Steve Day Therapy Working Agreement

This working agreement outlines the essential points of our therapeutic relationship to ensure you gain the most from our work together. I can expand on any aspect if you wish, and we can revisit this agreement at any point to clarify any concerns.

Confidentiality

I take confidentiality very seriously. Under normal circumstances, everything you say to me is kept strictly between us. However, there are a few exceptions:

Risk of Harm: If I believe you are at risk of serious harm to yourself or others, I may need to take action to protect you or others. This may include seeking advice or contacting emergency services.
Supervision: I have regular supervision, during which I discuss my work in general terms to ensure I provide you with the best possible service. No identifiable information is shared.
Legal Requirements: If legally required to do so, such as in response to a court order or subpoena, I may need to share information about you or your sessions with third parties.
Sharing General Ideas: I may share general ideas, stories, and anecdotes from my life or past clients, but I will not share anything that could be considered personal or identifiable.
Recording Sessions: Recording sessions is not permitted without my written consent.

Data Protection

Any personal data I hold for you is used solely to contact you regarding your counselling sessions and is stored safely and securely per the Data Protection Act 2018 and GDPR. You may request to view this information at any time. In an emergency where I cannot contact you, a designated individual will access your first name and number to contact you and provide a possible timeframe for my return. This may be done via SMS, email, or phone call. SMS messages are also subject to the same data protection requirements. My phone is secured with a password or fingerprint lock to ensure your messages are only accessible by me.

Long-Distance Sessions

I offer phone and video sessions and am happy to use other software upon request. You can contact me via the phone number or account information provided, or I will call you at the arranged time. If a video connection fails, a phone call session will be a backup option after 10 minutes of lost time. You must ensure you are free from distractions and interruptions during the session to maximise your time together. Our sessions are private, and only those who have booked the session are permitted to be present.

Time

Counselling is most effective when sessions are held regularly based on individual needs. We can discuss the frequency of your sessions at any time, but you are always in control of when you have your sessions. If you are late for your session without contacting me, I will text you after 5 minutes and call after 10 minutes to enquire about your attendance. If, after 20 minutes, I have not heard from you, I will assume that you are not attending the session, and I may still charge you the full fee. I have other commitments before and after your session, so time boundaries are essential for all involved. You may only be offered the remainder of your time if you are late.

Contact

Contact outside of sessions is limited to booking, cancelling, and rescheduling of sessions only. I will assume you wish to continue with your counselling until you tell me otherwise. I will contact you for updates regarding your follow-up sessions via SMS and/or email for no more than four weeks following your last session.

Fees and Cancellation

Please refer to the website booking page for current fees. Payment for sessions must be made in advance. Bank transfers can be made to Stephen Day, 11-06-67, 14657362. I require at least 48 hours notice if you need to change or cancel a session. You will still be charged the full fee if you fail to cancel within 48 hours or miss the session. If I cannot provide the session due to an emergency, I will refund the fee and offer you a free session.

Termination

You are free to terminate your counselling at any time, and it is your responsibility to inform me if you wish to end the sessions. If you do not communicate with me for four weeks after your last session, I will assume that you no longer require my services and close your case.

Feedback

I welcome feedback and am happy to receive it at any time. If you have any concerns, please feel free to talk to me directly so that we can resolve them.

Agreement

Please read these terms and conditions carefully and let me know if you have any questions or concerns. If everything is in order, please sign below to indicate your agreement with the abovementioned terms and conditions.