1: Purpose of the Therapeutic Agreement 

 

1.1. To outline the approach to therapy and scope of support, and to clarify my competence to offer both, through academic qualification, professional membership, and experientially.

 

1.2. To set out an ‘offer of therapy’ for mutual consideration by both client and therapist. Here the client is you and the therapist is me, Sarah Hopton. Opportunities will be made to talk through the content of this Agreement and for me to answer any questions that you may wish to ask.

 

1.3. To communicate the terms of therapy, your rights to privacy, confidentiality, and data security in line with European Union (EU) data protection legislation and the rights of us both (client and therapist) – in advance of our work together.

 

1.4. The provision of pre-therapy information and a therapeutic agreement is an expected practice in the counselling and psychotherapy profession. It seeks to demonstrate my respect for you, the client, by setting out information about how we will work together and to encourage understanding about the therapy, our relating, and the terms of our working together.

 

1.5. If you agree with the terms set-out, you will be asked to provide some brief information prior to therapy or any other form of support commencing. Such information will include the name and contact number of a friend or family member who can be contacted if the need arises. More information about the reasons for providing this information is provided later in this document.

 

1.6. An ‘Agreement’ results from your acceptance of the ‘offer of therapy’ and the terms of our working together, including fees and any charges resulting from non-attendance or short-notice cancellation. Your formal agreement to the offer of therapy and my terms are contained in my Privacy Statement and Agreement, which annexes this document.

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2: Types of therapy & support offered

 

2.1. I am a qualified integrative psychotherapist and an Accredited Member of the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP) and also of the National Counselling Society (NCS). Through my accreditations, I am included in a public register that is accredited by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA) – an independent body, accountable to Parliament that accredits registers of people working in a variety of health and social care occupations and settings, including those practitioners offering counselling and psychotherapy. Members of the public are now encouraged to choose a practitioner who is included in a publicly available Register that has been vetted and approved by the PSA. This effort seeks to ensure that the public can choose safe, ethical and competent professionals to help meet their health and social care needs.

 

2.2. Integrative therapy is a combined approach that brings together different counselling psychotherapy theories, rather than being restricted to practising using a single approach. Integrative therapists take the view that the well-being of the client is more important than a single approach to therapy. I have a core theoretical approach of humanistic and will carefully incorporate techniques from other approaches I am trained in, depending on your specific needs. I will always talk to you about any plans to use different approaches. 

 

2.3. My counselling psychotherapy practice is typically orientated towards face-to-face consultations. It is possible for me to offer therapy in other forms; for example, via web-based mediums, such as Telehealth or ZOOM and this can be particularly useful for clients who live remotely or have other circumstances preventing them travelling to a physical space for consultation and/or treatment. 

Therapy that takes place in this way can have advantages as well as drawbacks but requires full and rounded consideration by both client and therapist before being entered into. The contents of this pre-therapy information and therapeutic agreement are equally applicable for web-based counselling arrangements that are being explored and/or entered into.

 

2.4. Drop-in slots are offered for existing clients. This is to talk through a pressing concern or distressing issue that the client feels cannot wait until their next scheduled therapy session. 

The ‘drop-in’ facility is not a crisis support service that might otherwise be responded to by, for example, emergency services or, a self-referral or referral by another person to the local NHS mental health Access Service (or an equivalent crisis response service). 

The Derbyshire Mental Health Helpline can be contacted at: 0800 028 0077. 

 

2.5. Emotional Support or Top Up sessions are available for individuals who have completed therapy but wish to return for one or two sessions to resolve interim or consequent issues or difficulties.

 

2.6. In addition to traditional counselling psychotherapies Life on Dreams is able to offer one-on-one coaching to address life changes and challenges to emotional, psychological, and mental wellbeing – this being underpinned by a psychotherapeutic style. 

The need for other types of support may be something that becomes apparent during a consultation or following therapy commencing. Some people find it useful to engage with therapy initially and then subsequently, to address making practical life changes using a coaching approach.

 

3: Competence

 

3.1. I qualified as an integrative psychotherapist in 2015. My training took four years and was completed at the University of Derby . My qualification is a MSc in Integrative Counselling & Psychotherapy with Distinction. As part of my training and portfolio submission I have provided extensive counselling psychotherapy through a YMCA placement (2013-2015) and a Woman’s Refuge (2014-2015). 

I also qualified as a Clinical Supervisor in 2017, my training took 12 months and my qualification is a Post Graduate Certificate in Clinical Supervision from University of Derby.

 

3.2. In 2003, I graduated with a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) and worked as a Procurement Executive, Leadership Coach and Strategic Change Consultant in a number of Blue Chip Organisations. My first Degree is a Bachelor in Science (BSc) with honours in Biology and Environmental Management. 

 

3.3. I have worked in client-facing roles since 2013, including working at the local YMCA in counselling & mental health services. I have extensive experience working with addiction and worked in an independent addiction treatment centre, Bayberry Clinic and most recently in training the counselling team at Delamere Treatment Centre, which opened in 2019. I started private practise work in 2014 and this has been my full time employment since 2016.

 

3.4. As part of my professional accreditation with the BACP and NCS, I am required to participate and evidence continuing professional development (CPD). CPD is about therapists demonstrating their commitment to ‘lifelong learning’. This can be about accessing formal training or training updates in particular areas of therapeutic practice but learning can also take place through a wide range of activities in various contexts, and may include experiential learning activities.

 

4: Ethical Considerations

 

4.1. I offer both short and long-term therapy work, and any provision will always be negotiated with you, the client. If a point is reached where either you or I are of the opinion that the work we set out to do is complete then a sequence to formally end the relationship will be initiated.
Ending the therapeutic relationship, like ending other life relationships, can be challenging and therapy endings are therefore considered to be as important as other stages of the therapeutic process.

 

4.2. If at any time during the therapy relationship, you the client feel that the relationship is unsuccessful, for any reason, then you are free to initiate its ending without being liable for further fees, unless your communication to this effect is within 48 hours of the next scheduled appointment. In line with the BACP and NCS Ethical Frameworks, I am committed to promoting your wellbeing and avoiding harm, and as such will never encourage or overextend the therapy relationship beyond that which it set out to achieve.

 

4.3. If during an initial consultation or during therapy, counselling psychotherapy or coaching is regarded as being unsuitable to meet your needs or the level of therapy and support needed falls outside of the level of expertise being offered by me, then signposting to another professional or agency, which might be better placed to help, will be recommended.

 

4.4. Therapy sessions will not be recorded (audio or visual) by either party without the other person’s prior consent and a clear and appropriate purpose being conveyed. Additionally, the broadcasting of a consultation via social media, or, for example, a web-based medium, is not permitted by either party. 

As such, clients are reminded that unless they need to keep their mobile phone device switched on for emergency purposes (work or home situation) they should switch devices off prior to entering the therapy room. This will help to avoid interruptions but also any opportunity for inadvertent, accidental recording of therapy sessions that might compromise both the client and Life on Dreams.

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5: Other Considerations

 

5.1. It is not appropriate or conducive to attend for therapy whilst under the influence of alcohol or other substances. This is not intended as a value judgement but is offered, instead, as a safeguard, ensuring that you always get optimum benefit from the therapy being offered.

 

5.2. There are good reasons not to see two therapists at the same time, although there are some exceptions to this principle – see below. Ethically, it is not appropriate for therapists to treat a person for individual therapy while they are being treated individually by another therapist without their knowledge. Dual relationships of this type can compromise the treatment plan set out by both therapists and could worsen the symptoms that brought you, the client, into therapy. As such, I ask clients who are contemplating therapy with me to disclose any concurrent therapeutic relationships, specifically where they are already working with another therapist or clinician.

Exceptions to this principle include:
a) One-time consultation sessions whilst you are deciding on which therapist to see, although this too can cause confusion.
b) Sometimes it can be advisable to see two different therapists for different purposes, so long as both therapists are informed. For example, a parent involved in family therapy or a person involved in couples or relationship therapy, which is separate from the issues being explored and treated by individual therapy.

If you are already engaged with another counsellor or psychotherapist at the time of your referral please discuss this with me at the earliest opportunity in the referral process so that we can establish the most appropriate and beneficial course of action for you.

 

5.3. The terms of this Agreement discourage routine, or crisis contact between you and I, in-between individual therapy sessions. 

This principle is offered positively, to ensure appropriate boundaries are maintained in the professional relationship between client and therapist, and thus avoid any inadvertent harm. In this sense befriending through, for example social media, is discouraged and similarly, any email or telephone contact outside of organisational matters, such as the making or changing of appointments. 

Alternative sources of support, if and when crisis is experienced outside of the therapy setting, will be discussed with you.

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6: Record Keeping

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6.1. The keeping of professional notes about the therapy provided will adhere to the BACP and NCS Ethical Frameworks, and the principles outlined in the EU General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) (2018), including those relating to their storage and retention. More information about GDPR, which has replaced the UK Data Protection Act 1998 can be obtained from the UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

 

6.2. So-called ‘Process Notes’ made on paper during the therapy session will be destroyed following any transfer to electronic medium (scanning) or the professional notes system that I use, which is a secure cloud-based system. Under GDPR you can view or request copies of any records that I keep about our work together.

 

6.3. Professional notes will be stored on Powerdiary in an area only accessible myself by password and 2-step verification. 

 

6.4. Information provided by you, the client, will only be created for the purpose of assisting therapy and will never be shared with a third party commercial or other similar organisations. Client confidentiality is discussed further in points below.

 

6.5. GDPR requires every data controller who is processing personal information to register with the ICO unless they are exempt. The ICO’s role is to uphold information rights in the public interest, including maintaining a register of Data Controllers (in this case, me), handling concerns and taking action where the principles of (GDPR) is not upheld. Details of my registration with the ICO are contained with the Credentials section of this document.

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6.6. In May 2018 reforms to the UK DPA 1998 came into force and ‘data controllers’ and ‘data processors’ are required to demonstrate their compliance with a set of additional Regulations and communicate the rights of ‘data subjects’ (here, clients) to them explicitly. The Regulations are for all EU states and are called ‘General Data Protection Regulations’ or GDPR and a summary of the requirements of these (regulations) on counsellors, psychotherapists and counselling and psychotherapy services (as the ‘data controllers’), and your rights as the ‘data subject’ is contained in our Privacy Statement and Agreement. 

A copy is available to you via the client portal on PowerDiary but it is recommended that you read the Privacy Policy as you will be asked to sign your agreement to your data being used in the way outlined. You will also be confirming your overall agreement to the terms and conditions outlined in this Therapeutic Agreement.

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7: Confidentiality

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7.1. The relationship between client and therapist is based upon the values of trust, respect, and privacy. Knowing that confidences can be maintained and that any records of therapy are made and held securely is a significant consideration for clients entering into a therapeutic relationship. As such, generally I will not release or disclose any information about you unless you, the client, make an expressed request for this to happen or give permission for such action. There are however, some universal exceptions to this principle that I am duty bound to abide by. See points below.

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7.2. Like other counsellors and psychotherapists, a requirement of my professional accreditation with the BACP and NCS includes attendance for Clinical Supervision on a routine basis. Clinical Supervision is an mandatory activity for therapists to reflect upon their client work to ensure that our practice is safe, non-abusive, and effective. 

Supervision is also used to help the therapist problem-solve difficult or challenging client issues and for the Supervisor, together with the therapist, to establish new perspectives on particular dilemmas faced by the therapist and their client.

Supervision is typically a one-to-one process with another qualified and experienced therapist who has received additional training in supervising other therapists. The process is confidential but subject to the same rules about confidentiality. Every effort is made to maintain client anonymity during Supervision and your name will not usually be disclosed unless there is a serious risk or concern being discussed.

 

7.3. In the rare event that confidentiality cannot be maintained; for example, where I form the opinion that there are serious concerns for either your safety or the safety of other members of the public, it may become necessary for me to break our Agreement. 

Generally, I will discuss this with you, in the first instance, and negotiate the need to share relevant information but there may be times when gaining your permission is neither possible nor practicable. In such circumstances, in the first instance, I would consider contacting your GP or another medical practitioner that you have informed me has responsibility for your health, wellbeing, or welfare.

 

7.4. There may also be situations where I could be legally required to disclose information, for example when ordered to do so by a Court of Law or by statutory obligation to disclose information to the authorities; for example, concerning knowledge of acts of terrorism, drug or people trafficking, or the neglect or abuse of a child or other vulnerable individual.

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8: Appointment Bookings & Cancellations

 

8.1. To enable consistency of appointments – days and/or times, it will be possible for you to book a number of appointments in advance. At the start of the therapy relationship it is usual for people to book up to six slots and in the event that the therapy needs to become a longer-term arrangement and thus more open-ended it will be possible to book a regular appointment slot.

 

8.2. As my counselling psychotherapy practice is a primary source of my income, non-attended sessions can create a problem as I still need to pay rent for my room and facilities. Non-attendance also deprives another person of an appointment, generally at a time of great need. Sometimes there are very good reasons for people not turning up for an appointment; for example, a personal emergency at home or on the way to the appointment, but occasionally people forget or decide to do something different on the day of their appointment.

For the reasons given above any non-attended appointments or cancellations outside of a 48-hour period will need to be charged for. In return, I agree to provide notice 48 hours in advance of cancelling an appointment that we have made, unless I experience my own personal emergency at home or on the way to our appointment, in which case short-notice cancellation might become necessary.

 

8.3. Being punctual and running to time is an important part of the therapy process. Typically, it is my responsibility to ensure that we keep to time, and I will make you aware of when we are nearing the end of your session. It is the responsibility of both of us to ensure that your session starts on time. 

If you attend late and this is not more than 15 minutes after the session start time then I will be happy for the session to proceed, although it will be shorter than planned i.e., 45 rather than 60 minutes. However, the full hour will be charged. If you are more than 15 minutes late then you will be charged for the session at the full amount and will need to reschedule your appointment, in the event that a further session is not already diarised.

 

8.3. You will be charged in line with the fees available on my website and through the Client Portal unless we have agreed differently

-Initial consultations will always be conducted face-to-face and are generally guided at 90 minutes.
-60- or 90-minute regular therapy or emotional support sessions are also available.
-Drop-in (existing clients only) is charged pro-rata – minimum 30 minutes.
-Top Up Therapy (previously ‘ended’ clients only). Top-ups are defined as one or two ad-hoc sessions that can be 60 or 90 minutes.

Session payments are taken on the day at the via cash, card, or bank transfer (BACS). I will provide you with banking details if you decide to pay by BACS and invoice receipt if requested. Card payments will show as ‘Life on Dreams’ on banking transactions and BACS payments will show as Life on Dreams

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9: Evaluation

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9.1.      As part of my commitment to continuous quality improvement of the services that I offer to members of the public, at the end of our work together I will email you a link to an evaluation form. It will greatly assist my work by you providing honest and constructive feedback. It will also assist future prospective clients.

9.2.      If you have a particularly positive experience then you may wish to offer a testimonial that, with your expressed permission, I can then publish online or in other advertising. If you wish to do this, please talk to me at the end of your therapy or at any time thereafter. If preferred, any testimonial that you offer can be suitably anonymised; for example, using your initials or just a first name.

As part of this Agreement you are not obliged to complete either an evaluation or to provide a testimonial.

 

10: Concerns or Complaints

 

10.1. It is hoped that your experience of Life on Dreams will be a positive and productive one, which might inspire you to make a compliment, perhaps in the form of a client testimonial. In the unlikely event that you experience my services negatively or feel disappointed or dissatisfied with your experience of therapy then I would encourage you to address concern with me directly, in the first instance. Even if this is by telephone or email. 

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We may be able to resolve or contextualise your concerns.

Particularly worrying concerns such as poor, unethical, or abusive practices by a BACP or NCS member are typically addressed by their Professional Conduct Procedures and clients are always free to pursue any serious concerns that they have, via this route. 

 

11: Agreement

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Please confirm that you have read and agree to the terms of this therapeutic agreement.

Signature

Credentials

National Counselling Society (NCS)

Accredited Professional
Membership number: NCS21-02709

Check the Register: https://nationalcounsellingsociety.org/counselling-directory

British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP)

Accredited Member
Membership Number: 99262
Check the Register: https://www.bacp.co.uk/search/Register?q

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)

Enhanced Certificate
Certificate Number: 001603863455
Issued: 02/02/2018

 

Business Insurances: Public Liability & Professional Indemnity

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