Terms and Conditions
Details of Sessions​​​
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Sessions run for 50 minutes and take place weekly at the same time, unless pre-arranged. On occasion longer or more/less frequent sessions can be scheduled if deemed appropriate and beneficial. Longer sessions are charged on a pro rata basis.
Sessions usually take place in person (at a location decided by the therapist). For online sessions: I use Zoom for video conference sessions and you will receive a password-protected meeting invitation for online sessions.
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The optimum conditions for counselling exist when there is commitment and regularity in the arrangement from both counsellor and client. This helps to establish a safe and contained therapeutic space.
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I usually work on a long-term, open-ended basis and it is difficult to offer guidance on how many sessions will be required until therapy is underway. I welcome feedback, observations and questions about the work at any point during the therapeutic process. If you have any time constraints which mean that you can only attend a limited number of sessions, I will endeavor to accommodate this and consider how best to support you within that timeframe. If I do not feel I am able to do this, I may suggest an onward referral.
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If you are late for your session I will not be able to make up the time and you will be charged the full rate for the time you have left when you arrive.
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If for some reason I am late then the time will be made up to you if possible or your session will be discounted proportionally for the time missed.
If you wish to terminate therapy at any point, it is my recommendation that we agree a number of sessions before ending in which to draw the work to a close and address any outstanding or unresolved issues wherever possible. I am happy to provide an onward referral where appropriate.​​
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Confidentiality ​​
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Therapy often requires the discussion of sensitive and personal matters. I commit to respect, protect and preserve the confidentiality of all information you disclose to me. As a general rule I will never disclose your information to third parties; however, there are some limited exceptions to that rule that I need to make you aware of:
1. if you give your express consent to disclosure (in which case, I may disclose to the extent you have consented to);
2. if I reasonably believe you are intending to cause serious harm to yourself;
3. if I reasonably believe you are intending to cause serious harm to another;
4. if I become aware or reasonably suspect that abuse of a child or a vulnerable person has taken or may take place;
5. if I am compelled to do so by order of a court or governmental entity of competent jurisdiction, but only to the extent of complying with that order.
I attend regular clinician supervision, a requirement of my ethical framework. The purpose of this supervision is for me to ensure that I am offering my clients the best possible level of care and that any clinical issues that arise in the course of the therapeutic process are addressed quickly with the support of a qualified and accredited clinical supervisor. These sessions are also strictly confidential. All notes that relate to you and our sessions will be held securely in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and destroyed at a prescribed date after your counselling ends.
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​​Payment, Cancellations and Holidays
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​Please contact me to enquire about my current sessional fee. I invoice for one month in advance.Fees are reviewed annually, and you will be given 1 months’ notice prior to fees increasing.
Please bear in mind that your weekly slot is reserved for you and not offered to other clients; what I ask in return is a commitment to attend your weekly appointment regularly. If you give me advanced notice about a proposed cancellation then I will endeavour to offer you an alternative appointment date and time. Please note however the full fee will be charged for any sessions that are cancelled with less than 48 hours’ notice, and if cancellations occur frequently (more than once in any six-week period) I reserve the right to offer your weekly slot to another client.
I shall be under no obligation to provide further services while any invoice remains due and unpaid. You shall reimburse me on demand for any reasonable legal costs (including VAT) and court fees incurred by me in attempting to recover or recovering any amounts owed any payable from you to me but unpaid.
I will endeavour to give you several weeks’ notice when I am away or unavailable. I would be grateful for as much notice as is possible and practical when you are unable to attend your session.​​
Electronic Communication​
If you need to contact me to cancel or change an appointment or about any other practical issue relating to our sessions please use either method and I will respond as quickly as I can. Please note that I cannot offer therapeutic support via email or telephone, unless a telephone session has been scheduled. In order to protect the boundaries of the clinical work and confidentiality, I do not communicate with clients via any form of social media.
​​Data Protection
​I will only retain your information for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes it was collected for, including for the purposes of satisfying any legal requirements. After therapy has been completed, my default position is to keep your data for a further period of 6 years in accordance with the guidelines of my governing bodies. This can be useful if you decide to return to therapy at some point or if you require an onward referral. However, you have the right to withdraw your consent for this information to be held and you also have the right to request to see that information at reasonable intervals. We handle your personal information in the following way; upon commencing therapy you agree to allow your personal details (not including case notes) to be stored on a GDPR compliant database (WriteUpp and Xero) that is password protected and is only accessed by myself or an employee or contractor of Mindful Freedom Consulting, such as an Accountant. Your personal information is recorded for communication and accounts purposes and is stored in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulations.
Any details given are kept private and secure and it will be deleted or destroyed once its relevance has expired.​​ Please see the Privacy Statement for further details.
Emergency Procedures
​If you have an emergency please contact your GP or go to Accident and Emergency at your local hospital. I do not provide emergency or out of hours services.​​
Matthew Frener and Mindful Freedom Consulting are not liable for the outcome of any decision you make during, or at any time after your therapy.​