: 116 123 – Free, confidential emotional support
If you are outside the UK, please contact the appropriate emergency or crisis service in your country.
13. Contact with Other Professionals
With your consent, it may sometimes be appropriate to communicate with your GP, healthcare professional, school, college or another organisation involved in your support.
Where possible, this will be discussed with you beforehand and your consent obtained.
Information may be shared without consent where there are serious safeguarding concerns, significant risk, legal requirements or another lawful basis.
14. Young People Aged 16–17
For clients aged 16 or 17, additional considerations regarding consent, confidentiality and safeguarding apply.
Young people will be treated with respect and involved in decisions about their counselling wherever appropriate.
Confidentiality will normally be explained directly to the young person. Information will not routinely be shared with parents or carers simply because they request it.
However, confidentiality cannot be guaranteed where there is a significant safeguarding concern, serious risk of harm, legal requirement or another situation where disclosure is necessary to protect the young person or another person.
Any arrangements involving parents or carers will be discussed and agreed before counselling begins.
15. Parents, Carers and Other People
Where a parent, carer, partner or another person is involved in counselling, the boundaries of confidentiality will be agreed at the beginning of the work.
Sessions will normally remain a private space for the client unless another arrangement has been agreed.
16. Between-Session Activities
I may occasionally suggest activities such as journalling, keeping a diary or reflecting on particular questions.
These activities are generally optional. Please discuss any concerns with me if an activity does not feel appropriate or comfortable.
17. Feedback
I may occasionally invite you to provide feedback or complete a brief questionnaire about your counselling experience.
This helps me reflect on the effectiveness of the work and improve the service. Information used for evaluation or statistical purposes will be anonymised where appropriate.
18. Ending Counselling
You have the right to end counselling at any time.
Where possible, I encourage you to discuss this with me so that we can work towards a planned ending. This can provide an opportunity to review your progress and consider any further support you may need.
I may also recommend ending counselling or referring you to another service if I believe this would better meet your needs or if I am unable to provide the appropriate level or type of support.
19. Complaints
If you are unhappy with any aspect of the counselling service, please raise your concerns with me as soon as possible so that we can try to resolve them.
For a formal complaint, please refer to the Acorn Therapy Complaints Procedure.
As a BACP-registered counsellor, my practice is guided by the professional and ethical standards of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).
20. Professional Boundaries
The counselling relationship is professional.
I maintain appropriate boundaries around communication, contact outside sessions, gifts, social relationships and social media.
If we meet outside the counselling setting, I will respect your privacy and will not normally acknowledge you unless you choose to acknowledge me first.
21. Recording Sessions
Clients must not make unauthorised audio or video recordings of counselling sessions.
I will not normally record sessions. Any recording would require an appropriate professional reason, consent and agreement about how it would be stored and used.
22. Changes to Your Circumstances
Please let me know about significant changes that may affect our work together, including changes to your contact details, living circumstances or safety.
Please ensure I have an up-to-date telephone number and email address.
23. International Clients
For clients outside the UK, counselling is provided subject to appropriate professional, legal and practical considerations.
You are responsible for providing accurate information about your location during online sessions.
If you move to another country or regularly attend sessions from a different country, please inform me before continuing counselling so I can consider whether I am able to continue providing the service.
Laws relating to counselling, confidentiality and data protection may differ between countries.
24. Agreement to Counselling
By agreeing to this contract, you confirm that:
- you have read and understood this Counselling Contract;
- you have had the opportunity to ask questions;
- you understand the arrangements and limitations of confidentiality;
- you understand the payment and cancellation arrangements;
- you understand that Acorn Therapy is not an emergency service;
- you agree to participate in counselling on the basis described above; and
- you understand that you may end counselling at any time.
This agreement forms part of the counselling relationship between you and Acorn Therapy.
Client Agreement
I confirm that I have read and understood this Counselling Contract for Acorn Therapy Clients and agree to counselling being provided by Denis K. Victor through Acorn Therapy on the terms outlined above.