WHAT TO EXPECT IN A THERAPEUTIC RELATIONSHIP

The assessment and therapy process is a collaborative process (a “joint effort”). This means you can let the therapist know what you find helpful or unhelpful and share your own ideas on what will aid progress. Therapy is not a “quick fix” and it can take time and work to see changes. The therapist cannot guarantee that sessions will result in improvement but will do their best to provide effective treatment and help you achieve your goals. Your progress can be regularly reviewed and the therapist will only recommend further sessions if these are likely to be of benefit to you.

CONTACT ARRANGEMENTS

The therapist is contactable via email and will aim to reply with 48 hours between 8.00am and 4.00pm, Monday to Friday. Contact between sessions (by therapist or client) should be for the booking or re-arranging of appointments and brief queries or clarifications. More detailed concerns should, wherever possible, be brought to a face-to-face appointment. AIB psychology does not provide any out-of-hours or emergency cover. In the event of a crisis or emergency, please contact your GP (out-of-hours dial 111), attend your local A&E department, or dial 999. You may also find the Samaritans (116 123, 24hours), metal health support line (0300790 0596, 24 hours), SANE Line (0300 304 7000, 6pm-11pm) helpful.

CONFIDENTIALITY AND DISCLOSURE

The information you share in therapy is private and confidential between you and the therapist and cannot be shared with others without your consent. The only exceptions to this are:

●      The therapist may discuss your case in supervision, to ensure best practice. However, the supervisor is also bound by the same principles of confidentiality and information is anonymised

●      The therapist may need to break confidentiality, even without your consent, if there is a risk of harm to you or someone else if certain information is not disclosed. In this situation, the therapist will contact the person or service most able to help you, e.g. your GP, your key worker, social services, or the police. Wherever possible, the therapist will let you know what information has been shared and with whom

●      The therapist will maintain confidentially and secure paper/electronic notes on their work with you i.e. in a locked filing cabinet or on secure server on a password protected computer. As per professional guidelines, clinical notes will be kept for seven years after the last appointment and destroyed thereafter

AIB psychology agree to supply photocopies of records to you or a third party subject to receipt of the request in writing with your full signature. There will be an administration charge of £50.00 for this service. AIB psychology is registered with the Information Commissioners Office and adheres to the principles of the Data Protection Act. AIB psychology takes the issue of privacy seriously and is committed to being GDPR compliant

●      Additional permission is required for audio/video recording of sessions. Sessions must not be recorded without explicit permission of the therapist

YOU ARE AGREEING TO THE FOLLOWING:

To be contacted by email/ phone / voicemail / text message (please delete as appropriate)

Messages can be left with (name, contact details and relationship to you):

Communication with GP (e.g. by phone or letter)

Communication with other professional


WITHDRAWAL

You are free to withdraw from therapy at any time without stating a reason provided that 48 hours notice is given for any booked appointments. Notice will be accepted via phone, email or letter. You are expected to respect the therapist; aggressive and/or abusive behaviour will not be tolerated.  AIB Psychology reserves the right to terminate the relationship at any time. If you do not attend or re book a session without any prior discussion, AIB Psychology will only “hold” this slot for you for a period of two weeks.  During this time AIB Psychology will attempt to contact you to see if you wish to continue; if contact is not made within the two weeks it will be assumed you don’t wish to continue and your slot will be offered to someone else on the wait list.

FEES

Session rate (assessment/treatment/meeting/report*) (per hour)                          £ 100.00

Admin (report reading/clinical liaison) (per hour)                                                  £100.00

All fees are pro rata where applicable. Cancellation of appointments within 48 hours may result in a 50% charge for time booked and will be at the discretion of the clinician; however the associated room hire charge will be charged regardless.

Repeated cancellations may result in termination of therapy. Missed or cancelled appointments will incur a 100% charge for time and travel if a visit is made. Lengthy telephone conversations related to the client’s treatment or care will be charged at the discretion of AIB psychology. Records will be kept of any such conversations.

PAYMENT

Once we have arranged an appointment time, payment is requested 48 hours before your appointment. This is in order to secure your appointment and the time allocated to you. Payments are accepted by cash or direct bank transfer to Dr Amanda Brough, sort code 30 64 18 account number 50188260 or by debit/credit card. I will also send you an invoice for you records.

Failure to make payment 48 hours prior to the session may result in cancellation of your provisionally booked appointment.

REGISTRATION AND INSURANCE

As a Clinical Psychologist and Chartered Psychologist, the therapist is committed to the code of ethics of the British Psychological Society (BPS). The title of Chartered Psychologist is legally recognised and reflects only the highest standard of psychological knowledge and expertise. As a Practitioner Psychologist, the therapist adheres to the professional standards and practices of the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC), the independent government-appointed regulator of psychologists in the UK. Insurance is provided by Howden Insurance. Enhanced level Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) certification is maintained via the DBS update service.

AIB Psychology reserves the right to amend these terms and conditions at any time.